Baseball Coach or Life Coach

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Originally Posted by Ray Finkle

So let's say that, for whatever reason, Robe and Maggard decide to let JT stay with the program at least another year. With conference championships seeming like a distant memory of the past, will some of the fan base start to withhold their interests in the program? Are we going to have a stadium with 2-3k fans?

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I'm pretty sure we are barely getting that in actual butts in the seats right now.

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Originally Posted by Ray Finkle

So let's say that, for whatever reason, Robe and Maggard decide to let JT stay with the program at least another year. With conference championships seeming like a distant memory of the past, will some of the fan base start to withhold their interests in the program? Are we going to have a stadium with 2-3k fans?

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Talbot will not be back.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

There are players that need tweaking of their fundamentals, there are players that only need reps against D1 pitching, there are players you leave alone because it's more cerebral than physical, there are players that need you to challenge them, there are team dynamics that must be taught and managed. The gift of a coach is to know what applies when, where and to whom. A batting "system" is only a batting system.

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Good post

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Originally Posted by Cajun Monkee

So to the best of your knowledge, Todd wasn’t insubordinate

Because if he was insubordinate by your definition, and Rougerou is correct in his assessment that the best players have done the same thing then Tony has a different set of rules for different players.

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Nice subtle race card you are playing there...Todd didn’t even try to catch a fly ball at Texas..he froze. That’s why he went sit next to Tony initially. Then every time he got a chance to hit he struck out miserably. Why did Todd end the season in the lineup? Because he started hitting the ball.

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Originally Posted by Just1More

Moronic thread? Or what you think was a moronic post by MountainDew? The OP wrote a very reasonable post. It's produced very reasonable responses. I don't "know" Tony. But I don't question his competitiveness versus commitment to being a life mentor. I think it jives well for him and us. It's Tony's choice of how he talks to the public. It's mellow yellow to say the least. And when we're not playing good ball, that grinds on the passionate fan.

It's funny how baseball coaches can get theatrically mad at umps (that's baseball)... displaying behavior that won't cut it in any other walk of life their athletes will experience... but won't get mad at their program, their staff, or themselves in public. It is a little hypocritical.

Tony may not give a flying squat about fans... or he could be misguided into believing the biggest and best fans are all cooperative and quiet... but he should be more expressive sometimes about how sucking wind in baseball sucks wind. I'm a calculated person with 1000 pounds of passion. Those are competing forces. I severely appreciate those that have that makeup. I'm not very appreciative of gifted people that are heavily slanted only one way. All passion sucks. But pure calculation does too.

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To quote the original post..... "Does Coach Robe want to be a baseball coach or a life coach?"

As though these are mutually exclusive events. Rougaru hit the nail on the head with his response and I don't think I could have stated it better. I think every coache's responsibility (unless the players are getting paid) is to help mold and develop boys/girls to become great men/women.

As usual the thread has drifted, but yes I think the question posed by the op was moronic (def. very foolish). Being a "life coach" is exactly what makes him a great baseball coach.

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Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21

Talbot will not be back.

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Hope you are right!

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Originally Posted by Cajun90

To quote the original post..... "Does Coach Robe want to be a baseball coach or a life coach?"

As though these are mutually exclusive events. Rougaru hit the nail on the head with his response and I don't think I could have stated it better. I think every coache's responsibility (unless the players are getting paid) is to help mold and develop boys/girls to become great men/women.

As usual the thread has drifted, but yes I think the question posed by the op was moronic (def. very foolish). Being a "life coach" is exactly what makes him a great baseball coach.

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Making men out of boys is the purpose of university education not the avenue they use to pay for university education

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Originally Posted by AboveAverage

Making men out of boys is the purpose of university education not the avenue they use to pay for university education

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huh?? You think playing baseball pays for their education? Might want to do your research.

You think a University education makes men? Maybe you haven't noticed all the "safe spaces" on college campuses? If you truly believe that our higher education classrooms are responsible for "making men" you are probably in for a big dissappointment.

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Originally Posted by crazycajun

Nice subtle race card you are playing there...Todd didn’t even try to catch a fly ball at Texas..he froze. That’s why he went sit next to Tony initially. Then every time he got a chance to hit he struck out miserably. Why did Todd end the season in the lineup? Because he started hitting the ball.

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Swing and a mss there, hoss.

Obviously, you neglected to mention I brought up the fact Todd’s average went up when he got the chance.

The fact of the matter is, there several instances of poor play that didn’t keep other players off the field.

Our team batting average was atrocious.

And I’m not the only person in this thread who has this opinion.

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Originally Posted by Cajun90

huh?? You think playing baseball pays for their education? Might want to do your research.

You think a University education makes men? Maybe you haven't noticed all the "safe spaces" on college campuses? If you truly believe that our higher education classrooms are responsible for "making men" you are probably in for a big dissappointment.

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Baseball coaches are paid to win games and run a clean program. What Robe is doing, while admirable, is above and beyond and I’m concerned more important to him than his job, which is winning games. Don’t make it a “what’s wrong with society conversation”. That is nowhere in his contract.

