What's Polk saying?
- Thread starter #helpstate
- Start date
Probably nothing; he's getting his team together in the Cape Cod League right now.
Honestly, I'm sure he's happy for us. I don't know why we keep trying to agitate this subject- he came back and apologized. Had nothing to do with John as a coach, just that Raffo had put his time into Mississippi State and he wanted him rewarded for it. He may have promised that to Raffo, and then felt bad when he couldn't deliver on it. I get it.
I'm thankful for Polk and what he did for us and the college game and I'll give him a pass on it.
Honestly, I'm sure he's happy for us. I don't know why we keep trying to agitate this subject- he came back and apologized. Had nothing to do with John as a coach, just that Raffo had put his time into Mississippi State and he wanted him rewarded for it. He may have promised that to Raffo, and then felt bad when he couldn't deliver on it. I get it.
I'm thankful for Polk and what he did for us and the college game and I'll give him a pass on it.
Exactly, I talked to a guy the other day that is a big LSU, fan and is a friend of a former major league player that was between coming to State and signing a contract. He signed a contract, but every year he gets a hand written Christmas card from Polk. He's not a bad guy, he just made an *** of himself being bitter.
I'm for Polk. Wish he could settle in and assist the new AD and Cohen. I also wish he had never gone to UGA.
I will always appreciate what Ron Polk did for not only MSU, but for SEC baseball. John takes every opportunity to praise Polk and the things he learned from him, yet we never hear a word from Polk. He did more than just disagree about the hiring of John, he actively interfered with the search, calling coaches under consideration, and begging them to decline if offered. He called John at least twice pleading that he not accept the job. A head coaching job, or for that matter any key position in an organization should go to the best you can find. Longevity within the organization should obviously get a person a good look, but not be viewed as a rubber stamp of entitlement. Michael M (MSU '73)
Last edited:
I don't know when he apologized or who he apologized to, but he never apologized to the fans. As much as he did for the program, there was no excuse for acting the way he did. He made us all pick sides when all we wanted was to win games and have the magic back at DNF. I've always said that things will never completely heal unless that happens.
That said, nothing would please me more than to have Polk around campus, supporting the team, speaking about State and college baseball (not the NCAA), reconnecting with old supporters and making new ones, and smoking cigars in inappropriate places. But, it's as if he disappeared off the face of the earth. As much love as he has for State, he seems content with staying busy with baseball in any way it comes. Maybe he's embarrassed to show his face. After all, he was spotted hiding in the bushes at practice that time. Maybe he's still too stubborn to fully accept Cohen, his style, and the way he handles players. I'm sure it's a combination of a lot of things, but there's no reason why he can't at least make some public gesture acknowledging the success of the program. There won't be a better time to do it.
That said, nothing would please me more than to have Polk around campus, supporting the team, speaking about State and college baseball (not the NCAA), reconnecting with old supporters and making new ones, and smoking cigars in inappropriate places. But, it's as if he disappeared off the face of the earth. As much love as he has for State, he seems content with staying busy with baseball in any way it comes. Maybe he's embarrassed to show his face. After all, he was spotted hiding in the bushes at practice that time. Maybe he's still too stubborn to fully accept Cohen, his style, and the way he handles players. I'm sure it's a combination of a lot of things, but there's no reason why he can't at least make some public gesture acknowledging the success of the program. There won't be a better time to do it.
I have never seen that apology or heard that he apologized (he certainly never did publicly). Not that it matters because an apology doesn't just magically undo what has been done. I'm still a little pissed Byrne didn't take him at his word and take his name off the stadium when he told us to. Glad he's keeping a low profile the last few years and just wish he would sell his house in Starkville and move the hell out permanently.
I'm less thankful. He did a lot of good things for us, and he just about un-did all of it.
I agree with this. In my perfect world that exists in my head, Polk would be able to come back and be an ambassador for MSU baseball and maybe even be a sort of volunteer assistant baseball coach. In the real world, I can't see that happening ever. He likes MSU, but he does not like Cohen, and he does not like Cohen's style. Sadly, it's best for Polk to stay far away.
Sad
Such an icon in state & SEC baseball history. It would be classy if he did show up in Omaha (where-ever it is) with at least a maroon MSU ball cap on.
Such an icon in state & SEC baseball history. It would be classy if he did show up in Omaha (where-ever it is) with at least a maroon MSU ball cap on.
Jason Crowder has him lined up as a guest on the pre game show Saturday
He speaks very fondly of John and is very proud the team is back in Omaha
Coach Polk and Coach Cohen have patched things up and have a strong relationship and each have moved on ... Time for the fan base to do the same
He speaks very fondly of John and is very proud the team is back in Omaha
Coach Polk and Coach Cohen have patched things up and have a strong relationship and each have moved on ... Time for the fan base to do the same
Last edited:
I think a public apology is owed before most will move on...he does that and all will be forgiven rather quickly.
You have to understand, old school coaches have old school habits. I go to lunch with one just about every day... he admits himself he has an ego as big as anyone. Obviously Polk does, and we allowed it. But, it's another reason a lot of them were good at what they did.
I don't need an apology from Polk, though I do think I've seen an interview in some paper where he said he regretted his actions. Don't ask me to find it. I realize, while not appropriate, why he was acting the way he was- he didn't trust the administration to know better than he who could steer that program right. I understand that's a hard thing to let go.
