Sorry, but this part describes a lot of LSU baseball fans: Yes we are, my friend. The truth about the fans and the reasons for Smoke's ouster are 2 separate things. Personally, I agree with the coaching change.
Come on . . . how many LSU fans think that we'll win 5 CWS championships in 9 years? I don't. Gorilla ball is gone and there is much greater parity in college baseball. I'd like to have a coach that can improve the team and improve talent, but, we can't expect to win the CWS every year, or even be IN the CWS every year.
People weren't happy with Smoke because, despite the results early on, it was easy to see in which direction the program was heading. Being competitive once getting to Omaha is all we really expected. A National Championship would have been great, but to say that we expected that every year is ludicrous.
After 2 CWS appearances, nobody was happy with Smoke because he didn't win there. I'm not defending him. I think the program needed a change, but the point is he didn't win NCs and that wasn't good enough for a lot of people.
I think the more correct way to phrase that would be some people were not happy with Smoke, yada, yada. Personally, I think just getting to the CWS is an accomplishment. To me, winning it all is icing on the cake. I think that a larger number of Tiger fans saw a couple of things they were not comfortable with. The first being the program finishing a little further and further behind every year. Some up and some down years is normal for any team, but slipping a bit every years indicates there might be a problem. The other problem a lot of fans had was Smoke's attitude. Towards the fans, the press, and most importantly, the players. I personally don't like the way he talked negatively towards the press about players with them standing right there. My personal opinion is that you can motivate much more with a positive attitude, not a negative one.
Right. He didn't win a SINGLE game, and at times were we clearly had our competition overmatched. He made ridiculously bad decisions, like starting that batting practice machine Bo Petit vs S. Car. when Meier had already beaten them that year. He was always in clearly over his head in Omaha. And I'm sorry, but just getting there ain't enough. Had he at least been competitive, he probably would still be the coach because they would likely be playing this weekend.
I didn't like Smoke, because above all else he was a jerk. LSU fans didn't like him back when he was an assistant either. I remember our fans giving him hell when he was the third base coach. The guy was his own worst enemy.
First off the drug thing is a low blow. College athletes have long been required to take drug screens. Second, I don't see LSU as a lateral move. Because of past successes you have the one of the most recognized programs in the country. That in itself should get you a player to LSU that wouldn't even think of Ole Miss or Alabama when it comes to recruiting. Having Bertman as a AD is a plus BECAUSE of his baseball background. It assures that, even as b-ball has fallen somewhat in the last few years, it will get the attention it deserves because of his involvement. A new stadium is a bonus as well as the Athletic Center.
