It seems like a lot of people must think so if they believe he'll hire Raffo after a doing a perfunctory coaching search. Seriously, why do a search at all? Why tell everyone who will listen that you're not going to make a decision until after the CWS when you can hire the guy down the hall and end the speculation? This is Byrne's big chance to put his stamp on the athletic program and he's going to cop out and hire Polk's choice? I don't think so.
Is Byrne a puppet?
- Thread starter TR.sixpack
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It seems like a lot of people must think so if they believe he'll hire Raffo after a doing a perfunctory coaching search. Seriously, why do a search at all? Why tell everyone who will listen that you're not going to make a decision until after the CWS when you can hire the guy down the hall and end the speculation? This is Byrne's big chance to put his stamp on the athletic program and he's going to cop out and hire Polk's choice? I don't think so.
To go old school here- maybe Raffo and Polk have naked pictures of Byrne with animals.
Something to think about- Byrne's Dad fired Mark Johnson, who was a Polk protege' and Byrne hired Cohen, who even then it was well known was not a Polk favorite, and the guy that Cohen replaced there was Keith Madison, who was also a Polk protege'.
In other words, I don't think Byrne is real worried about pissing Polk or Raffo off. Honestly, as an AD, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to try to please one guy who won't even be there anymore- even if he is a legend- and piss off the people that will be coming to the games and supporting you. I mean, Polk is only one ticket, and I doubt he pays for his.
Plus, pissing Polk off and him moving to Arizona probably isn't a bad thing because then he is a lot less likely to meddle with the team. And I really think not hiring Raffo probably will end up being a blessing in diguise for him. It will force him to finally take a HC job and show what he can do. I know that he has filled in for Polk some, but I honestly don't think you can base a lot off of that because guess who's really calling the shots down in the clubhouse in all likelihood. And even if that's not happening, I still don't think it really means a lot one way or the other.
Russ McNickle should sell cars. Not that he would be good at it, but he sure as hell can't coach baseball.
Wade Hedges could stay, I could care less what he does.
Something to think about- Byrne's Dad fired Mark Johnson, who was a Polk protege' and Byrne hired Cohen, who even then it was well known was not a Polk favorite, and the guy that Cohen replaced there was Keith Madison, who was also a Polk protege'.
In other words, I don't think Byrne is real worried about pissing Polk or Raffo off. Honestly, as an AD, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to try to please one guy who won't even be there anymore- even if he is a legend- and piss off the people that will be coming to the games and supporting you. I mean, Polk is only one ticket, and I doubt he pays for his.
Plus, pissing Polk off and him moving to Arizona probably isn't a bad thing because then he is a lot less likely to meddle with the team. And I really think not hiring Raffo probably will end up being a blessing in diguise for him. It will force him to finally take a HC job and show what he can do. I know that he has filled in for Polk some, but I honestly don't think you can base a lot off of that because guess who's really calling the shots down in the clubhouse in all likelihood. And even if that's not happening, I still don't think it really means a lot one way or the other.
Russ McNickle should sell cars. Not that he would be good at it, but he sure as hell can't coach baseball.
Wade Hedges could stay, I could care less what he does.
