Hawaii? Geeze, did the assistant at Lamar turn them down? Does anyone really think Skip would ever hire a baseball coach that wasn't from the Ron Frazier lineage?
Smoke needs to go smoke whatever he is smoking somewhere else. he is a decent coach but will never win the big games.
From this article, it doesn't sound as if Skip thinks keeping Smoke here is all that high of a priority. Bertman: LSU baseball coach welcome to shop 7/9/2005, 11:42 a.m. CT The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU will not offer baseball coach Smoke Laval a pay raise if another school makes him an offer, athletic director Skip Bertman says. "I want Smoke to do what he wants to do," said Bertman, a former LSU baseball coach who hired Laval as his top assistant before the 1984 season and recommended him as his successor for the 2002 season. Bertman said Laval is getting "a good salary and Smoke would never do this for a negotiating ploy." Laval, who leads the Southeastern Conference in regular-season SEC victories during his four years as LSU coach, has been linked by media reports to the vacant head coaching job at Oklahoma. Rest of the story here: http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louis...rts-7/112092401623320.xml&storylist=louisiana
I just want to make a comment: It's is my opinion that Smoke IS a pretty good coach, but it seems that he never really *cared* for the LSU job. I know, I know, call it Saban-itis, but it just seems like the guy can careless... So, my thought it this: What if Smoke DOES take the OU job (which I think would be a VERY smart move for him, career-wise,) and ends up having a VERY good program (LSU of the last 5 years caliber team?) I think Smoke is capable of running a VERY good program, the conditions just aren't right here. You pretty much HAVE to win at least a game in the SECT or CWS for the season to be considered simply DECENT. Now, answer me this. What coach in America would be willing to step-in at LSU and coach? I sure as hell wouldn't. LSU's past success means jack-**** today. Bianco is doing something special at Ole Miss, why would he leave to come to LSU and have to start over? I like Northwestern's coach, Gaspard, but it's the same situation with Smoke... Just because you're good at a small Louisiana school DOESN'T mean you'll be Mr. Everything at LSU. LSU's run of titles may have been the worst thing that could have happened, and it will take awhile for the fans to forget about those titles and enjoy the sport. I know it's a bit different, but look at USC in the 70's. That's impressive. I may be wrong, I wasn't alive yet, but wasn't USC baseball down through most of the 80's? Now, they are a somewhat respectable program.. see my point? Just a thought on the whole baseball ordeal. I still think that WITH smoke or NOT, we'll have a very good ball club next season. Pitching SHOULD be superb with Bonura returning plus, all our other pitchers, minus jason. CJ proved he is an all-sec caliber thirdbm. Hollander will be an OUTSTANDING ss before it's over. Mayer is going to be beast at the plate. Sprowl is as good a lead off man you'll find in the SEC. Outfield looks good with Sprowl and Steward. Liuzza SHOULD have an AWESOME season next year... Will Harris should as well... that other harris boy should do well... I think we're in damn good shape!
In college baseball, motivation, confidence, and swagger are all more important than the actual 'managing' Under Skip, people were afraid to play us. And now they aren't. That is the only major difference between the two. With that said, I don't know who should be the coach if Laval leaves, but we need someone to help restore the 'LSU Mystique,' more than we need an X's and O's man.
I wouldn't get too excited just yet. OU is probably going to hire Gene Stephenson from Wichita State within the next few days.
George Horton probably isn't going to stay at Fullerton until he retires. That said, I kind of hope that he is holding out to take over for Augie Garrido at Texas eventually.