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Originally Posted by crazycajun

Nice subtle race card you are playing there...Todd didn’t even try to catch a fly ball at Texas..he froze. That’s why he went sit next to Tony initially. Then every time he got a chance to hit he struck out miserably. Why did Todd end the season in the lineup? Because he started hitting the ball.

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That’s a weak stretch. I doubt he was playing the card and you just brought it into the equation. Congratulations.

I have no issue with Robe being a life coach as long as his supporting staff coaches baseball. Talbot needs to go, no sugar coating that one. Pitching in the SBC tournament was way below par. Who takes responsibility for that?

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Originally Posted by RaisingCajun08

I have no issue with Robe being a life coach as long as his supporting staff coaches baseball. Talbot needs to go, no sugar coating that one. Pitching in the SBC tournament was way below par. Who takes responsibility for that?

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The man that has always handled the pitching here??? Hmmmmm.....

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Originally Posted by CajunRage

Baseball coaches are paid to win games and run a clean program. What Robe is doing, while admirable, is above and beyond and I’m concerned more important to him than his job, which is winning games. Don’t make it a “what’s wrong with society conversation”. That is nowhere in his contract.

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Yeah..... that's the problem. Guy spends too much time being a mentor and not enough time coaching baseball. You should sit down with him and let him know that. Explain to him what his shortcomings are and how he doesn't spend his time wisely.

^👍

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Originally Posted by Cajun90

Yeah..... that's the problem. Guy spends too much time being a mentor and not enough time coaching baseball. You should sit down with him and let him know that. Explain to him what his shortcomings are and how he doesn't spend his time wisely.

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It’s cool man. You’re loyal to Robe. I have a loyalty to him as well. That is why I don’t think he should be fired or that even being discussed. The question needs to be asked though. Take his name out of the equation and answer this question.

If you had the facilities we do, if you were coming off of the consensus #1 ranking 2 years ago, if you were watching a peer (coastal) do big things in a smaller conference and now same conference, all while losing 7 straight series to start a season, produce one of the weakest offenses in the country and get bounced from the conference tourney that we hosted by 19 runs in two games, would you be telling any other coach that he needs to mentor his kids more or would you be telling him to coach them up and win?

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Originally Posted by CajunRage

It’s cool man. You’re loyal to Robe. I have a loyalty to him as well. That is why I don’t think he should be fired or that even being discussed. The question needs to be asked though. Take his name out of the equation and answer this question.

If you had the facilities we do, if you were coming off of the consensus #1 ranking 2 years ago, if you were watching a peer (coastal) do big things in a smaller conference and now same conference, all while losing 7 straight series to start a season, produce one of the weakest offenses in the country and get bounced from the conference tourney that we hosted by 19 runs in two games, would you be telling any other coach that he needs to mentor his kids more or would you be telling him to coach them up and win?

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.....I played for Saints and Sinners and there were wins and losses......however there were a lot of championships at a high level......one thing that went with the Ws were better players than the opposition had!!!

The answer is right there...staring us in the face. He has his escape plan mapped out. He knows what his next move is. Baseball is becoming a hindrance to what could be a lucrative career selling books and speeches to his followers about Grinding. Some won't believe it, make excuses, use the words "make no mistake" or "if you know the man", and generally ignore the writing on the wall with Tony. He's checking out, riding the clock, collecting checks...all while planning his getaway while still having his loyal followers there to bankroll his next endeavor.

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Originally Posted by CajunRage

It’s cool man. You’re loyal to Robe. I have a loyalty to him as well. That is why I don’t think he should be fired or that even being discussed. The question needs to be asked though. Take his name out of the equation and answer this question.

If you had the facilities we do, if you were coming off of the consensus #1 ranking 2 years ago, if you were watching a peer (coastal) do big things in a smaller conference and now same conference, all while losing 7 straight series to start a season, produce one of the weakest offenses in the country and get bounced from the conference tourney that we hosted by 19 runs in two games, would you be telling any other coach that he needs to mentor his kids more or would you be telling him to coach them up and win?

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But he has done the same thing in the past and won. It is perfectly reasonable to criticize Robe as his teams have fallen short and not met expectations. But the mentoring has not taken away from his teams that were highly successful. I don't think Cajun90 or I are suggesting that Robe is infallible, only that the point of contention you and others have does not appear to be the likely issue.

It is fair to ask the question though, but I think the evidence suggests the problem is more of his loyalty to certain other coaches when they aren't performing. The things he has delegated have not worked out either I believe. He had to spend a lot of his personal time getting that stadium built as Farmer was not doing his job.

I have a genuine belief that Robe will do what needs to be done. No matter what he does or does not do, if he continues to not meet expectations, we all know what will happen.

Yes he’s won, but hasn’t won consistently. Outside of the stretch from 2013-2016, he’s never made postaseason more than 2 years in a row. We’d make one, then spend 2 years missing out.

