Here's what the other SEC baseball coaches expect from us this year.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4" width="98%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Rank</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Team</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Pts.</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">'08 SEC Rec/Finish</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Eastern Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Georgia (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">62</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">20-9-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Florida (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">52</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">17-13 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Vanderbilt</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">40</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-14 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">S. Carolina</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">37</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Tennessee</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">12-18 / 6th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Kentucky</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">27</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Western Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">LSU (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">65</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18-11-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Ole Miss (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">54</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Alabama</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">44</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Arkansas</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">38</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">14-15 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Auburn</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">11-19 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Miss. State</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">9-21 / 6th</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

I posted earlier in response to some media writer's prediction that we would finish last in the SEC that there was no way we'd finish last. Apparently, the SEC coaches agree with him.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4" width="98%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Rank</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Team</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Pts.</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">'08 SEC Rec/Finish</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Eastern Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Georgia (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">62</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">20-9-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Florida (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">52</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">17-13 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Vanderbilt</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">40</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-14 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">S. Carolina</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">37</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Tennessee</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">12-18 / 6th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Kentucky</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">27</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Western Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">LSU (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">65</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18-11-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Ole Miss (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">54</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Alabama</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">44</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Arkansas</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">38</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">14-15 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Auburn</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">11-19 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Miss. State</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">9-21 / 6th</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

I posted earlier in response to some media writer's prediction that we would finish last in the SEC that there was no way we'd finish last. Apparently, the SEC coaches agree with him.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="4" width="98%" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Rank</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Team</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">Pts.</td> <td valign="center" bgcolor="#1B3C78">'08 SEC Rec/Finish</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Eastern Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Georgia (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">62</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">20-9-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Florida (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">52</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">17-13 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Vanderbilt</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">40</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-14 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">S. Carolina</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">37</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Tennessee</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">12-18 / 6th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Kentucky</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">27</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#C0C0C0" colspan="4">Western Division</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">1)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">LSU (10)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">65</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18-11-1 / 1st</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Ole Miss (2)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">54</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">15-15 / 3rd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">3)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Alabama</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">44</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">16-14 / 2nd</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">4)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Arkansas</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">38</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">14-15 / 4th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">5)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Auburn</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">28</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">11-19 / 5th</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">6)</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">Miss. State</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">18</td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#E6E6E6">9-21 / 6th</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

I posted earlier in response to some media writer's prediction that we would finish last in the SEC that there was no way we'd finish last. Apparently, the SEC coaches agree with him.

RobbieRandolph · Feb 16, 2009

Geez, RP just did absolutely jack **** the last few years. How in the world could Raffo really think he should have had a shot, when he had a hand in putting us in this position to begin with?

JacksonDevilDog · Feb 16, 2009

Thanks Polk.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

RobbieRandolph said:
Geez, RP just did absolutely jack **** the last few years. How in the world could Raffo really think he should have had a shot, when he had a hand in putting
us in this position to begin with?

if I had a chance to start out at MSU vs. Arkansas State, and all I had to do was sit around for a decade and wait for MSU to hand me the job, I'd do it.

That said, I have always wondered if Raffo was just simply taking orders. Now, don't get me wrong here. I wanted Cohen and was one of those that e-mailed Byrne telling him to hire Cohen, and firmly believe that Cohen is the right person for us right now.

But at the same time, I would not be surprised at all if Raffo was just doing what he was told by The Legend in terms of recruiting and hitting. I will say, I may be wrong about that- it was hard to tell. But we're about to find out pretty soon about Raffo. One thing I noticed- Raffo kept the same assistants at Arkansas State, which leads me to believe that he would have kept McNickle as the pitching coach. That alone tells me we made the right choice. I will also say that his first recruiting class looks pretty solid for Arkansas State, so the truth is probably somewhere in the middle as far as taking orders from Polk.

8dog · Feb 16, 2009

Raffo was just doing what he was told. He knew things weren't working.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

8Dog said:
Raffo was just doing what he was told. He knew things weren't working.

