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Post by wcu32 on Jun 5, 2019 10:40:13 GMT -5
I agree 100% its a joke. Its better to start with comparing our facilities to others in our own conference not two teams who are in the top 25 on regular basis. We are probably dead last in facilities within the SoCon and have one of the highest paid coaches in the league. It does not make any sense. You can start with the fact we have a scoreboard that is 27 years old. With no way to know id bet you would be hard pressed to find another D1 school even close to that heck even a high school. Do kids want to see their face and stats up on a scoreboard? Absolutely it goes to another disadvantage in recruiting. You would think even the administration would be embarrassed at this fact. Its not the 90s anymore we arent going to find the Grundy's(Kentucky) and Beverlin's(Michigan) of the world and get them to Cullowhee. Kids are way to exposed now. When your years and behind your competition its kinda hard to compete. Ive mentioned that they more than doubled the travel and recruiting budget along with now finally being 95% funded the only way your gonna get kids is to overpay them. Which we could not do until now. Speaking of Grundy his kid is now at GSU. Ive never seen him play but i sure as hell would have made sure he came to WCU if he wanted to and is good enough for GSU. It comes down to this. Athletics of any kind are NOT A PRIORITY at Western Carolina. For those of you that are hard of hearing, I have indicated the key words in bold type underlined. So until those words can be changed and athletics is a priority so that facilities and everything athletics is upgraded, we will continue to lose and be behind all of the other teams in the conference and all of the teams of similar size in the South. Increase the funding and we blow past these other schools. Ill say it again too that it is atleast a good sign they increased the budgets now lets see them do something about the facilities!!!
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Post by wcuecu2010 on Jun 5, 2019 19:55:41 GMT -5
For WCU to ever host it would take a series events over time for that to be even considered. (I am staying out of the coach discussion at first to explain) but WCU would have to essentially start tearing it up on the diamond like they did in the 80s and 90s but probably to an even bigger point. WCU would need to dominate the regular season and not choke in the conference tournament consistently, and I would say they would need to play a very tough OOC schedule and win most of them, since the SoCon is not considered a strong RPI conference these days. Being in the SoCon will always put us at a disadvantage in terms of hosting. It can be done, but again we need to essentially tear the conference up and essentially lose probably no more than 10 games in a season because when it comes NCAA time, the committee will always question our SOS.
But lets say we do tear up the conference, lose no more than 10 games in the regular season and win our SoCon tournament. This is where it gets tricky, I am not sure but I think the minimum capacity for a team to host a regional is 1500 so if that is still the case, we are eligible but if it has increased since the past we could always look to the Asheville Tourists to play at McCormick Field. If that don't work out, then the likely scenario would be being a #1 seed playing in the #2 seeds ballpark. I am sure if we started doing that on the regular, our stadium would see a major renovation upgrade. Of course better said than done.
On who could be a top replacement for Moranda? First, I am not sure if Moranda has just gotten complacent or what but I see a bad trajectory in our program and I think new life needs to be put into the program. Part could be funding but I think a lot of it has to do with the coach. I mean seriously Coach LeClair for a few years and especially Coach Raleigh succeeded when Bardo was Chancellor, so it can be done with the right coach and motivation. We need an energetic young coach that can relate to the recruits, find blue collar players (diamonds in the rough) and someone not afraid to stock with Junior College transfer talent. We need "someone" like a Justin Haire of Campbell University.
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Post by DevilsAdvocate on Jun 6, 2019 7:41:33 GMT -5
For WCU to ever host it would take a series events over time for that to be even considered. (I am staying of the coach discussion at first to explain) but WCU would have to essentially start tearing it up on the diamond like they did in the 80s and 90s but probably to an even bigger point. WCU would need to dominate the regular season and not choke in the conference tournament consistently, and I would say they would need to play a very tough OOC schedule and when most of them, since the SoCon is not considered a strong RPI conference these days. Being in the SoCon will always put us at a disadvantage in terms of hosting. It can be done, but again we need to essentially tear the conferences up and essentially lose probably no more than 10 games in a season because when it comes NCAA time, the committee will always question our SOS. But lets say we do tear up the conference, lose no more than 10 games in the regular season and tournament. This is where it gets tricky, I am not sure but I think the minimum capacity for a team to host a regional is 1500 so if that is the case, we are eligible but if it has increased since the past we could always look to the Asheville Tourists to play at McCormick Field if that don't work out, then the likely scenario would be being a #1 seed playing in the #2 seeds ballpark. I am sure if we started doing that on the regular, our stadium would see a major renovation upgrade. Of course better said than done. On who could be a top replacement for Moranda? First, I am not sure if Moranda has just gotten complacent or what but I see a bad trajectory in our program and I think new life needs to be put into the program. Part could be funding but I think a lot of it has to do with the coach. I mean seriously Coach LeClair for a few years and especially Coach Raleigh succeeded when Bardo was Chancellor, so it can be done with the right coach and motivation. We need an energetic young coach that can relate to the recruits, find blue collar players (diamonds in the rough) and someone not afraid to stock with Junior College transfer talent. We need "someone" like a Justin Haire of Campbell University. Excellent points. I know it is a mute point, but I did a little research on the potential coaching market.. It might take a "Google" but what do you think about Chan Brown (Parkview HS, GA)?
