Western Carolina

[woffordgrad94]

Well, after a midweek win at Big South Gardner-Webb (which moved our record to 9-1 against Big South teams), we got our butts kicked 11-4 at SoCon favorite Western Carolina. 1-3 in conference play and getting worse...we can beat teams in other conferences but not in our own, when it really counts. This program and all the people that run it and ae associated with it deserve another long tongue lashing for failing to support this team financially and otherwise, but I just don't feel up to it right now. I will say that if nothing else the unfortunate players are learning a harsh lesson of life- sometimes hard work really DOESN'T pay off after all. Basketball's hard work did, soccer's did, football's often does, but baseball's hasn't- at least not to this point- and I doubt it ever will. The difference lies in the amount of support each program gets from the college. This baseball program trying to compete in the SoCon is just a wild goose chase without proper admistrative support. You can criticize me for being negative, but you can't call me a liar. I think I will try to set up a meeting with some athletic higher ups and plead for support on behalf of this baseball program because I am tired of these results every spring. I wish I could afford to write a bigger check for them and maybe provide additional scholarships. If I could do it, I would- right out of my own pocket. I might be negative, but I also have a heart of gold and an undying support of all Wofford athletics.

[Atldog7]

WG94, it is not always as simple as it may seem. Western has a great team right now, and although I am disappointed by the sweep, there is still a chance for optimism. As far as schollys go, I know they are trying to build the scholarship total for baseball, but for every baseball scholarship created, there must also be a female scholarship to match for Title IX purposes. The dollars just aren't there yet. I played baseball at Wofford and know personally how difficult it can be to win without funds but I do believe they are making progress despite the 1-5 start. Talking to the higher ups sadly won't create more dollars for them infuse into 2 sports. The Atlanta Alumni group is funding a new scholarship for baseball and I'm sure there will be more to come but this takes time. Be patient.

[Eyes of Old Main]

Both points here are valid. My issue is not with either point of view expressed here, but rather the idea that we are where we are and can't do anything about it until the funding changes. Wofford may not be able to add scholarships or budget, but they could try a new direction in coaching. Granted, those Dollars are limited too, but at least try something. I think we can all say at this point that the Interdonato experiment hasn't yielded the desired results whether we consider the resource based challenges or not. Many supporters are apathetic towards baseball because they know Wofford isn't trying. A coaching change says we are trying something different.

And as far as Western Carolina goes, they have far more serious money issues than Wofford does right now. I know they have a lower tuition burden to gather funding for, but they have a lot of institutional issues right now and to say that they can be successful in a tough situation and not Wofford goes against what it means to be a Terrier.

[Ruckus]

Their baseball situation isn't a tough one: they are fully funded.
Not making excuses for us, just pointing to facts.
I think lots of things need to change in order to turn us around, but primarily funding.

[TX_terrier]

One more fact. The current level of baseball scholarships has changed, just not recently. Their is one more Wofford baseball scholarship in 2014, than existed in the late 1960's.

Wofford has been NCAA D1 for a very long time now. Time for the Administration to publicly commit to a date when each sport will be fully funded.

[lawdog]

by JerseyTerrier on Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:03 pm

I wasn't going to post and I probably still shouldn't... but it honestly annoys me when I read the ridiculously classless vitriol thrown at Coach I on this forum. It's beneath you and certainly does not hold the standard for what I believe Wofford Alum should be (and are). Based on your off-based commentary, it's clear the majority on this board who knock him have no idea about the guy at all except from what they heard from some disenfranchised secondary sources. To that end, since I haven't seen it written on this wall before, I played for multiple coaches at the collegiate level and the one I respected the most was - easily - Coach I. I guess this is why I view these remarks as offensive to both current and former players. By the way, the baseball team is now 17-12 with what is BY FAR the most difficult schedule of any sports team in the school.
JerseyTerrier
Terrier Pup


by lawdog on Thu Apr 03, 2014 7:51 pm

Thank you for your post, JT - it is good to hear some first hand feedback. I do not know anything about Coach I. I do know that others wanted someone different when he was hired, and I wondered about that myself though I was not personally aware of the details. I also did not like the way our team tended to nosedive at the end of each season early in Coach I's tenure, and at the game or two I saw our team seemed to be low on morale and spiritless. However, when hired Coach I was very young and inexperienced; recently the team has appeared to be playing better under him. Everybody either grows and gets better at a job, or they don't - he has appeared to get better. I hope the team can continue to improve and have a respectable year.

