the national search

[Duane Chapman]

Some have opined that we should not just offer it to Cohen, but should instead conduct a national search to determine the best man for the job. Admittedly, I don't follow college baseball on a national level as closely as the SEC, but I just don't see how a national search would result in us finding a coach more qualified and suitable than Cohen. He's one of the hottest coaches in the country (indeed, to reassure myself that it was okay to describe a coach in such a manner, I just googled "hottest baseball coaches in the country," and the first result listed was about Cohen). Of all the schools that will be making changes this year, how many of them would hire another coach over Cohen? Is there really a coach out there that we don't know about, with a better resume, that would be interested, and with MSU ties to boot?

I'm not saying that I'm opposed to national search. If Cohen and the few others that have been discussed aren't interested, I think that's exactly what we should do. I guess I just feel like since it's a top job we should go after the top candidates (Cohen, McDonnell, etc.), which are obvious, first. We don't need a national search to tell us who the top few candidates are, so I don't see what's wrong with interviewing them first, and if all goes as expected determining the best candidate amongst them, which will most likely be Cohen. If one of them wants the job, I don't really see the point in doing a national search. If they don't, then we should start searching.

 

[Duane Chapman]

Some have opined that we should not just offer it to Cohen, but should instead conduct a national search to determine the best man for the job. Admittedly, I don't follow college baseball on a national level as closely as the SEC, but I just don't see how a national search would result in us finding a coach more qualified and suitable than Cohen. He's one of the hottest coaches in the country (indeed, to reassure myself that it was okay to describe a coach in such a manner, I just googled "hottest baseball coaches in the country," and the first result listed was about Cohen). Of all the schools that will be making changes this year, how many of them would hire another coach over Cohen? Is there really a coach out there that we don't know about, with a better resume, that would be interested, and with MSU ties to boot?

I'm not saying that I'm opposed to national search. If Cohen and the few others that have been discussed aren't interested, I think that's exactly what we should do. I guess I just feel like since it's a top job we should go after the top candidates (Cohen, McDonnell, etc.), which are obvious, first. We don't need a national search to tell us who the top few candidates are, so I don't see what's wrong with interviewing them first, and if all goes as expected determining the best candidate amongst them, which will most likely be Cohen. If one of them wants the job, I don't really see the point in doing a national search. If they don't, then we should start searching.

 

[Duane Chapman]

Some have opined that we should not just offer it to Cohen, but should instead conduct a national search to determine the best man for the job. Admittedly, I don't follow college baseball on a national level as closely as the SEC, but I just don't see how a national search would result in us finding a coach more qualified and suitable than Cohen. He's one of the hottest coaches in the country (indeed, to reassure myself that it was okay to describe a coach in such a manner, I just googled "hottest baseball coaches in the country," and the first result listed was about Cohen). Of all the schools that will be making changes this year, how many of them would hire another coach over Cohen? Is there really a coach out there that we don't know about, with a better resume, that would be interested, and with MSU ties to boot?

I'm not saying that I'm opposed to national search. If Cohen and the few others that have been discussed aren't interested, I think that's exactly what we should do. I guess I just feel like since it's a top job we should go after the top candidates (Cohen, McDonnell, etc.), which are obvious, first. We don't need a national search to tell us who the top few candidates are, so I don't see what's wrong with interviewing them first, and if all goes as expected determining the best candidate amongst them, which will most likely be Cohen. If one of them wants the job, I don't really see the point in doing a national search. If they don't, then we should start searching.

 

[Coach34]

we are going to have a few very qualified candidates, but none of them any more qualified than Cohen. There are going to be some talks with Raffo, as well as others, and they are going to figure out they dont want Raffo. Cohen is going to be a step above the rest because he played here, as well as knows the conference. When you take into account he is winning at Kentucky in baseball, its the equivalent of competing for the SEC title each year in football at Vanderbilt. That isnt going unnoticed.

