If Ray Tanner or Paul Mainieri had taken over the program from Polk instead of Cohen, where would we be right now?
This is for pure speculation...
- Thread starter Dubs.sixpack
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If Ray Tanner or Paul Mainieri had taken over the program from Polk instead of Cohen, where would we be right now?
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Goat Still Grindin
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The program was utterly devoid of talent, especially pitching talent, when Cohen arrived. Not many would have recruited as well as Cohen.
I would damn sure like to have seen it for myself. I have thought about a similar scenario many times. I thought Cohen could probably get it done when he was hired, but I said many times during the hiring process that there were a lot of good candidates out there at the time Byrne hired Cohen. Even then I was not sure he was the BEST candidate, but one that should be fine. I am no longer confident of that. Injuries aside, there are just too many baffling decisions coming from the dugout in all phases of the game, year in and year out. To answer your question, though, I believe either of those coaches would have us in a better position 4 years in. Significantly better? Don't know about that, but better. One of Cohen's biggest obstacles right now is having to deal with both UM and USM in the recruiting process, and getting schooled by them both. Any other coach would have to be dealing with that also. And I don't think that situation is going to improve for us any time soon.
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Goat Still Grindin
Guest
<span style="font-style: italic;">"Not many would have recruited as well as Cohen."</span>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">That is funny right there, I don't care who you are.</span>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Do you do Stand Up Comedy at a local Sonic Drive Inn??</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">That is funny right there, I don't care who you are.</span>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Do you do Stand Up Comedy at a local Sonic Drive Inn??</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">
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that have also combined to win the last three national championships would be doing worse than Cohen? Just making sure that's what you are saying?
Here is the real reason we can't win like we used to.
When Polk was at his prime, he could dip into Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and even Louisiana and get the best players to come to MSU. Why? Because we dominated SEC baseball. However, since all of the other schools have put an emphasis on baseball, and Polk basically stood pat with our tradition, we cannot get those kids to come here. Add the Hope scholarship limitations that are unfairly being used by other schools against us and you see where I'm coming from.
Also, USM, Ole Miss, and Delta State have outstanding programs and we have to recruit against them as well. And here is the clincher, there ARE NOT enough SEC-type players in the state of Mississippi. And that is our main recruiting base for now.
Until things change in our recruiting philosophy and we go nationwide and get SEC-type players, we will continue to be middle of the road to cellar dwellers in the SEC from now on.
When Polk was at his prime, he could dip into Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and even Louisiana and get the best players to come to MSU. Why? Because we dominated SEC baseball. However, since all of the other schools have put an emphasis on baseball, and Polk basically stood pat with our tradition, we cannot get those kids to come here. Add the Hope scholarship limitations that are unfairly being used by other schools against us and you see where I'm coming from.
Also, USM, Ole Miss, and Delta State have outstanding programs and we have to recruit against them as well. And here is the clincher, there ARE NOT enough SEC-type players in the state of Mississippi. And that is our main recruiting base for now.
Until things change in our recruiting philosophy and we go nationwide and get SEC-type players, we will continue to be middle of the road to cellar dwellers in the SEC from now on.
Anybody who is any good now....can go play in front of very nice crowds in high level ball parks at schools located in much more attractive geographical oasis than the "Loveliest City in the Golden Triangle".**
Still does not mean the Head Coach should not be held accountable. And we are in Year 4. If......IF....because it is not a sure thing...this team <span style="text-decoration: underline;">doesn't</span> make the 10 team Hoover field, then Cohen needs to be told to make some staff changes to bring in a "hitting instructor", and be expected to finish in the Top 8 of the 14 team league next year to keep his job.
He has not recruited a decent enough collection of very good to great hitters since he has been here. They may have changed the bats, but it is still college game with metal bats and these guys that we are playing against are playing with the same equipment.
Just like Polk did in 07, Cohen backed into a Regional, got some lucky breaks, which everyone has to have to win at playoff time, and had a solid run for 2 weeks at the end of the year.
Those players are gone, and several were Polk's. Enough to be difference makers for sure.
Still does not mean the Head Coach should not be held accountable. And we are in Year 4. If......IF....because it is not a sure thing...this team <span style="text-decoration: underline;">doesn't</span> make the 10 team Hoover field, then Cohen needs to be told to make some staff changes to bring in a "hitting instructor", and be expected to finish in the Top 8 of the 14 team league next year to keep his job.
