Ben McDonald talks about new MSU coach Brian O’Connor
- Thread starter JWSDawgs
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He called the State job a top 5 coaching job in the country.
How could it not be? LSU's is better, but I'd be hard pressed name another that is clearly better.
We will out draw every program in the country next year. Our average home attendance will be #1.
In most ways, holistically, State is the #1 job.
I still think the number one job is LSU. You could have made the case it was Vanderbilt for a while with their built-in scholarship advantage, but that’s about to evaporate.
LSU for some, yes, but you have to be willing to be in that kind of a culture. It's great that they threw out cash like it was going out of style for Jay to get the natty (Skenes in particular), but after that its now just another good SEC baseball program when you look at it all on paper.
State has many advantages that a coach like O'Connor values and fits him more. Depends on the coach and the program and the fit.
LSU and MSU are the standards in college baseball
Need to include Arky in this. Like them or not, they are legit. Only flaw is a dropped foul ball for a natty.
I was just about to say this - LSU is a great job, but then you have to be around LSU people every day**
I'm not 100% sure that this is not just Van Horn. My judging of a great program would include sustained success over multiple coaches. Like, if Bianco leaves - will OM be able to maintain their success? Will Virginia? And would Arkansas?
Those are unknowns at this point, but to me it seems like LSU and State are demonstrably in a different class as a program, at least right now.
Norm Debriyn was Van Horn prior to Van Horn. Texas and Arkansas was SWC baseball. Van Horn has a better record but Debriyn is in several HOFs.
The program itself has 2 CWS runner ups, 11 CWS appearances, 36 NCAA tournament appearances. 2 Golden Spike winners. They have been a traditionally very solid program and elite over the last decade.
Just saying it's not Van Horn only. Heck we even beat them under Debriyn in one of the CWS games in the eighties. Their history basically starts with Debriyn so we have a longer tradition but I am really ready for Van Horn to retire ***
Baseball is more about having an elite head coach than having a great program.
As far as sustained success across multiple coaches, I think LSU and Texas stand alone. (During my lifetime it’s been LSU, but Texas has been elite for more than a century)
We’re probably in the next tier, for what that’s worth.
As far as sustained success across multiple coaches, I think LSU and Texas stand alone. (During my lifetime it’s been LSU, but Texas has been elite for more than a century)
We’re probably in the next tier, for what that’s worth.
Arky gets their first title this year. Should have been their 2nd like Gene Morgan's line drive in the leg should have been our 2nd as well.
