At MSU, we are forced to eat our own.

[DirtyLopez]

I hate to say it, but I don't want Raffo. He was a great player and he might be a great coach. The problem is, he is associated with and has been a part of a declining program. This may be no fault of his own, but that is the reality. Now, if we were clicking along like we all believe that we should be, he would be a logical choice. His other alternative would have been to go head coach somewhere and prove himself as the skipper and if he showed success, bring him back in. But, the way it is at MSU with all of the apparent under the table dealings and lobbying that goes on, the fans end up attacking a particular person out of frustration, in this case Raffo and end up burning bridges with family. If MSU could start handling things the way they should and that includes Polk, we wouldn't find ourselves in this position time and again. I also believe that if MSU weren't run like a corner fruit stand, we wouldn't lose out on players like Garrett, McNiel no. 2, Campbell no. 2, and so on and so on. These other coaches point out how we are run to these kids and many of the younger brothers get it first hand from thier older brothers and take off somewhere else often times. And I used to wonder why I encounter so many older alumni who are so apathetic toward MSU sports. I am starting to figure it out. </p>

 

[Goat Holder]

nm

 

[hooptydawg]

sum it up in the space allotted by a message board. And in my opinion, everything you said applies to the University as whole; not just the AD.

 

[Stormrider81]

our current legendary head coach is publicly lobbying for his assistant, who happens to have no head coaching experience. Honestly, why in the world is Ron Polk airing this crap out in the public domain in early April? I consider that highly irresponsible and highly selfish of him. Has he no care for the university? The fanbase? This is just one example of what you are talking about, Lopez. The CL and various local stations around the state are not the place to be discussing who will be the successor before a decision has been made and announced by our AD concering a possible search. These antics from Polk only serve to divide the fanbase and hurt MSU's impending coaching search.

Seriously, somebody needs to walk over to the new baseball offices and tell Ron to either shut his mouth concerning who his replacement will be or go ahead and vacate the position of head coach.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Being a part of such a mediocre organization for so long will make you mediocre even after the original elements of said mediocrity have left. Raffo might be a good head coach at MSU someday, but he's gotta get away and get well before he can lead this team. We don't necessarily need someone from completely outside the Mississippi State program, but we definitely need someone who has been far away from the program the last few years.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Maybe Polk honestly thinks Raffo is the obvious choice to be his successor. But he's not with the fans. And going public with his endorsement of Raffo now only puts the decision maker(s) in a tough spot. And it really puts the athletic department (and the university) in a no-win situation. Just keep your mouth shut, at least publicly, and let the process work itself out.

Stuff like the following quote from this article just make him look selfish and egotistical:

"If things don't work out where the plan that I gave them is implemented - and I'm not threatening anybody, though I've done that before - then I'll be totally disappointed, upset because I've been here that long and I should have a lot of input," Polk said. "But I'm not going to make that final decision."

 

[Stormrider81]

The reason he isn't making this decision is because he won't be the one judged by this decision. He isn't the AD. After May 18 he won't be held responsible for anything at MSU. If we hired Raffo and he failed, nothing would happen to Polk. The AD, on the other hand, would be held responsible for making a bad hire.

Regardless of whether Raffo is qualified or not, should be hired or not, or would work out or not, this shouldn't be dealt with in the public eye. This is a discussion Polk should leave behind closed MSU athletic department doors.

 

[DowntownDawg]

....it's not his endorsement of Raffo that bothers me, it's his public endorsement of Raffo. He's essentially pulling out all the stops instead of just doing the right thing and recommending him to Byrne and Templeton. And I believe these tactics are designed to discourage other coaches from coming. Extremely ridiculous, and extremely selfish.

 

[patdog]

but this **** is making me lose a lot more. The Mississippi State baseball program hasn't been his top priority for about 15-18 years. He's always been more about Ron Polk and his agenda than he has been about MSU baseball. But now he's actively trying to sabotage our AD in hiring a replacement. MSU baseball would have been much, much better off if he'd stayed retired back in 1993.