1. Polk and Cohen's relationship is just fine. There is no animosity between them at all.
2. Lots of people are writing letters to Byrne asking him to hire Raffo. Its not just Polk.</p>
3. We don't want to piss Polk off too bad. He has the potential to raise alot of money for us from former players.
4. Byrne had absolutly nothing to do with the firing of Mark Johnson.
5. Byrne wasn't the AD at Kentucky. He had some input on Cohen's hiring, but it wasn't his decision.
Disclaimer: Between the two, I would rather have Cohen.</p>
</p>
2. Lots of people are writing letters to Byrne asking him to hire Raffo. Its not just Polk.</p>
3. We don't want to piss Polk off too bad. He has the potential to raise alot of money for us from former players.
4. Byrne had absolutly nothing to do with the firing of Mark Johnson.
5. Byrne wasn't the AD at Kentucky. He had some input on Cohen's hiring, but it wasn't his decision.
Disclaimer: Between the two, I would rather have Cohen.</p>
</p>
MagnificentBastard said:
Problems comprehending.................#4......he mentioned Byrne's DAD...........</p>
to be in a position to make this claim:
I'll tell you that, anecdotally, I don't see it. I talked to a former player and his psycho wife last week. This former player married a pure-blooded cleat chaser - I mean, 99.44% pure, fence buzzard, hanger-on, psycho *****, eat, sleep, drink it type. She's the type that seriously believes that Ron Polk is a god. She would rake your eyeballs if you said one negative thing about state or polk. After her husband said he wanted Cohen, the wife paused, teared up, and said, "I love Tommy, but he's not ready. I think Coach Polk may be wrong about this one."
I was speechless.
I'd like to get a concrete figure on what constitutes "lots of people." And I'd like to know who these "people" are.
I'll tell you that, anecdotally, I don't see it. I talked to a former player and his psycho wife last week. This former player married a pure-blooded cleat chaser - I mean, 99.44% pure, fence buzzard, hanger-on, psycho *****, eat, sleep, drink it type. She's the type that seriously believes that Ron Polk is a god. She would rake your eyeballs if you said one negative thing about state or polk. After her husband said he wanted Cohen, the wife paused, teared up, and said, "I love Tommy, but he's not ready. I think Coach Polk may be wrong about this one."
I was speechless.
Listening to him, I would say that most everyone underestimates Polk's relationship with his former players.</p>
I have a feeling Raffo has already withdrawn his name or has been told that a complete change is coming. Those coaches know if they have a real shot at staying there or not. Polkie hasn't said much about Raffo being the next head coach in the last month or so. He even said in a gene's page article or the CL and said, "whoever the next coach is."
MagnificentBastard said:
</p>than most coaches with their ex-players- some love him, like I'm guessing Burke Masters in this case, and others love him, but love MSU baseball more. I have talked to a few players myself that played for Polk that want someone other than Raffo. I imagine that Father Burke is taking up for his old teammate a little bit to.
Just because a player loves a coach, it doesn't mean that they have to blindly agree with everything that they say or do- just like with parents. You may not agree with some advice that they give you, but that doesn't mean you don't love or respect them.
Or in my case, I really do like Ron Polk, despite a lot of the things I have said on here. But I also hate bad baseball, and I hate losing. I also love MSU baseball more than I love Coach Polk, and hiring an unqualified coach to lead our program just to satisfy a coaching legend who is past his prime is unacceptable to me, and it should be for everyone associated with MSU. (Not that you or anyone was accusing me, just had to get that out there.)
that we now know of that could possibly be interested in the job. I don't think former players who may contribute $$ to the program will stop giving if Polk doesn't get his way this time. I just don't see it.
BriantheDawg said:
</p> it wouldn't force the program to go belly-up. We should be able to recoup what we lose by marketing to the other fans.
most former players are loyal to Polk and that's where it stops for them. They don't cut Jim on the radio and listen to SEC weekends like most of us did when our coach gave a damn. They don't follow through live stats. They don't contemplate how many times they are going to drive to DNF-DS to take in a few games. It doesn't bother them even a little that we've sucked so bad the last 7 years. They are about one thing: Their coach. And as Todd pointed out, most former players are loyal to their coach regardless of how bad that coach is. And that's admirable. But its not what we need. The input that matters is from those that actually give a damn about MSU baseball.
I completely agree that we need to minimize the bridge burning with Polk. He can do a lot for us off the field.
I completely agree that we need to minimize the bridge burning with Polk. He can do a lot for us off the field.
should NOT be a major issue here. IF that was a major player in the quality of our program, and Polk maintains the great relationships that have been talked about here, then our program wouldn't have continued the downhill slide its been on for the last 15 years or so. The only former player we have making major money at this time anyway is Papelbon and he's much more of McMahon guy than a Polk guy. The primary factors here is who will get the general support of the fanbase and what kind of program can we count on them building. Relationships with Polk's former players is way down at the bottom of the list.</p>
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