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Post by Coaches on Jun 6, 2019 7:52:24 GMT -5
Before firing any coach they need to start with the athletic director!! There lies the biggest issue. From what I hear he has made the statement he wasn't concerned as much about winning than academics and graduating kids. I too agree we should graduate kids but if we do not care about winning why do we even play athletics? We should just have club teams and bypass the athletics all together. We need an athletic director that is FOR the athletics and to win. After watching several of the baseball games this weekend. We are SOOOOO far away from all these schools and their facilities. These days the kids want to come to a place that looks nice and takes care of their athletes. WCU doesn't do either. And from all I read on these message boards the university higher ups and athletic director do not care about bettering our facility's and especially the baseball facility. Our baseball facility is a joke compared to almost ALL others in our conference and around the country. Until the university higher ups and AD give a crap about our sports NOTHING will ever change. Unfortunately I see things getting worse until these in charge are gone and we get people in that care about our athletic programs. ECU takes care of their athletics and facilities are so much nicer and same for Coastal Carolina just to name a couple. Our baseball facility compared to theirs is just a decent high school field. This does not fall on coaching. Recruits want to play in a nice facility and be taken care of. That hinders recruiting. This is just my opinion and you know the saying on that lol My question is why would ANY coach want to come to a poor facility and poor working conditions, where the AD and higher ups on the BOT and chancellor do not give 2 craps less about our athletics or athletes. If Moranda is complacent I could see why, he’s probably tired of fighting a losing battle trying to get anything done for the one sport that has actually won. Not saying Moranda is perfect man I know if I had to fight that uphill battle year after year it would get burn out too. No matter who you put in that spot it’s going to happen sooner or later. I know the other coaches mentioned did well but they got out to go to better schools too for pay but I bet they got better support from their AD and those chancellors and school administration.
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Post by spe125 on Jun 18, 2019 13:25:30 GMT -5
Grundy's kid went to Georgia Southern for one reason - because Rodney Hennon is the coach.
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Post by okiecat on Jun 19, 2019 8:48:57 GMT -5
For WCU to ever host it would take a series events over time for that to be even considered. (I am staying of the coach discussion at first to explain) but WCU would have to essentially start tearing it up on the diamond like they did in the 80s and 90s but probably to an even bigger point. WCU would need to dominate the regular season and not choke in the conference tournament consistently, and I would say they would need to play a very tough OOC schedule and when most of them, since the SoCon is not considered a strong RPI conference these days. Being in the SoCon will always put us at a disadvantage in terms of hosting. It can be done, but again we need to essentially tear the conferences up and essentially lose probably no more than 10 games in a season because when it comes NCAA time, the committee will always question our SOS. But lets say we do tear up the conference, lose no more than 10 games in the regular season and tournament. This is where it gets tricky, I am not sure but I think the minimum capacity for a team to host a regional is 1500 so if that is the case, we are eligible but if it has increased since the past we could always look to the Asheville Tourists to play at McCormick Field if that don't work out, then the likely scenario would be being a #1 seed playing in the #2 seeds ballpark. I am sure if we started doing that on the regular, our stadium would see a major renovation upgrade. Of course better said than done. On who could be a top replacement for Moranda? First, I am not sure if Moranda has just gotten complacent or what but I see a bad trajectory in our program and I think new life needs to be put into the program. Part could be funding but I think a lot of it has to do with the coach. I mean seriously Coach LeClair for a few years and especially Coach Raleigh succeeded when Bardo was Chancellor, so it can be done with the right coach and motivation. We need an energetic young coach that can relate to the recruits, find blue collar players (diamonds in the rough) and someone not afraid to stock with Junior College transfer talent. We need "someone" like a Justin Haire of Campbell University. Excellent points. I know it is a mute point, but I did a little research on the potential coaching market.. It might take a "Google" but what do you think about Chan Brown (Parkview HS, GA)?
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Post by wcuecu2010 on Jun 19, 2019 18:56:39 GMT -5
Excellent points. I know it is a mute point, but I did a little research on the potential coaching market.. It might take a "Google" but what do you think about Chan Brown (Parkview HS, GA)?