He has not recruited a decent enough collection of very good to great hitters since he has been here. They may have changed the bats, but it is still college game with metal bats and these guys that we are playing against are playing with the same equipment.
Just like Polk did in 07, Cohen backed into a Regional, got some lucky breaks, which everyone has to have to win at playoff time, and had a solid run for 2 weeks at the end of the year.
Those players are gone, and several were Polk's. Enough to be difference makers for sure.
He finished second in the west and had a chance to win it going into the last weekend. If you take out the last two weeks of the year we host a regional!
I meant that Polk got some lucky breaks to get to the CWS after losing 2 and out at the SEC tourney.
And Cohen got some lucky breaks to get to the 3rd game in an SR after losing 2 and out in the SEC tourney, some of those breaks being left with a few pretty talented juniors and seniors that Polk had recruited. Just sayin'.
And Cohen got some lucky breaks to get to the 3rd game in an SR after losing 2 and out in the SEC tourney, some of those breaks being left with a few pretty talented juniors and seniors that Polk had recruited. Just sayin'.
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Goat Still Grindin
Guest
Do you know why Polk had that good year in 2007? Because he had a veteran team with big time recruits, like will have starting next year. All the years in between 2008 and 2012? That's all on Polk for leaving us exactly **** to work with.
And yes Goat is a 17ing tool. That cull needs to get over himself. As for baseball you are on the right track. There are programs in this state where we can no longer get in the door and that is a fact.
Are you kidding? When cohen got hired we had Peaches on here talking about how Cohen was gonna change the game in sec recruiting. Now, cohen is getting his bell rung time and time again.
He's been gone four years. He did leave the program in rough shape but every player we have now is Cohen's recruit or is here because Cohen wants him here. We're in rough shape this year because Cohen wanted to win quick with Juco guys so he recruited Vickerson, Ogden, Trey Johnson, Jaron Shepherd, and Thigpen...and it almost paid off. However, he knew this year was coming when he would lose a bunch of seniors and he prepared poorly for it.
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Goat Still Grindin
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Goat Still Grindin
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Cohen went quick fix in year one and it didn't work, but he stuck with the quick fix in year 2 and it paid off last year with Parks, Ogden, Shepherd, Vickerson, Wes Thigpen, and Trey Johnson along with hold overs from Polk...Cody Freeman and Ryan Collins carrying most of the load with a some help from Bradford, Frazier, and a little help from Renfroe and Norris sprinkled in. Pitching was better last year, but that year 2 recruiting class leaves us wondering what happened to what should be a senior class this year.
And what happened to another group of Cohen recruits: Dallas Hannah, Jared Miller, Matt Lane, Kolby Byrd, Luke Bole, CC Watson, Cody Abraham, Victor Diaz and Chase Lewellan??
And what happened to another group of Cohen recruits: Dallas Hannah, Jared Miller, Matt Lane, Kolby Byrd, Luke Bole, CC Watson, Cody Abraham, Victor Diaz and Chase Lewellan??
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Goat Still Grindin
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I heard Templeton at a QB club meeting back around '07 or so and he was talking about why he did it. Polk didn't even want to come back. LT talked him into it. Knew he could get him cheap I suppose. <div>
</div><div>Those of you who are mesmerized by the lack of attendance....you can attribute it to that hire as well. That's when the crowds dropped off significantly. That's also when Ole Miss built their program due to our negligence. That's why it sickens me to look up at Oxford and see what they have now.....we allowed all of it.</div>
</div><div>Those of you who are mesmerized by the lack of attendance....you can attribute it to that hire as well. That's when the crowds dropped off significantly. That's also when Ole Miss built their program due to our negligence. That's why it sickens me to look up at Oxford and see what they have now.....we allowed all of it.</div>
Butch Thompson and Lane Burroughs were always gone the first two years because they were hard on the recruiting trail. Burroughs was rarely at practice and even missed a few in season games. Butch told me after the 2010 they would never recruit that hard again. He said they wouldn't sacrifice their families like that and he would quit coaching if he was asked to do that again. So what's my point? They're banking on success making it easier to recruit and people seeking them out. It'll be interesting to watch the next couple of recruiting classes.