If he knew things needed to be changed and Polk refused to change them, he should have told Polk that things were either going to change or he was going to leave for another job. The last person we need running MSU's baseball program is a yes-man.

coursesuper · Feb 16, 2009

next year will be different.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

how stubborn Polk was. You couldn't tell him ANYTHING. I don't know if Polk would listen to Joe Torre. I mean, the guy used a damn typewriter. And ironically, his secretary probably had to order the stuff for the typewriter off the Internet.

At the same time, Raffo was Polk's *****. That's all there is to it. And I do agree with you that his personality was not what our team needed. He is way too nice. We need a badass who isn't going to put up with anything and demand excellence from our team. We got the right guy.

8dog · Feb 16, 2009

who has been told he'll take the reigns of the program of his dreams when his boss retires is going to tell his boss that he's leaving if nothing changes.

I don't think that's Raffo-specific. I think that would've happened with anyone.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

provided us with the get established first year, massive purge second year model. I think Cohen might follow the same plan.

I hope Jet Butler wants to work on his masters at UAB.

Coach34 · Feb 16, 2009

no way will we finish last....we may or may not finish in the top 8, due to pitching...but we wont finish last

coursesuper · Feb 16, 2009

he had more than one chance to go to nice programs but stayed because here was were he wanted to be, can you blame the guy. I can't and still don't.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

Can anyone think of a big time player there during Cohen's UK tenure? There may be one, but there weren't many.

We all know that some of these programs like Vandy have built themselves up with big time talent- see Pedro Alvarez, David Price, Jeremy Sowers. UK had some good college players like Sawyer Carroll, but it's not like they had a ton of first round pick guys.

The only way to win when you don't have superior talent is to coach them up. I think that bodes well for us to.

coursesuper · Feb 16, 2009

he is making many changes with players and signed some juco help but his hands are tied with assitants for now.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

coursesuper said:
he had more than one chance to go to nice programs but stayed because here was were he wanted to be, can you blame the guy. I can't and still don't.

Because first of all, I follow college and SEC baseball fairly closely, and I can not recall one time before this year that Raffo's name has ever come up in a disussion to be a HC at somewhere like an Auburn, or anywhere else for that matter. If a school really wants you that bad, they'll make an offer you can't refuse- like we did with Petersen for football. (Another urban myth for another thread)

Then if he also really that highly sought after, he would have gotten a better job than Arkansas State. Auburn was open, and if they really wanted him, I have no doubt that he would have taken that job.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

except they moved UK from 3rd to last in the East and swapped UM (#3 last year and picked #2 this year) and Bama in the standings. That tells me that they think Cohen is a good coach whose loss will be felt at UK, but that MSU was so bad that even though we'll improve under him, the talent just isn't there.

we may or may not finish in the top 8, due to pitching...but we wont finish last

There's no way in hell we finish in the top 8. And I'm becoming less sure that there's no way we'll finish last.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

Raffo took McNickle with him to Ark. St. Cohen didn't keep any assistants from last year's staff. So how were his hands tied?

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

or moving on to another job. And if Raffo knew that we needed to make some changes, he should have also known that the promise Polk made him might not be one he could back up.

coursesuper · Feb 16, 2009

he is a head coach in Tampa. Or am I missing that point to.

jackstefano · Feb 16, 2009

"That tells me that they think Cohen is a good coach whose loss will be felt at UK, but that MSU was so bad that even though we'll improve under him, the talent just isn't there."

You're an excellent poster, so I'm going to let this bit of sheepism slide.

bulldogbaja · Feb 16, 2009

seriously, i don't understand

8dog · Feb 16, 2009

as late as 2008. Polk just didn't know when to call it a day and that cost Raffo the job.

QuaoarsKing · Feb 16, 2009

I can't say that we'll never finish last in the SEC again in baseball, but I feel confident that Cohen will get us back to the point where we're never picked to be last again.

Just like Alabama will never be picked last in football, or Kentucky in basketball.

futaba.79 · Feb 16, 2009

if you're part of that, which Tommy was, you probably feel pretty good about the state of the program.