At this point, I would say about anyone is likely to be better than Moranda. It just seems like he has gotten complacent, sure we may not be using the budget to fund baseball like others, but baseball is one sport you can succeed with less. WCU has done it before and many other programs too. However, I would wonder if we could go after a successful northern school coach or an assistant or an a former coach from another program. I have always thought that if he ever wanted to coach again and come west, Billy Godwin would be a good coach for WCU. He was never expensive and new how to recruit, he is currently the NC scout for those "Damn" Yankees but he has always had an eye for good talent. However, the con is sometimes he is too conservative during game times. But he always had more than 30 wins each season. For older coaches, there is Tim Sinicki who is the head coach at Binghamton, he played with LeClair at WCU and Legett was coaching WCU. There is Nick Schnabel who is an assistant from Michigan who played for LeClair at ECU and who knows may be honored to be a head coach at LeClair's alma mater. There is Russell Triplett at Newberry College who has done pretty well and he was a former player of Jack Leggett at Clemson. Rucker Taylor at Davidson Todd Butler, former HC at Wichita State and soooo many more I think could actually be interested in WCU and could do a lot even when our resources are not great.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Jun 20, 2019 7:15:30 GMT -5
At this point, I would say about anyone is likely to be better than Moranda. It just seems like he has gotten complacent, sure we may not be using the budget to fund baseball like others, but baseball is one sport you can succeed with less. WCU has done it before and many other programs too. However, I would wonder if we could go after a successful northern school coach or an assistant or an a former coach from another program. I have always thought that if he ever wanted to coach again and come west, Billy Godwin would be a good coach for WCU. He was never expensive and new how to recruit, he is currently the NC scout for those "Damn" Yankees but he has always had an eye for good talent. However, the con is sometimes he is too conservative during game times. But he always had more than 30 wins each season. For older coaches, there is Tim Sinicki who is the head coach at Binghamton, he played with LeClair at WCU and Legett was coaching WCU. There is Nick Schnabel who is an assistant from Michigan who played for LeClair at ECU and who knows may be honored to be a head coach at LeClair's alma mater. There is Russell Triplett at Newberry College who has done pretty well and he was a former player of Jack Leggett at Clemson. Rucker Taylor at Davidson Todd Butler, former HC at Wichita State and soooo many more I think could actually be interested in WCU and could do a lot even when our resources are not great. Why are we talking about this? We are not getting a new baseball coach this off season. Obviously Randy thinks for whatever reason that Moranda is the right man for the job.
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Post by okiecat on Jun 20, 2019 8:31:11 GMT -5
First I want to apologize and clarify my first, and I mean first post which was unfinished and accidentally sent. I was only intending to cut and paste a portion of Devils Advocates post to respond too. I want to be clear I am not advocating of getting rid of any coach, staff administration, etc. I wanted to point out the positive of what I have seen as a newcomer to WCU athletics. The portion of Devils Advocates post I was intending to address is below.
"We need an energetic young coach that can relate to the recruits, find blue collar players (diamonds in the rough) and someone not afraid to stock with Junior College transfer talent. We need "someone" like a Justin Haire of Campbell University."
I agree with Devils Advocate's above statement and think that is what Coach Moranda did when he brought in Coach Garcia. Coach G is bringing in several kids from his old school, Parkland, which was constantly good in the JUCO ranks. I know a pitcher from Walters State JC which finished 3rd in the Div I WS and an OF from NOC who won the JUCO Div II WS are coming next fall. Anthony Silkwood to me has a good chance at being "a diamond in the rough". Anthony's age and life experience alone should bring additional leadership into the dugout and hopefully have a big impact on the pitchers who IMO are the weakest link at the moment. Coach G is energetic and recruiting hard. NC promise should be HUGE for WCU if my understanding is correct. WCU will have big advantage of getting out of state kids, actually WCU is bringing in a lot for next year. The Midwest is a big opportunity and it appears Coach G is taking advantage. Kids want to play D1 if they have the opportunity. States like Oklahoma and Kansas have a lot of good baseball players but few D1 schools in their state so most kids end up NAIA or D2 because even with a baseball scholarship out of state tuition is too high. A lot of those kids now can afford to attend WCU. Plus, a lot of those kids tend to be outdoorsy and go hunting and fishing every chance they get so WCU is a dream for them even if the facilities need some improvement.
WCU can HIT! WCU was 2nd in SoCon in team BA, 1st most the year, 1st in slugging %, and 2nd in on base %. WCU can get on base. The team was quite young last year. ALL but 1 position starter returns. Koehler's absence will be missed but overall I think WCU will hit just as good or better next year. Just by maturity WCU should play better defense and the defense wasn't horrible by any stretch. Also, if the pitching improves the defensive should improve too.
Pitching was the focus of WCU recruiting. I think only 1 or 2 position players were recruited. Franklin who was projected to be WCU #1 pitcher last year will be back from injury and Walter who had a good year hopefully will be back (I don't see him signing but we will see). I feel pretty good with all the new kids coming in with the returning pitchers, WCU will have 3 solid weekend starters. As a result, WCU will win more series.
I am new to WCU athletics, politics, administration, etc. and from where I sit I see some good things and a lot of potential for WCU baseball. I think if fans come out and really support next years team, they will see improvement. I'm looking forward to next season.
Go Cats!
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Post by wcatradio75 on Jun 20, 2019 8:45:09 GMT -5
Okie: I hope you are right. I think most folks on here would say I'm an optimist - and that's hard to do having graduated in the 70's. "Long suffering" is a term that fits Cubs fans and Catamount fans - even if it is stolen from the Bible. Thanks for your input and analysis. Welcome to the board!
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