This sounds ominous....

[DowntownDawg]

..

<font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">There's an inherent problem to this story, though: Polk says he doesn't know what he's going to do. Oh, sure, he has some ideas. And even longtime friend and MSU athletic director Larry Templeton hinted that the two have had private conversations about his future - ones he wouldn't share - that might shed more light on the topic. But one thing is a constant: Polk's future in Starkville and around the program has much to do with whether State hires Tommy Raffo, his top assistant, to replace him.</font></p>

<font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> </font></p>

<font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">This leaves the possibility of a messy Polk departure from the school at which he did so much.</font></p>

And it brings up a couple of questions: A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that Polk bequeathed a bunch of property to the Bulldog Foundation for the baseball program. 1) Should we read anything into that regarding the hire? and 2) Does he undo that little transaction if/when Raffo is not hired?

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

Byrne shouldn't really give a damn what Polk does or says right now. Yeah you care what he says and take it into consideration, but you do what is best for the program. I know it's MLB, but Joe Torre was one of the most sucessful baseball coaches in the modern era. I know he coached the Yanks and I hate them, but he won 4 World Series Titles (96, 98, 99, 2000) When the **** hit the fan and he was "forced out", he didn't have a say so in hiring Jor Girardi. I mean, who the hell does Polk think he is? LT needs to stay the hell away and I'll be happy.

Edited to say: I think that if Polk realized that Raffo won't be hired, he'll be pissed, but I don't think he'll cause a major scene and further tarnish his legacy. I think this year has taken it's toll on him as far as that. There will be some things behind the scenes said and a few things will hit the pay boards from someone that knows a cigar boy, but I don't give a damn. When MSU is sitting at 42-14 in a few years and we are a number 1 seed in the Starkville regional, we won't give a 17 what Polk said.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

When MSU is sitting at 42-14 in a few years and we are a number 1 seed in the Starkville regional

What exactly makes you think this is a given?

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

I don't think that is a given, but if Ole Miss can roll off a 40 win season back to back, why the hell can't we? Reaching 40 wins is definitely within reach with a new coach and a couple of years to get the talent in here. We went, as a fanbase, expecting to contend for a national title, to being hopeful to contend for an SEC title, to being happy being in a regional, to being happy to make it to Hoover, to being happy to beat Memphis at home on a Tuesday night. Our expectations have dropped and it's 17ing sad.

 

[Paper Dog]

There is no way it will be Raffo - anyone that has watched this train wreck knows that

You can call Polk old, stubborn, egoistic and other things - you can't call him stupid

 

[Todd4State]

I think there are some people like myself that see the potential for our program and are legitimately pissed at what's been going on, and then you have the fans like KB21 that buy whatever crap is thrown out there to them. Therefore, Polk says we should be thankful to make a Regional, then by golly, they are happy.

So, as Polk's expectations have lowered, so have the sheep.

 

[CuzDawg]

.

 

[ArrowDawg]

.....Swan Lake a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. There are more KB21's there than Todd4State's.

 

[jwbigcreek]

Hubdog basically is stating as fact that Raffo won't be hired. Although I don't always agree with him, he seems to be right most of the time (works for the AD or SID maybe?).

 

[RebelBruiser]

I think Polk knows Raffo isn't going to get hired. That's why he's been so pushy in public about his wishes. I'm expecting Polk to do something crazy or at least have a good rant in the media when someone else is hired.

My list of possible Polk responses to someone else being hired:
1) An attempt to come out of retirement with some secret clause that LT put in his contract that allows him to void any incoming coach's contract and renew his own contract.
2) Asking to have his name removed from the stadium. As many have stated, his ego is probably too big to do this, but it would be the type of childish response he seems to be leading up to.
3) A rant in the media including a 20 page letter to the editor of every major paper in Mississippi.

We'll see, but I definitely think you're going to hire someone not named Raffo (as you should), and I don't think he's going to sit quietly by and not give any type of response.

 

[Todd4State]

.....Swan Lake a couple of years ago and haven't looked back. There are more KB21's there than Todd4State's.

</p>Permission for a possible signature?

 

[SteelDawg99]

Ladies and Gents... I do believe we have just had the priviledge of viewing the live birth of the mysterious creature "Mannimus Crushimus"....

 

[maroonmania]

is not actually Ron Polk himself. If I had any belief that Ron Polk knew how to use a computer I would certainly believe that Polk was posting under the username of KB21. That guy takes the term sheep to a whole new level.

 

[Todd4State]

is not actually Ron Polk himself. If I had any belief that Ron Polk knew how to use a computer I would certainly believe that Polk was posting under the username of KB21. That guy takes the term sheep to a whole new level.

</p>his real name is Keith Box (KB) and 21 is for Keefer McGee according to his blog. I looked in my media guide stash to see if there ever was a grad assist. under Polk by that name, but I couldn't find one. His name looked very familiar to me.