Lemonis is fine. He won a Natty, something other really good college baseball coaches haven't done (see prior State coaches, Van Horn and others). He's earned a few more years and I think he'll turn it around. I have an SEC rich family so family reunions include trash talking and, because I no longer live in Starkville, none of my close friends are State fans (they don't dislike State, though, and came over with beer to cheer on the Dawgs against Vandy last summer). Before we won a Natty, friends and family didn't think State was an elite baseball program. It was a good program with great fan support but elite meant to them a National Championship and not conference and regional banners. (We're there now.) There are likely a number of great baseball coaches who consider other schools as better options despite our helluva fanbase. They can pay as much, if not more, and it's not like Starkville is more appealing than other SEC cities for their wives and families. I like the place, wife and I may retire there, but the "what to do in Starkville on weekends" website likely doesn't entice a lot of non-elderly people with disposable income to visit. How many young, highly skilled athletes list Starkville as their top destination choice? Our baseball program has a lot to offer but so do other SEC programs. Adding Texas and Oklahoma is gonna make it more challenging.
