So?

[Ruckdad]

[quote name="time2time" post="808573" timestamp="1275530509"]
It's too bad that some LU alums (Chris Rucker) cannot just live in the moment and enjoy the success of the their alma mater.  If you will just enjoy the present and not worry about the future then there is nothing to stress/worry about and you really can enjoy the team's success.  There are like some 200 teams that play D1 Baseball and only one gets to end their season in a victory during the post season.  So enjoy the ride and see how far it goes.  That's why I feel sorry for UT football fans.  I mean your win 10 games during the regular season and it's just an alright season.  Yea, it's great to have that much continued success but you take it for granted and you can't even enjoy a win, it has to be something more.  As a former college athlete that's sad because I know how hard the players and coaching staffs prepare for each game, and how a lot of times the separation in talent is a lot narrower than the fans realize.

As for anyone else, especially baseball25, Texas St. had a tremendous non-conference schedule; where are they playing this weekend?  UT-Arlington had a tremendous non-conference schedule; where are they playing this weekend?  I mean it makes perfect sense to me, I would much rather say "Hey we played a tough non-conference schedule!" than say, "Hey, we're the lone representatives from the SLC and get to play in the NCAA tournament with a shot of winning CWS!"   Maybe, just maybe Gilligan knew what he was doing.  Maybe he knew that the league was a one-bid league this season or that he would be starting 8 new guys.  And by the way, I think this team is one season ahead of schedule.  Sign a couple of good arms and next season they would win 35-38 regular season games.
[/quote]

I am living in the moment - I said I was excited for the team and hope they do well and advance in the regionals.  I support every Lamar team - as a faithful alum.  But as an interested fan, and an alumnus, I believe I have the right to voice my opinion on the state of the program, and that's what I have done.  Now back to work.

[bigred360]

If Lamar University would make the financial commitment to have the best facilites in the SLC I would agree but Sam Houston has the best facilities. May be why Coach Johnson was able to recruit so well and win three straight SLC titles.

If LU makes the upgrades as planned for 2012 ($5 million dollars) then I would agree with talk of Lamar competiting for the SLC every year. Until then, I can't see a reason for making a coaching change? JMO

[Guest baseball25]

yall have turf lol, I mean one of the best looking stadiums in the conference, I'll say this I played at both stadiums and i like lamars stadium alot better than Sam houston and I think think its a better overall  facility.

[bigred360]

[quote name="baseball25" post="808702" timestamp="1275580281"]
yall have turf lol, I mean one of the best looking stadiums in the conference, I'll say this I played at both stadiums and i like lamars stadium alot better than Sam houston and I think think its a better overall  facility.
[/quote]

Only the infield is turf at Lamar. I have to disagree with which stadium is better. I mean, at the Beck there isn't a visitor's locker room. Come on, this is DI and no vistors dressing facilites. No wonder big-time colleges won't come here.

[Guest baseball25]

Big time schools won't come there because Gilligan won't give them a game back and go to there place, Big schools use to come here  and the stadium is way better than what it was back in the hay day but gilligan plays a weak schedule now, I mean its LAMAR they need to go to big time places and play, but gilligan is to arrogant and won't travel to Texas, Aggies,Baylor, Lsu, and etc. I am tired of the excuses.

[bigred360]

I've been to TCU's baseball stadium and it's really nice. So, at least we're traveling this weekend.  ;D

[bigred360]

[quote name="baseball25" post="808707" timestamp="1275581999"]
[b]Big time schools won't come there because Gilligan won't give them a game back and go to there place[/b], Big schools use to come here  and the stadium is way better than what it was back in the hay day but gilligan plays a weak schedule now, I mean its LAMAR they need to go to big time places and play, but gilligan is to arrogant and won't travel to Texas, Aggies,Baylor, Lsu, and etc. I am tired of the excuses.
[/quote]

Yes, Coach G is willing to do return games if bigtime programs will travel to Beaumont he'll travel to their place. Name one time when a big-time school was willing to play at the Beck and Coach Gilligan would not return the game the next season.

[Guest baseball25]

The thing about it is its LAMAR there in the southland conference, Big time teams shouldn't have to go to lamar, Gilligan thinks his program is BIG TIME and he thinks he's a legend and don't have to go away and play big time schools, sometime you gotta make a sacarfice and go play away but he doesn't.