You've got a boss telling you that it's yours in a year. You probably figure that it's a done deal, regardless of the Templeton situation. If you're Raffo you might know exactly what the problem is but you figure one more year with the old man and you'll right what's wrong. Plus, you just went to the CWS, so it can't be that bad.

I would imagine Raffo went into '08 with a mindset something like I just described.

8dog · Feb 16, 2009

b/c they lost their 3 best hitters (and 3 of the best players in the conference) in Wilkes, Carroll and Cowgill as well as a veteran weekend guy in Dombrowski and another good reliever in Albers.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

with the AD switch. I think that someone turning us in to the NCAA for "practicing too long" was a big wake up call for him, along with the fact that it was obvious after 3-4 weeks that we were going to have a losing season.

Polk knew even then that Byrne wouldn't allow him to name his successor.

patdog · Feb 16, 2009

in the offseason between 2007 and 2008, then he doesn't even know as much about baseball as I do, and he damn sure shouldn't be coaching an SEC team. Because even I could see that we were about to fall off the cliff (although I didn't know quite how far that fall would be).

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

on his croonies to come through for him like they had the past 30 years. Thank God we have an AD with balls. Finally.

futaba.79 · Feb 16, 2009

we had just gone to the CWS. We had beaten FSU twice at their place and then swept a strong Clemson club. Looking at the roster, we were losing Rea, Easley and Moreland, but Turner would be back. We had started 2 freshmen on the left side during our run and had recruited a first baseman that should have lessened the blow of losing Easley and Moreland. We had Weatherford back and had recruited what was hoped would be some decent pitching . Put one of us in Raffo's spot and we'd have been optimistic that we could at least hold our own in the SEC, make the NCAAs, have a nice run and then be handed a plum job.

ArrowDawg · Feb 16, 2009

......predicted to finish at or near the top of the SEC or the West. These days MSU and OM have flip-flopped, and OM is the one ranked every year and predicted to finish high while we're considered one of the lowly programs of the conference. It's literally sickening. I believe Cohen will change that, but it ain't gonan happen overnight. Polk left the program in a mess.

SLUdog · Feb 16, 2009

somewhere...call me an optimist.

99jc · Feb 16, 2009

maroonmania · Feb 16, 2009

was that a 5 game hot streak in the NCAAs had not changed the second tier SEC program we had become over the last few years. Even in the CWS year of 07 we barely made the regionals, stumbling down the stretch, and were the ONLY SEC team that made the regionals not to host that year. We basically lucked into a Super because a #1 seed got knocked out on the other side of the bracket and then we outbid Clemson for the right to host. Very, very unlikely we go to the CWS if we had had to go on the road again to do it. I can see where in the heat of the moment a coach might let his confidence in the program get a little too pumped up in a CWS run but the run was way more of an abberation than any reflection of where our program was at that time. I think even a majority of the fanbase realized that.

Rebheaded Stranger · Feb 16, 2009

or Bama in football in terms of traditional success. That is what you mean right?

This will probably be met with boos and hisses. And I mean no ill will relative to your accomplishments in baseball in the last 30 years.

I certainly wish that our own program had been so successful. But packing 13,000 fans into a Super Regional game, or having a cool outfield tailgating spot, or remembering when you would have beaten Texas almost 25 years ago if not for a come backer up the middle that torpedoed your run to a CWS title, does not mean that you're the torch bearer for the SEC in baseball, or that you are seen as a perennial power nationally in baseball like Texas, Arizona State, Miami, or LSU.

Calm down Johnny Hyperbole. You could very well be picked last. With this conference, you could even finish last and almost be on the bubble for an NCAA bid.

DynamicDawg · Feb 16, 2009

patdog said:
There's no way in hell we finish in the top 8. And I'm becoming less sure that there's no way we'll finish last.

To an extent. I think it's possible for us to finish in the top 8, but highly unlikely. Like you, I'm thinking that we are going to struggle to stay out of last place.

Improved competitiveness, aggressiveness, practices and workouts are great. But, unless we get better pitching, I'm having a hard time seeing how we avoid finishing last.

Todd4State · Feb 16, 2009

As far as baseball is concerned, our fans are just as fanatical about the team relatively speaking as Bama and UK fans are about their teams in football and basketball.

