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If Polk had had his way, last night would've never happened.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 9:41 am
Posted on 7/1/21 at 9:41 am
Let's go back in time to 2008. MSU hired COhen to replace Polk. Let's face it, MSU baseball in the 2000's was mediocre. However, Polk through a huge fit over hiring Cohen instead of his boy, Tommy Raffo. Raffo consistently has losing records at.... Arkansas State.
MSU said ok Ron, sorry you feel that way but we're going with COhen. COhen restored the program to respectability and went to Omaha. The rest is history.
MSU said ok Ron, sorry you feel that way but we're going with COhen. COhen restored the program to respectability and went to Omaha. The rest is history.
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Posted on 7/1/21 at 9:47 am to prplhze2000
I concur. I didn't initially like the Cohen as AD hire but it seems to be working out. Just took him a bit to figure somethings out now we need to get basketball rolling. Not sure if that will happen tho. Just not a basketball town.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 9:52 am to Abstract Queso Dip
I meant hiring him as coach.... which led to him moving up to AD......
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:07 am to prplhze2000
This man brought Mississippi State a national championship.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:09 am to anc
Agreed.
Foglesong will be known for three things
1. Firing LT
2. A campus that looks like a (nice) military base aesthetically
3. Destroying some flowers
Foglesong will be known for three things
1. Firing LT
2. A campus that looks like a (nice) military base aesthetically
3. Destroying some flowers
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:14 am to BulldogDX
Raffo's record:
2009 Arkansas State 23–30 12–18 9th
2010 Arkansas State 30–28 16–14 8th
2011 Arkansas State 27–31–1 13–16–1 7th
2012 Arkansas State 34–23 19–9 2nd
2013 Arkansas State 28–31 12–18 8th
2014 Arkansas State 32–27 18–12 3rd
2015 Arkansas State 27–30 12–17 8th
2016 Arkansas State 28–30 13–17 8th
2017 Arkansas State 28–27 13–16 3rd
2018 Arkansas State 20–32 11–19 T-4th
2019 Arkansas State 26–29 11–20 6th (West)
2009 Arkansas State 23–30 12–18 9th
2010 Arkansas State 30–28 16–14 8th
2011 Arkansas State 27–31–1 13–16–1 7th
2012 Arkansas State 34–23 19–9 2nd
2013 Arkansas State 28–31 12–18 8th
2014 Arkansas State 32–27 18–12 3rd
2015 Arkansas State 27–30 12–17 8th
2016 Arkansas State 28–30 13–17 8th
2017 Arkansas State 28–27 13–16 3rd
2018 Arkansas State 20–32 11–19 T-4th
2019 Arkansas State 26–29 11–20 6th (West)
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:17 am to BulldogDX
The campus looking nice had nothing to do with Foggelsong. Hell he had the crew plant flowers and he didn't like them then the next week they dug them up planted new flower/shrubs and still didn't like it. I used to play golden tee with a couple of crew members. I was convinced they were gonna go full Russia on the guy and poison him. Foggelsong was trash and I'm fairly certain anyone be they brought in would have fired LT. Upper management aka deep pockets were tired of LT.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:19 am to Abstract Queso Dip
Polk spent too much time fighting NCAA but nothing has ever changed as a result
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:34 am to prplhze2000
You do know a lot about what went on at MSU for an LSU guy.
He did want Raffo no doubt. I think most of that was out of loyalty. He seemed to like Chris Lemonis though. But yeah, Cohen took MSU to that Natty series with UCLA in 2013 and despite people bitching about the way Cohen was building, I understood it perfectly and Cohen was right.
I’m just glad Polk and Cohen are good friends now. There was a little riff between them a little while.
This is a really fun interview with Ron Polk being interviewed by none other than John Cohen. Polk talks about his long friendship with Skip Bertman , Cape Cod league etc
LINK
He did want Raffo no doubt. I think most of that was out of loyalty. He seemed to like Chris Lemonis though. But yeah, Cohen took MSU to that Natty series with UCLA in 2013 and despite people bitching about the way Cohen was building, I understood it perfectly and Cohen was right.
I’m just glad Polk and Cohen are good friends now. There was a little riff between them a little while.
This is a really fun interview with Ron Polk being interviewed by none other than John Cohen. Polk talks about his long friendship with Skip Bertman , Cape Cod league etc
LINK
This post was edited on 7/1/21 at 10:57 am
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:49 am to MullenBoys
Riff?
Polk threw a public temper tantrum and boycotted MSU.
Polk threw a public temper tantrum and boycotted MSU.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:49 am to MullenBoys
quote:I think a lot of LSU fans are very aware of Miss State. It's a unique situation- Miss State was the only program in the SEC that took baseball seriously, until LSU stepped it up with Skip. State set the standard on everything, and was very close to being what LSU became.
