620 am poll for the day asks..

[State82]

Should Greg Byrne honor Polk's request to name Raffo his successor? 77% have given that the thumbs down so far, which brings this question to mind. Raffo has to have a pretty good idea of the pulse of the fan base on this issue. If you had any idea that 3/4 of your fans did not want you to head up the program, wouldn't you be hesitant to take it? Now, I realize that this poll does not represent the entire MSU fan base, but I have a suspicion that the % is probably pretty close when you put the question in the form they did.

 

[Coach34]

hell yeah he will take it. Most coaches in this situation will take it as a challenge to show what they can do and rally the fanbase. This is the dream job for both Cohen and Raffo. I am just mad that Polk is trying to screw it up for Cohen.

Polk doesnt want a national search because Raffo stands no chance if that really takes place. Thats obvious. He has promised him something he probably cant deliver now that LT has been replaced and he feels guilty. That is why he is lobbying so hard.

My instinct tells me we will not have Cohen nor Raffo as our coach next year.

 

[State82]

I really hope you are correct. Because even though Cohen would be fine in my opinion, there are a number of other candidates that would do just as well. I would take the chance on an option other than Cohen if I knew Raffo was not an option.

 

[SanfordRJones]

My instinct tells me we will not have Cohen nor Raffo as our coach next year.

I hope your instincts are right on this one. I feel like I'm in the minority in thinking we can do better than Cohen (i.e. a coach who's had post-season success and sustained, consistent regular season success). He should be considered, but only as a decent fall-back.
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[EinhornisFinkel]

Coach I think you're right on this one. I have had it in my mind that Cohen was the right choice, because of his success at Kentucky but probably subconsciously feeling that while this may not make Polk happy, it would probably keep the "powers that be" happy. Now, after reading Polk's comments in the paper about not giving anyone other than Raffo his blessing, I hope we go to Japan and try to lure Bobby Valentine over to Starkville. Whoever we hire I hope it pisses Polk off to no end! Why is he doing this?? I trust Greg Byrne is not as reactionary as me.</p>

 

[RebelBruiser]

I think the reason is what everyone has been saying. I think Polk has basically promised Raffo the position. And I think therefore Raffo has stuck beside Polk and hasn't looked to move on.

Polk knew with LT at the helm that he could basically strong-arm the Raffo hire when he chose to retire. Now that LT has been relieved of his duties, Polk decides to retire in hopes of trying to strong arm the new guy who he hopes hasn't settled in enough to feel comfortable saying no to him.

Obviously though, Byrne should be able to figure out that he will only alienate a small segment of the fanbase if he ignores Polk, so he shouldn't feel too much pressure to grant Polk's wishes.

 

[patdog]

I think he'd be a good hire for us, but I'm not sure he'd be the best hire we could make.

 

[Todd4State]

If I was Raffo I would take the job because the other option is unemployment.

Not that I don't think he couldn't get another job at least as a hitting coach, but HC at MSU >>>>>>>>HC at Samford.

He would be foolish to turn it down. I do think he knows how everyone feels, it's pretty obvious. And because of that I don't think he would last long- he would almost have to take us to the CWS every year and win one to win over the fans. It would be a complete and utter disaster, and be the worst move in MSU baseball history.

 

[kwfergy]

As an Ole Miss fan, I don't remember the timing of everything, but had LT's departure been announced before or right after the CWS last year? If so, and if Polk had promised the head coaching job to Raffo, why didn't he go ahead and retire as soon as LT's departure was announced, before LT became a total lame duck. If Polk had announced his resignation right after the announcement about LT, wouldn't LT have still had enough power then to get Raffo in?

 

[Todd4State]

You are right, LT's "retirement" had been announced, but there were rumors that the Cigar Boys were trying to save LT at that time, and we didn't know who the replacement for LT would be. If it was someone that was in the good ol' boy clan, then Polk could have very easily pawned Raffo off onto them. That was a possibility since, well, we are MSU.

Plus, I think Polk probably overestimated his "power" in the eyes of MSU fans. The people he hangs out with pretty much sit around and tell him how great he is, and then of course you have his ex-players, who do the same thing. It's not far-fetched to believe that he thought that by "naming Raffo" that the MSU fans would strong arm Byrne into naming Raffo the coach. And since he doesn't have a computer, he probably thinks the sixpack refers to beer. Of course, the reality is hardly anyone outside of Polk's croonies- and actually many of them- don't want Raffo. I think he is just now realizing how the fans really feel about him.