When you have a fanbase like ours, that's what gives you potential to be great and win Championships. To me, that's the biggest advantage we have at MSU. I know Polk would disagree- too much pressure at home- but I've also seen many games where our crowd almost willed our team to victory at times. The 2007 SR was the latest example of that. We also have 10 SEC Championships, which is tied for second in the SEC, and the first of those came in the 40's, and we have two in the 60's as well. So, it's not like MSU baseball begins and ends with Polk- again he would probably disagree with me. And the fans were there before Polk, and will be there long after Polk.

You can say that we're not the torch bearer because we aren't the most successful in terms on NC's, but at the same time, I don't know that LSU has those NC's without what MSU did in the 80's. That's certainly debatable, but the fact of the matter is MSU was the school in the SEC that was packing the stadium out first, the school that was building the really nice stadium when most everyone else in the SEC was playing in a glorified high school stadium, and we had one of the first great SEC teams loaded with prospects in 1983-1985. I don't know what SEC baseball would have been like today without MSU baseball, maybe someone would have taken it to this level, but nonetheless, MSU was the first to do that, and we should and do get due credit for that. What we did in the 80's really paved the way for the SEC today- which is remarkable since this is a football conference. Now the SEC is like a A-AA minor league.

Mr Meoff · Feb 16, 2009

...and I typically don't think you're a homer.

I'm not a baseball historian, and I'm not one to go looking up stats, but I have to think that most people (yes, even UM homers) would consider MSU at least a 'former' baseball powerhouse... which is what this thread was saying. The team used to compete for championships every year. It doesn't now (although I guess you could say making the 07 CWS was pretty good recent success.) We hope it will be a top program again soon. And you are disputing which part -- that MSU was ever a powerhouse program?

Off the top of my head, the team has been to the CWS 8 times. Dozens of major league players - some allstars - have come through. We hold nearly every attendance record out there. As much as we ***** about his last few years, Ron Polk is a nationally respected coach. Many people give him credit for the tremendous growth of SEC baseball over the past 30 years. Other visiting players and coaches regularly mention Dudy Noble as their favorite place to play in college (a former Auburn player I know ranks it above their home field), not to mention accolades from Sports Illustrated and other media. Just because it doesn't include multiple national championships, I'd say the history is there, as would most rational, non-flaming people.

Let me ask this - do you think UM has a good football tradition?

Rebheaded Stranger · Feb 16, 2009

with being the most accomplished?

It's about achievment, not aesthetics. That's not a flame. I'd say the same thing about our "eating off china in the Grove" rep as well. And yeah, we've got decent football tradition. But it's probably only fourth or fifth best in our own division, and middle of the road in the conference.

Todd talks about State bringing the SEC into modernity in baseball. Once again, no argument. But influencing crowd size and stadium architecture is not the same as on field results. Dominance in a given sport has to do with championships, not reputation or perception.

My point was simply that despite the success and fan enthusiasm that your baseball program has had since the 70's, and it's status as a model program in terms of fan support, it's never become a consistent nationally recognized sustained multi-generational powerhouse. To classify it with Kentucky in hoops, Bama in football, Tennessee in women hoops, et al., is quite a leap. Those programs dominated the conference over decades and are seen as the standard bearers not just in the conference, but in many ways for the whole nation in their given sport. Not just for a few years, but for many. And when you discuss national powerhouses in those given sports, those programs always come up and are mentioned with Ohio State and USC in football, Duke and UNC in hoops, and UCONN in women's ball. Those programs and their on-field dominance go a long way in defining the conference in their given sport. And y'all don't define the SEC when it comes to baseball no matter how awesome those Polk teams in the 80's were.

And that's not a flame.

Here's what the other SEC baseball coaches expect from us this year.

Heisman

Heisman

Heisman

Redshirt

Freshman

Redshirt

All-American

Heisman

Redshirt

Redshirt

All-American

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Heisman

Heisman

Heisman

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

All-American

All-Conference

Redshirt

All-American

Redshirt

Heisman

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Senior

Senior

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt

Redshirt