You do know a lot about what went on at MSU for an LSU guy.
I think Skip looked at State, and corrected the 2-3 things Polk hadn't done right.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 10:59 am to Scoob
Here's one LSU fan that is elated after last night. It might have somethin to do with us living in Rankin County for 9 years. 
Posted on 7/1/21 at 11:31 am to prplhze2000
quote:
Riff?
Polk threw a public temper tantrum and boycotted MSU.
Ron is an old timer who gave the full measure of his fight in support of MSU. I cut him a lot of slack for acting like an old guy. I am glad he is back in whatever way they choose to allow him access to the program. I think he knows his place and is just happy to have the home he deserves until he dies.
By the way, Ron Polk is a very nice guy. They don't come a lot better than him.
Posted on 7/1/21 at 11:36 am to anc
A lot of state fave didn’t like Foglesong but he started something that led to a vast improvement of our school and campus.
Alumni didn’t like that he changed the old ways but our athletics sucked, our campus looked awful, etc.
He started grounds work that has continued and today the campus looks 50x better. Firing LT and hiring Byrne led to a rise in all of our athletic teams. Since that time we have improved all of our facilities. Our football team has been to a bowl every year since 2010, including the fantastic 2014 season ranked #1 for 5 weeks. Basketball has been meh but is improving, we need to focus more resources on facilities there.
Baseball is phenomenal with the best ballpark in the country, numerous CWS appearances, a runner up, and a CWS title
Women’s basketball were runners up twice in the NCAA tourney.
We have had some great men’s tennis teams
The improvements made since Foglesong started his changed have been vast and I think he deserves some credit even though nobody at the time could see it
Alumni didn’t like that he changed the old ways but our athletics sucked, our campus looked awful, etc.
He started grounds work that has continued and today the campus looks 50x better. Firing LT and hiring Byrne led to a rise in all of our athletic teams. Since that time we have improved all of our facilities. Our football team has been to a bowl every year since 2010, including the fantastic 2014 season ranked #1 for 5 weeks. Basketball has been meh but is improving, we need to focus more resources on facilities there.
Baseball is phenomenal with the best ballpark in the country, numerous CWS appearances, a runner up, and a CWS title
Women’s basketball were runners up twice in the NCAA tourney.
We have had some great men’s tennis teams
The improvements made since Foglesong started his changed have been vast and I think he deserves some credit even though nobody at the time could see it
Posted on 7/1/21 at 1:31 pm to Scoob
quote:
“Unfortunately, our new athletic director slapped me in face and punched me in the stomach. He also slapped Tommy Raffo in the face and punched him in the stomach after 15 years of loyalty to Mississippi State. He did the same to our players, their parents and signees. I think I have more knowledge about the game than young Mr. Byrne.
“I want my name taken off the stadium and in the concourse until Greg Byrne is fired. And if they don’t do it, I will. And as soon as I get back to Starkville, I’m going to make sure the MSU Foundation is taken out of my will. And that’s a lot of money. I’m going to ask former players who give to quit. If you’re asking if I’m mad, then yes. I’m mad.
“I was up front with John Cohen, Pat Casey, Steve Smith all along. If Joe Torre got the job, I wouldn’t support him. I know more about Mississippi State baseball than anyone. Greg Byrne doesn’t know anything. Well, he’s about to find out what my name means.
“I love John, he’s a former player, but he knew how I felt. And when he walks into his new office, there will only be a desk and chair. No papers on the players or anything. I don’t like what’s done, but I guess he really wanted this job very bad. Good luck.
“Is this a good job? I don’t know. Kentucky has the lottery and we don’t. But I’ll tell you one thing, Greg Byrne may be the athletic director, but I’m the athletic director for baseball. I’ve been there for 31 years, and no one is more loyal than me.”
“Do you think Vince Dooley is glad he listened to me. Look what Dave Perno has done with Georgia and he’s close to getting them back to the world series. But with this hire, Greg Byrne has thrown 15 years away of Tommy’s coaching life and the four years he has played here. Is he the best candidate, I don’t know. I say give him four years. If he doesn’t get the job done, then fire him. But no, Greg Byrne wanted to make a splash. But he’s not a Mississippi State guy, and doesn’t understand what MSU baseball is all about. His honeymoon is over. He blew it.”
Posted on 7/1/21 at 1:49 pm to prplhze2000
You wouldn't hire the best bus driver in the city to design new buses. Why would you let a baseball coach pick the next baseball coach?
Posted on 7/1/21 at 1:56 pm to Penrod
Sounds like Polk made the Raffo guy a promise that he couldn't (didn't have the power to) keep. That's the only reason he would be that mad about it. Or he's crazy. 
Posted on 7/1/21 at 2:46 pm to Hogfan13
That and he thought he was the program. The idea of an AD doing his own thing never entered his mind.
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