06/19/01 (8:00 p.m.) - Here are premium site excerpts from the press conference Tuesday morning and afternoon.</p>
With approximately 150 to 200 MSU fans and media in attendance Mississippi State University Athletic Director Larry Templeton, to the cheers of the Bulldog fans in attendance, announced that former Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk was returning to Mississippi State as the new head baseball coach.</p>
Larry Templeton:
"This was probably the most unusual search for an intercollegiate coach in America. I can remember when I called Ron after Pat told me he was leaving, the first thing Ron said to me was 'what are we going to do?'.</p>
" I knew Saturday afternoon when we topped the hill at the coliseum and I said to him, 'that is your place', and I saw that spark and gleam in his eye (he was coming back). It was kind of hard not to offer the job right then because he was coming home. Now, Sunday afternoon, when we were walking through that stadium, he started to tell me all the things we needed to get done (laugh from the crowd) and how much it was going to cost this program to get them done. I remember I told you, Ronnie, that is your decision and you do it."</p>
Ron Polk:
"I am going to bring with me from Georgia one of the members of my baseball staff, Daron Schoenrock, our pitching coach. We had a great first year (at Georgia) and, as you all know, a great second year. Daron is one of the reasons for that. Another great move that we made, and was not difficult at all, was making sure that Tommy Raffo stayed. (applause from the crowd) Tommy is going to be staying and that gives us that continuity that we need. We will be making a decision on the other assistant coach in time.</p>
"I will sign a contract for four years here. I know a question will be how long will I coach. Depending on my health, I will be the head coach at Mississippi State as long as everybody wants me to be.</p>
"We are excited about a project that is being put together right now. Bryce Griffiths, who is probably as good a Bulldog as you could imagine, is steerheading, and I will be heavily involved, a project that is somewhere between 1.6 and 2 million dollars. It is an indoor practice facility, coaches offices and other stadium improvements, the things that we have to have to go to the next level.</p>
"We have a lot of work to do here. Starkville and Mississippi State is my home and I am glad to be back."</p>
Kenny Kurtz:
Kenny Kurtz: It means a lot to me because I was a part of his first SEC championship team and also a part of his first MSU appearance in the College World Series. It was a sad story when he left but I knew why he did. He is a dear friend to me, not just a coach. He is like a father to me. He has helped me tremendously. He is the kind of person who talks family. He doesn't missed sending birthday cards or Christmas cards, not just to me but to my wife and kids. He does that with all of his players. He writes them himself. In my twenty+ years since I was a player here, he hasn't missed a lick. When he went to Georgia, he sent me a Georgia media guide. The last two years were special to me, especially since I lost my oldest daughter. He was right there with me. He called me on the phone and helped me tremendously. I'm just happy to be a part of that.</p>
Saunders Ramsey:
Saunders Ramsey: Watching Thigpen, Clark, and the others; Van Cleve used to come over to the house. All their stories used to revolve around Coach Polk. I never thought this chance would present itself again. I am thrilled and excited. I am ready to work hard. We have a bunch of great guys returning. With Coach Polk returning, it will bring an entirely different aspect to the game. I feel our players will step it up even more and take it to that next level, winning the national championship. Coach Polk believes we can and we have the guys who can make it happen.</p>
Josh Abraham:
You are not only a player but a fan as well because you grew up in Starkville. Talk about how special it is to you because of that?
Josh Abraham: I can remember when I was 6, 7, 8, 9 all the way up until I was 15 and 16 and seeing Ron Polk on third base. I had always wanted to play for Ron Polk. I thought he would be here forever. This is it, this is all that I have ever wanted. I think that everybody on this team is excited about it. I am getting chills down my body right now thinking about it. I can't wait for fall practice to get here. We are going to work hard and try and win a championship.</p>
Tommy Raffo:
You have a very unique perspective because you not only have played for Coach Polk and Coach McMahon but you have also coached for both men. Talk about that.
Tommy Raffo: There are a lot of emotions going. Both men have meant so much to me since high school Not only on the field but off the field as well. You see the class of our program and the type players we have had at Mississippi State.</p>
With approximately 150 to 200 MSU fans and media in attendance Mississippi State University Athletic Director Larry Templeton, to the cheers of the Bulldog fans in attendance, announced that former Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk was returning to Mississippi State as the new head baseball coach.</p>
Larry Templeton:
"This was probably the most unusual search for an intercollegiate coach in America. I can remember when I called Ron after Pat told me he was leaving, the first thing Ron said to me was 'what are we going to do?'.</p>
" I knew Saturday afternoon when we topped the hill at the coliseum and I said to him, 'that is your place', and I saw that spark and gleam in his eye (he was coming back). It was kind of hard not to offer the job right then because he was coming home. Now, Sunday afternoon, when we were walking through that stadium, he started to tell me all the things we needed to get done (laugh from the crowd) and how much it was going to cost this program to get them done. I remember I told you, Ronnie, that is your decision and you do it."</p>
Ron Polk:
"I will sign a contract for four years here. I know a question will be how long will I coach. Depending on my health, I will be the head coach at Mississippi State as long as everybody wants me to be.</p>
"We are excited about a project that is being put together right now. Bryce Griffiths, who is probably as good a Bulldog as you could imagine, is steerheading, and I will be heavily involved, a project that is somewhere between 1.6 and 2 million dollars. It is an indoor practice facility, coaches offices and other stadium improvements, the things that we have to have to go to the next level.</p>
"We have a lot of work to do here. Starkville and Mississippi State is my home and I am glad to be back."</p>
Kenny Kurtz:
Kenny Kurtz: It means a lot to me because I was a part of his first SEC championship team and also a part of his first MSU appearance in the College World Series. It was a sad story when he left but I knew why he did. He is a dear friend to me, not just a coach. He is like a father to me. He has helped me tremendously. He is the kind of person who talks family. He doesn't missed sending birthday cards or Christmas cards, not just to me but to my wife and kids. He does that with all of his players. He writes them himself. In my twenty+ years since I was a player here, he hasn't missed a lick. When he went to Georgia, he sent me a Georgia media guide. The last two years were special to me, especially since I lost my oldest daughter. He was right there with me. He called me on the phone and helped me tremendously. I'm just happy to be a part of that.</p>
Saunders Ramsey:
Saunders Ramsey: Watching Thigpen, Clark, and the others; Van Cleve used to come over to the house. All their stories used to revolve around Coach Polk. I never thought this chance would present itself again. I am thrilled and excited. I am ready to work hard. We have a bunch of great guys returning. With Coach Polk returning, it will bring an entirely different aspect to the game. I feel our players will step it up even more and take it to that next level, winning the national championship. Coach Polk believes we can and we have the guys who can make it happen.</p>
Josh Abraham:
You are not only a player but a fan as well because you grew up in Starkville. Talk about how special it is to you because of that?
Josh Abraham: I can remember when I was 6, 7, 8, 9 all the way up until I was 15 and 16 and seeing Ron Polk on third base. I had always wanted to play for Ron Polk. I thought he would be here forever. This is it, this is all that I have ever wanted. I think that everybody on this team is excited about it. I am getting chills down my body right now thinking about it. I can't wait for fall practice to get here. We are going to work hard and try and win a championship.</p>
Tommy Raffo:
You have a very unique perspective because you not only have played for Coach Polk and Coach McMahon but you have also coached for both men. Talk about that.
Tommy Raffo: There are a lot of emotions going. Both men have meant so much to me since high school Not only on the field but off the field as well. You see the class of our program and the type players we have had at Mississippi State.</p>