Coastal won it all in 2016 and is already back to hosting after not making it in the following year. Meanwhile, we’re 4 years removed from #1 in the country, 3 years removed from last super regional, 2 years removed from last time hosting, and now out in back to back years while having the one of the most putrid offenses in the country and a pitching staff that had too much pressure put on them.

Is a change going to be made? Honestly, I don’t think history points to a change being made. When has Tony ever fired a coach? They’ve always left for another job or left baseball altogether.

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Originally Posted by Rougarou

But he has done the same thing in the past and won. It is perfectly reasonable to criticize Robe as his teams have fallen short and not met expectations. But the mentoring has not taken away from his teams that were highly successful. I don't think Cajun90 or I are suggesting that Robe is infallible, only that the point of contention you and others have does not appear to be the likely issue.

It is fair to ask the question though, but I think the evidence suggests the problem is more of his loyalty to certain other coaches when they aren't performing. The things he has delegated have not worked out either I believe. He had to spend a lot of his personal time getting that stadium built as Farmer was not doing his job.

I have a genuine belief that Robe will do what needs to be done. No matter what he does or does not do, if he continues to not meet expectations, we all know what will happen.

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I agree with you: I do not think that the two things (Mentoring and succeeding) are mutually exclusive. You can do both at the same time, as has been done in the past.
I guess the question is what he is doing/not doing on the 'succeeding' part these last past few seasons.....and what he needs to do to right the ship.

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Originally Posted by GeauxLouisiana

Yes he’s won, but hasn’t won consistently. Outside of the stretch from 2013-2016, he’s never made postaseason more than 2 years in a row. We’d make one, then spend 2 years missing out.

Coastal won it all in 2016 and is already back to hosting after not making it in the following year. Meanwhile, we’re 4 years removed from #1 in the country, 3 years removed from last super regional, 2 years removed from last time hosting, and now out in back to back years while having the one of the most putrid offenses in the country and a pitching staff that had too much pressure put on them.

Is a change going to be made? Honestly, I don’t think history points to a change being made. When has Tony ever fired a coach? They’ve always left for another job or left baseball altogether.

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.......Just looking back on G-5 football through the years with the rise and fall....N Tex, Houston, smu, TCU, Memphis, Tulsa, miss south, Tulane, ECU, UAB, ltur, Troy, and yes the Cajuns.....sure you could add more, but some huge ups and downs!!!l

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Originally Posted by CajunRage

It’s cool man. You’re loyal to Robe. I have a loyalty to him as well. That is why I don’t think he should be fired or that even being discussed. The question needs to be asked though. Take his name out of the equation and answer this question.

If you had the facilities we do, if you were coming off of the consensus #1 ranking 2 years ago, if you were watching a peer (coastal) do big things in a smaller conference and now same conference, all while losing 7 straight series to start a season, produce one of the weakest offenses in the country and get bounced from the conference tourney that we hosted by 19 runs in two games, would you be telling any other coach that he needs to mentor his kids more or would you be telling him to coach them up and win?

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You are now deflecting from your original statement.....

"Does Coach Robe want to be a baseball coach or a life coach?"

You need to comprehend that is where I take issue with you. Please feel free to remove his name and I'll still have the same opinion. I think great "sports" coaches tend to be great "life" coaches. I completely disagree with the idea that you and others are professing in these two traits being incongruous to one another.

I take no issue with the fact that we haven't been a very good team over the prior two years and improvement needs to happen. There are numerous reasons for our slide into mediocrity, in my opinion, but being a "life coach" isn't one of them. I hope being a "life coach" is near the top of the list for every coach Maggard hires moving forward because I think that is critical to winning. Little girls and boys don't win NCAA championships.... mentally and physically tough men and women do.

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Originally Posted by Cajun90

You are now deflecting from your original statement.....

"Does Coach Robe want to be a baseball coach or a life coach?"

You need to comprehend that is where I take issue with you. Please feel free to remove his name and I'll still have the same opinion. I think great "sports" coaches tend to be great "life" coaches. I completely disagree with the idea that you and others are professing in these two traits being incongruous to one another.

I take no issue with the fact that we haven't been a very good team over the prior two years and improvement needs to happen. There are numerous reasons for our slide into mediocrity, in my opinion, but being a "life coach" isn't one of them. I hope being a "life coach" is near the top of the list for every coach Maggard hires moving forward because I think that is critical to winning. Little girls and boys don't win NCAA championships.... mentally and physically tough men and women do.

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But we have not been mentality tough for 3 years

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Originally Posted by GeauxLouisiana

Yes he’s won, but hasn’t won consistently. Outside of the stretch from 2013-2016, he’s never made postaseason more than 2 years in a row. We’d make one, then spend 2 years missing out.

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Two things - First you seem to have forgotten about a four year run from 97-2000. Second is in perspective. In his 23 years at the helm the Cajuns have made the tournament sixteen teams and have never missed the tournament for more than two consecutive years. That is a feat that only a handful of coaches outside of the SEC/PAC/BIG/ACC have been able to accomplish and many teams within those top four leagues would love to have that type of success.

I get that this was a down year by our standards but let's not start putting up broad brushstrokes and using a false narrative to paint an untrue picture.