Polk knows the only chance Raffo has to get the job is to do it while LT is still involved and the Presidents chair is in transition. Thats why he did it now and is hoping he still has the pull to get it done.

We'll see

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

Whether it ever comes out that it happened that way, that remains to be seen. The job will be Cohen's if he wants it, unless something happens to change the mood of the fans/boosters. It's a real no-brainer for us.

If Cohen doesn't want the job, they will conduct a search. So, don't worry about us possibly offending Cohen. And I wouldn't worry about a national search as a cover for hiring Raffo, either.

 

[Todd4State]

my choices would be:

1. Cohen- I think he would be a candidate no matter what, even without the Polk ties. His resume is just impressive.

2. Rick Jones- Turned Tulane into a power in the same state as LSU which had won NC's in the 90's

3. Paul Manieri- If for no other reason that he really seems somewhat interested, and he has done well at Air Force, and Notre Dame. Plus, he now knows the conference, and probably will turn LSU around in due time.

4. Mike Kinneson- Has won a NC at Delta State. His teams are always solid, and he knows Mississippi. He also doesn't take anything from anyone, and someone with his attitude is what MSU needs.

5. Raffo- Yes, if nothing else just to appease the sheep.

 

[AccountingDawg]

The only thing I'm worried about is... They do offer it to Raffo first, and everybody knows his *** aint gonna turn it down...

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

not checking Gene's page everyday or anything. But, I find very little support among the people I talk to for promoting Raffo. Some of these people are in the maroon colored glasses set, too. I just don't talk to anyone who thinks Raffo should be the hire. So, I'm not sure I agree that would appease the sheep. There is a possibility that would only appease Raffo, Raffo's wife, and Polk.</p>

 

[cowbell9]

Pat Casy? Mcdonnell?

 

[AccountingDawg]

This little tidbit came directly from a player... Supposedly Polk told the players in a private meeting that, "if Raffo didn't get the job, he was going to insist that the university remove his name from the stadium"... But you can take that for what it's worth... This was during the meeting when he initially informed the team of his resignation...

I say scrape that **** off the wall big boy...

 

[Coach34]

of success as well as being a former player. I think being a former player holds alot of weight when combined with coaching success. I'd even be more for Raffo if he had any head coaching experience and a personality.

You follow baseball, and you know how 17'ing terrible Kentucky has been over the years. He has had them in the top 10 in 2 of the last 3 years. He has an SEC title. Thats impressive.
And, I dont want anybody with Mississippi Rebel ties leading our program, so that excludes one of your guys.

 

[Coach34]

This little tidbit came directly from a player... Supposedly Polk told the players in a private meeting that, "if Raffo didn't get the job, he was going to insist that the university remove his name from the stadium"... But you can take that for what it's worth... This was during the meeting when he initially informed the team of his resignation...

I say scrape that **** off the wall big boy...

</p>I'm not seeing the problem. We did that to honor him, not to have him hold us hostage. It can come off easier than it went on.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

I wanted it taken off when he went to Georgia.</p>

 

[patdog]

I'm not seeing the problem. We did that to honor him, not to have him hold us hostage. It can come off easier than it went on.

We all know it wouldn't be that easy. It would be a huge slap in the face of Polk and would royally piss off the majority of our fanbase, no matter that many of those same fans don't want Raffo any more than the rest of us. If it came down to that, and goddamn Polk if it does, we really wouldn't have much choice.</p>

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

At least if it does, you won't know it. If they hire Raffo (and I don't think they will regardless) they will go on and on about their national search (even if there isn't one) and how the national search turned up Raffo sitting in our own backyard. </p>

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

nfm

 

[Coach34]

in his resignation and then on the radio about it, you can bet it is going to come to that.

 

[patdog]

But pulling his name off the stadium would do more damage to our baseball program and athletic dept. than hiring Raffo would. We'd be better off with 2-3 years of Raffo and then do a real search for a permanant coach without anybody to tie us down.

