Let's face it. Some of you guys weren't being fair to Coach Deggs and this team. Last year some felt Deggs was the problem when, in fact, there were chemistry issues that had to be addressed, along with the coaching staff. And, even after that, there were some who freaked out about some of the guys (three in particular) that left. It was Deggs' fault.
No, it wasn't.
This team didn't get out of the gate as fast as hoped. Hood and Brock got off to slow starts, not unexpected since it was their first season as starters in D-1. TRob's slow start was unexpected but he had a great second half. DeBarge hit a wall, also not unexpected when scouting reports get out on freshmen. And, Marusak missing 15 games was a huge blow.
But it all came together with the offense. Guys like Lada, Willis and Brandon had significant contributions off the bench. Rincones proved to be nails defensively and even had a clutch hit or two.
And, no one complained....not in that dugout. Incredible chemistry on this team, very similar to 2000 and 2014.
My biggest criticism about this board has always been the same. Many of you don't understand the game that well. I laughed at some of the criticism as far as in game threads were concerned but didn't comment because, well, baseball.
You simply can't look at this game with the same attitude you do about football. If you were ready to mutiny when we lost to Nicholls, then you're part of that group. Baseball is a great equalizer. Nicholls played .500 ball this year. They weren't St. Peters. And, on any given night, it can happen. It did. That's baseball.
Those four games (see: Troy) were, in my opinion, a blessing in disguise. When you play 56, four is just a blip on the radar screen.
This team learned from that adversity and played awfully good ball the rest of the season. There were a couple of individual games that were frustrating (see: ULM and App), but the body of work was awfully good.
I'm not going to say I expected us to win the league tournament, but I'm sure as hell not surprised they did.
This was one of the more satisfying baseball seasons for me. I loved being around this group of young men.
Matt Deggs can flat out coach. He's not anywhere close to Robe as far as in game coaching is concerned. That doesn't make him wrong (and that was a problem for some of you, but understandable.)
I'm going to do a separate post on the future. Then I'm going away for a while. The older I get, the more exhausted I am at the end of the season, both mentally and physically. I'm going to decompress. 63 nights in hotels and the better part of 10,000 miles driving has taken its toll.
And, I'm not thinking about football until at least mid July.
God bless. Geaux Cajuns!
Re: My how the tide has shifted
Originally Posted by sportsfanatic21
You’re right. I have a different perspective than most of the emotional meltdown posters do during games (and the season). I see the (negative) facts, and am disappointed in the results just like everyone else. I also know that missing with a pitch, making an error, swinging at a bad pitch, making a base running mistake, or striking out in a big situation has nothing to do with a lack of effort 99% of the time. Those kinds of things happen in every inning of every baseball game from tee ball to the big leagues Now, a lack of effort SHOULD get the player hammered on here.
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