[bigred360]

[quote name="baseball25" post="808722" timestamp="1275585146"]
The thing about it is its LAMAR there in the southland conference, Big time teams shouldn't have to go to lamar, Gilligan thinks his program is BIG TIME and he thinks he's a legend and don't have to go away and play big time schools, sometime you gotta make a sacarfice and go play away but he doesn't.
[/quote]

Big-time programs visited these SLC teams
1. University of Arkansas at McNeese State
2. Rice, Houston, A&M at Sam Houston
3. Tulane, Alabama at SE Louisiana
4. UCLA, Oklahoma, Mississippi State at A&MCC
5. A&M, Baylor, TCU at Texas State

[Guest baseball25]

I know they do, like I said main thing is Gilligan he thinks he's bigger than what he is.......Gilligan doesn't like to travel to big time schools, so thats why he doesn't try to do a HOME and HOME all he's worried about is wins on his career record and won't play tough teams anymore.

[bigred360]

[quote name="baseball25" post="808744" timestamp="1275587540"]
I know they do, like I said main thing is Gilligan he thinks he's bigger than what he is.......Gilligan doesn't like to travel to big time schools, so thats why he doesn't try to do a HOME and HOME all he's worried about is wins on his career record and won't play tough teams anymore.
[/quote]

Again I ask you to please tell me one time Coach Gilligan turned down a Home and Home schedule? If you can tell me of one time then I'll agree with you. Otherwise, if Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, TCU and the like can travel to other SLC schools I'll continue to wonder why they can't travel to Beaumont.

Honestly, I'm sure after 30 plus years he is tired of six plus hour bus rides with the other school refusing to return the game.

[AggiesAreWe]

Baseball25, I understand your points, really I do.

But, your demise or hatred for Gilligan is deeply rooted, you know it, and we all know it. Therefore, your comments about getting rid of him no matter what reasoning you have, is muddied by the fact that you don't personally like Gilligan and never have.

Again, I do understand the points that you have made, but your personal bias against Gilligan makes your credibility with these points mute.

[Guest baseball25]

I don't hate anybody, I think Gilligan [b]WAS[/b] a hell of a coach, the guy is one of the best pitching coaches i've known but I think his time has past, and its time for Gilligan to hang it up, but I don't hate the guy. i just feel that Lamar could get a good young coach and build the Baseball program back to what it was in the 90's and 2000-2004...

[AJ25]

[quote name="bigred360" post="808738" timestamp="1275587036"]
[quote author=baseball25 link=topic=70153.msg808722#msg808722 date=1275585146]
The thing about it is its LAMAR there in the southland conference, Big time teams shouldn't have to go to lamar, Gilligan thinks his program is BIG TIME and he thinks he's a legend and don't have to go away and play big time schools, sometime you gotta make a sacarfice and go play away but he doesn't.
[/quote]

Big-time programs visited these SLC teams
1. University of Arkansas at McNeese State
2. Rice, Houston, A&M at Sam Houston
3. Tulane, Alabama at SE Louisiana
4. UCLA, Oklahoma, Mississippi State at A&MCC
5. A&M, Baylor, TCU at Texas State
[/quote]

Arkansas at McNeese was a tourney.
Rice and Houston came to Lamar as well, and A&M is EXTREMELY close to Sam.
Tulane is 30 min from SE LA, and Alabama is a state over. Close drive.
UCLA, OK, Miss St all played A&M CC at Whataburger Field.. Pretty easy to get teams to come when you play there.
A&M & Baylor are pretty close to TX State.. I'm not sure how they got TCU.

Point being.. These are all CLOSE drives for these big schools. Lamar isn't really close to any big name schools other than Rice and U of H, so that's why only they come. Lamar doesn't offer visiting locker room showers.. So when a big school can choose between coming down here for a single game and not even being able to shower before going back, or having a school close to if not equal with Lamar come to their place and save the drive.. They'll do that. Lamar has to go to those big names places because we're not close to big schools like other Southland schools are.

[bigred360]

Dude, you just made my point. To get major conference teams to come to Beaumont they have to make serious upgrades to the Beck.

With those upgrades Lamar could hoist (I know they already do) tournaments with major conference teams coming to Beaumont.

Disagree with your reasoning about travel involving major colleges because they could fly to Houston and bus to Beaumont. I'm talking about out of state major colleges.

A&M came to Beaumont in the past, why not now?