If he comes to Omaha, great- but I understand he's working up in Wareham right now and that team also deserves his attention- that is some serious baseball, too. He's in control of some of the best college players in the nation. Pirtle and Holder will be playing for him this summer up there, and he still picks up a lot of State players, and they benefit from him and his other coaches.
I don't need an apology from Polk, though I do think I've seen an interview in some paper where he said he regretted his actions. Don't ask me to find it. I realize, while not appropriate, why he was acting the way he was- he didn't trust the administration to know better than he who could steer that program right. I understand that's a hard thing to let go.
If he comes to Omaha, great- but I understand he's working up in Wareham right now and that team also deserves his attention- that is some serious baseball, too. He's in control of some of the best college players in the nation. Pirtle and Holder will be playing for him this summer up there, and he still picks up a lot of State players, and they benefit from him and his other coaches.
I hope this is correct----I was not so sure that Polk and Cohen were chummy. Which is 100% the fault of Polk.
Correct that he still gets a lot of State players?
It's absolutely correct. Had Graveman and Holder last year, Pirtle and Holder this year, not sure about years before. I'm friends with his pitching coach up there. I've kept up the last two years.
I don't know why he'd let them go up there if they hadn't made up. But, I've read a few articles where they had.
It's absolutely correct. Had Graveman and Holder last year, Pirtle and Holder this year, not sure about years before. I'm friends with his pitching coach up there. I've kept up the last two years.
I don't know why he'd let them go up there if they hadn't made up. But, I've read a few articles where they had.
I know a few things about Ron Polk. One of them is that he would never let his tarnished relationship with another coach get in the way of him and his players. Polk ALWAYS put his players first and that hasn't changed. Him and Cohen might have made up and bro hugged it out, but it wouldn't matter if they did or not. My stance on Polk has not changed. I'm upset about the way we acted when he hired Cohen, but I respect him for who he is and what he did for us and college baseball.
In reality, Polk's tirade at the time had EVERYTHING to do with Cohen. That's why he actively sabotaged the program from behind the scenes until his support structure eventually abandoned him and realized that we made the correct move. If it was "about Byrne" as he asserted at the time, why didn't he show back up when Byrne left? Exactly...
He made Cohen's rebuild here infinitely more difficult than it had to be -- and further set our program back in the process. He nor any of "his guys" support Cohen to this day -- there are just fewer and fewer people on that ship.
If he was going to give us well-wishes or speak on the record in the media, why hasn't that been done yet? Even Polk has a cell phone -- and you know there has been hundreds of media members looking to print the story of Ron Polk's thoughts on our return to Omaha and the "return" of MSU baseball. All he has to do is answer the phone and give his thoughts. Why hasn't he?
I remember hearing Polk on the radio shortly after his tirade. The DJ asked him if he stood by his demand to have his name taken off the stadium and Polk was just kinda like "um...well, no..."
The guy got mad and thought he could have his way. I don't like it, you don't like it, but again, a lot of those guys are just like that. He pretty much did have his run of the place while he was there, and I can understand why all of a sudden he has no say and he's pissed- that's just kind of how those personalities are.
He was wrong, and I think he knows that and has stayed away. Probably embarrassed. I don't think he roots against Cohen by any means or the school, I think he just hated he didn't get to make the call. And, from a loyalty point of view, I get him. I can see that in him. It's just not the way things are done anymore. He doesn't have to accept it, but it doesn't make him right. However, we can understand that about him and just let it go.
He was wrong, and I think he knows that and has stayed away. Probably embarrassed. I don't think he roots against Cohen by any means or the school, I think he just hated he didn't get to make the call. And, from a loyalty point of view, I get him. I can see that in him. It's just not the way things are done anymore. He doesn't have to accept it, but it doesn't make him right. However, we can understand that about him and just let it go.
Polk I had every opportunity to do better than he did. Fact is that nobody in the SEC cared about baseball and he still didn't really excel, he just did better than everybody else in the SEC, but not on a national level. Hell, he should have won the whole damn thing at least once, maybe more.
I don't know that he cares that much for MSU or Cohen. I wish his name was not on the baseball stadium as he expressed it be taken off. He does like baseball though. I don't know what else he likes. He seems like a sad little man and kind of ....weird. As a matter of fact, he reminds me of J. Edgar Hoover.
Yes, yes it is.
If he is so proud of his team and fond of Cohen, why no media comment through 72 hours after clinching back into Omaha from the guy that was the face of our program for 30 years?
I hope Polk never sets foot on our campus again. Partly due to his insane tirade when Cohen was hired but mostly his putting MSU second on his list of importance in the early 90's. that was and is unforgivable. When it became obvious I lost any respect and awe for Ron Polk.
Maybe there was no media comment
Since the media stopped using Morse Code in the 1940's. Some ship in the Gulf of Mexico probably got a "congratulations Mississippi State baseball and Coach Cohen message" though.
Since the media stopped using Morse Code in the 1940's. Some ship in the Gulf of Mexico probably got a "congratulations Mississippi State baseball and Coach Cohen message" though.
I see nothing in that article that indicates that Polk retreated one step from his tirade and attempted sabotage. Mississippi State baseball isn't Georgia baseball or Texas Tech baseball (Larry Hayes replacement at Texas Tech lasted 4 years and never went to a regional). We can't afford to hire someone just because he's "put in his time," especially when our program was in shambles. And I can tell you for a fact that Tommy Raffo was a big reason our program was in such bad shape.