[woffordgrad94]

Tough schedule? To be perfectly honest, most of this team's wins have come against poor Big South competition and Alcorn State ( probably the worst team in D-1). When they have played good teams they have usually ended up with a butt whipping. Yeah I know we just beat ASU for our second conference win. Yippee. Party down. Get down and boogie. Seriously, one win does not erase six straight blowout conference losses before that, four of which featured us giving up double digit runs. This program is a disaster, party because it is neglected when it comes to funding, but also partly because of a lack of leadership from the head coach. Say what you will but I know what I am talking about. Right now Wofford baseball does not belong in the SoCon. We are midgets in a giant's world. I really miss having Mark Line as our head coach. The guy was always pleasant, always positive, always carried himself in a mature professional manner, and NEVER made excuses. Line often produced excellent records with poorly funded programs just like what have today. He also won quite a few games against SoCon teams. I bet he had a better winning percentage against SoCon teams that any of the guys that came after him. Speaking of the guys that came after him (Ernie May, Steve Traylor, and Todd Interdonato), they have all been disasters if you judge them on winning percentage (and that is the best thing to judge them on since the main object is to WIN). It is time to try a new guy. And let's do a REAL national search this time.

[Ruckus]

Good news: we beat App State Sunday.
Bad news: we lost the home series and got outscored 28-13 in the process.
We are now 2-7 in the SoCon and tied with FU for next to last place just ahead of El Cid which has only won 1 SoCon game so far.
I think we are on the right track with the small ball and manufacturing runs, but in order to do that and be successful we need to play great defense and get good pitching. Therein lies the problem. I think our defense has improved some over the last year or 2 (which wouldn't take much as we were horrific 2 years ago) but we just don't have the arms to compete in a conference weekend series. That comes down to the omnipresent funding issue.
As for our coaching situation, I was not a fan of the hiring decision (as most on here know) and will never be convinced it was the right call. The other candidates' continued success only further support that position. However, I think TI is growing into the job and doing a better job at it. He is a hard worker and is gaining respect around the conference (as I understand). I personally have gotten to know him and like him. He is knowledgeable and is getting good smart kids who represent the college well. I think he is working hard for the program and the college, and is trying to make the best of the situation. In short, we could do a lot worse (see Ernie May). I also think that while a different hiring decision may have helped some in the short run, it is going to take monumental shift of priorities, funding and leadership at the admin level to change our situation substantially. And until that happens (if it ever does), TI is our guy and I support him.
BTW - I am not sure who or what "disenfranchised secondary sources" are, but if my opinions make me one, so be it.

[JerseyTerrier]

I don't quite understand Wofford94's argument since there is a disconnect between your conclusion and your analysis. The baseball schedule on the aggregate is more difficult than our other sports and the SoCon in baseball is a significantly stronger conference in baseball than in Football or basketball. Our baseball conference schedule is akin to the football team playing in Conference USA. Or our basketball team playing in the A10 or the SEC. So comparing the "success of football" vs. the relative lack of success in baseball is apples and oranges. So it's a moot point, since our football team and basketball teams would have trouble winning more than 25% of their games in those conferences. But, to your end, the baseball team would find more success - in terms of "winning" - by playing in a conference of similar RPI rank to that of the SoCon in basketball.

For comparison purposes - to help visualize my point - the SoCon in basketball this year was 30th out of 32 conferences in the country. The Big South which you dismiss our 9 wins against and that you label as "poor" is actually 19th out of the 32 conferences. The MEAC (SC State, NC A&T) is the 30th ranked baseball conference - same as the SoCon in basketball. I think we can both agree that we'd be in the top 2 in the MEAC, and enjoy similar "success" (measure in wins) to the basketball program.

All of that aside - my biggest complaint is how you measure success with "wins." As a former member of the baseball team - I guess you are labeling me as an unsuccessful student athlete since we didn't "win" as many games as you would have liked. Further, I love Mark Line. But again, the comparison is ridiculous, since Line coached a D2 version and Coach I is coaching in one of the top conferences in the country.

Ruckus - I agree with most everything you said. "Disenfranchised secondary sources" was referring to outsiders of the program that have never taken the time to get to know I and have simply blasted him and the program. But you have met him, so you can not be considered a secondary source since you know him first hand (whether you like him or not). I have no problem with people voicing their opinions (good or bad), I just think it helps if you know the situation directly or get to know the man you are blasting personally (which you said you have which I commend you for).

[woffordgrad94]

Well to me personally, wins=success. I would rather win in a bad conference than lose in a great one. Why? Simple Psychology 101. Winning makes you feel good and losing makes you feel bad. I hate losing. And it makes baseball a very frustrating program to try to follow and be a fan of. So I often end up kind of making light of it all. At the end of the day, it is just a game anyway and I have to keep telling myself that, especially since the baseball program is unlikely to get any better in the foreseeable future.