 

[Shmuley]

ignore his inflammatory, muckraking *** and move forward with the agenda that is best for the program.

Tell him to take his Swisher Sweets and shove em up the pooper.

 

[statedogg]

asdf

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

trust me --- he will come out looking childish if he makes that request. Moreover, we can take the high road:

"We value Ron Polk and the tremendous contribution he has made to College Baseball and our own baseball program. While we know that he is disapointed that we didn't follow his choice regarding his replacement, we still are very fond of Coach Polk. It is our intention to continue to honor Coach Polk and his contribution to our baseball program by proudly displaying his name on our stadium. We think anything less would be less than honorable and wouldn't do justice to the memory of his contribution."

You don't get banned for replying to a reply to a Peaches post, do you?

 

[MSUBully1]

then let them take the name off. I like Polk but that is ridiculous.

 

[maroonmania]

blackmail a university in that manner deserves their name on anything. I just can't see it coming to that though because it is truly SO unprofessional on his part but I'm not sure there is anyway he could truly MAKE us take it off even if that's what he wanted since he's already originally consented to have it there. Sometimes though the more I hear about Polk the MUCH less I like the man.

 

[Todd4State]

anyway.

Actually, that would make it easier to forget the past seven years.

He may threaten to do that, but his ego won't allow it. And why would that be a big blow to our athletic dept? A lot of people wouldn't notice.

 

[woodrowmarsh]

I can't say as I've ever heard a MSU fan call it anything other than Dudy Noble OR The Dude anyway.
Never heard it referred to as Polk-Dement except by radio, TV, and newspaper folks.

 

[TheTickler]

yet another douchebag crackhead KA or sigma cheese or whoever that was in the house between the ka's and the sigma cheeses who couldn't get a job outside of the university and have been sitting there collecting a pay check as a secretary for the last 20 years? why not> that would follow suit with the rest of the hiring practices at msu.</p>

 

[ArrowDawg]

......if it was. Polk seems to be getting his rocks off on holding us all hostage. I WAS going to send him off with warm wishes and such, but right now I'm thinking about organizing a campaign of sign holders at games telling him not to let the door hit his sorry *** on the way out.

 

[Porkchop.sixpack]

Hatin' you some greek guys, aintcha?</p>

 

[ArmyofDoggness]

NT

 

[thatlonghairedguy]

ArmyofDoggness is one badass login</p>

 

[TheTickler]

just the piss poor hiring practices at msu across the board. the athletic dept. needs a big fat gigantic enema!!!

 

[fwsultan]

second choice would be McDonnell. The job is his if he wants it, Cohen that is.

 

[Stormrider81]

</p>

 

[coursesuper]

If we have seen anything over the years is that the man will not back down when he belives in what he's fighting for.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

raffo knows the foster parent program!

 

[DovaDawg]

<span class="post-title">Dudy Noble Field, Gordon Dement Stadium rolls off the tounge just the same.</span>

I was just thinking Grisham Stadium had a nice ring</p>

 

[Shmuley]

he has no woman in his life who can sit him down and tell him, "Ron, I love you. But you are making yourself look like a fool and you're embarrassing me. Stop it right now."

 

[Stormrider81]

I say give him his wish. If he is going to be that childish and put himself above the AD and program then I don't want his name on our stadium.

To LT, thank you again for rehiring Ron Polk rather than doing a national search.

 

[Todd4State]

he has no woman in his life who can sit him down and tell him, "Ron, I love you. But you are making yourself look like a fool and you're embarrassing me. Stop it right now."

</p>that I would find out the purpose of women on a MSU sports website.

 

[VegasDawg13]

yet another douchebag crackhead KA or sigma cheese or whoever that was in the house between the ka's and the sigma cheeses who couldn't get a job outside of the university and have been sitting there collecting a pay check as a secretary for the last 20 years? why not> that would follow suit with the rest of the hiring practices at msu.</p>

You're such a douchebag it's like you can't possibly be real, like you're just a parody of douchebag.</p>