[Guest baseball25]

He could play LSU thats not far, Baylor, UT,Aggies,TCU, those all are less than 5hr drive but gilligan doesn't like to travel and play big time schools. He used to play big time schools but in the last 5 yrs its been regressing bad. Remember gilligian use to get big time prospects and he recruited really well, now he's not playing big time school and the talent has gone down at lamar. Every kid wants to play baylor,tcu,texas,aggies, it helps recruiting

[bigred360]

Well, he use to recruit a lot out of the New York area but he was criticized for not recruiting locally. Now, he gets local kids and he isn't recruiting good enough.

Speaking of recruiting, he got Kevin Millar out of California.

[Guest baseball25]

I know all of this already, he could recruit a little bit harder around this area, and Houston area, but like I said players want to play top notch schools, but who's fault is it that he's not recruiting in the ny and Cali area it's his fault, don't let fans dictate where you recruit, maybe gilligan Got tired of recruiting in the ny and Cali area bec he has gotten older and the wear and tear has caught up with him........that's why I say it's time to go he isn't the coach he used to be but thAt happens as you age.

[LumberCard]

[quote name="baseball25" post="808744" timestamp="1275587540"]
I know they do, like I said main thing is Gilligan he thinks he's bigger than what he is.......Gilligan doesn't like to travel to big time schools, so thats why he doesn't try to do a HOME and HOME all he's worried about is wins on his career record and won't play tough teams anymore.
[/quote]

The reason Gilligan made the decision not to play the "big time" schools is because THEY said they would not play Lamar in Beaumont. A&M, UT, LSU and so on were willing to have Lamar come to them for games, but were not interested in "repaying" the visit to Beaumont. When those programs decided that was the direction they wanted to go in, Gilligan decided he wasn't going to play their game. I'm not sure that the decision is the best one, but I respect him for making it.

The big programs are going to draw crowds no matter who they play, hence, they are going to make a little money from the games they are hosting. Maybe not a ton of coin, but better than most schools when it comes to baseball. The only time Lamar or any other SLC school is going to make any kind of gate, and fill their stands, is when they big time schools come and play at their place. In my opinion it is a way for the big schools to control how things are done and Gilligan wasn't and still isn't willing to play the game.

It is true that other SLC schools have hosted some big programs, but each deal is worked out with different coaches and there is a lot of work that goes into making a schedule. Maybe the coaches at LU are just not willing to bend as much as some of the others in the league. I wish they would because I want the bigger names on teh schedule year in and year out.

[bigred360]

Coach Gilligan is from New York so I doubt he gets tired of "going back home".

[Guest baseball25]

Like I said I don't hate the guy, I am tired of everyone making excuses and people getting mad because I have a opinion that fans don't like.

[time2time]

Baseball25 - there is difference between an excuse and a reason.  You may think it is an excuse but really it's a reason.  You don't have to like it, you don't have agree with it, but it is a legitimate reason.  You may think Gilligan thinks he's bigger and more important than he really is, and you may be right . . . or you just may be wrong . . . stop and considerate that before you respond.  You can criticize Gilligan all you want to but the reality is that the LU program belongs to Gilligan and he can run it anyway he sees fit.  When you become coach at LU or any other baseball program you can run it any way you want to and the public can criticize you just as you have the right to criticize Gilligan, but again just because you're critical does not mean you are right. 

I think most LU baseball fans would like to see a tougher non-conference schedule, I know I would, for instance bring back ULaLa and get rid of the historically black colleges  . . . that we can agree on.  However, he's got his team in the Regional.  PERIOD. That means he's the right man for the job. PERIOD.  I get the impression when you were at A&M-CC you still talked crap while and after your team got beat, b/c they did get beat regularly.  The answer then as it is now is S C O R E B O A R D!!!

[Guest baseball25]

Lol do you think that is going to bother me lol give me a break... we beat Lamar 1 time and we won over 30 games but i can careless about that, all I'm saying is you don't want gilligan to be like a bowden stay to long and Hurt the program because that's what bowden did. I am not talking crap I am speaking my mind, and I am entitled to my opinion.

[bigred360]

Man, you played at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi? Did you pitch there? Gotta give you props as a college ball player but it makes more sense as to the critical remarks about Coach Gilligan.

Augie Garrido at UT is in his 70's and Wayne Graham I believe is in his 80's. So I don't see age as a factor here.

[Guest baseball25]

Augie and graham get it done every yr, I didn't want to go to Lamar lol, I went Galveston when Corbell was there and when they were the San jac of juco baseball and were a pipeline of getting ton of players drafted  but had 2 surgeys and never got back to 100 percent, but still got to throw 346 innings at the college level, but I had no intentions to ever goin to Lamar out of hs.