Tennessee Buzz: Candidates To Watch - Kendall Rogers

#403
#403
Randy Mazey is the best coach among any listed thus far. The guy knows every part of the game and is about as blue collar as they come. In the past he has been a little rough around the edges but he has settled down and has a nice family.

If they can get him he will bring UT baseball back to respectability.
 
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#404
#404
vol66 said:
Have you had a chance to look at either of the threads regarding the UT Baseball expenses/revenues? Does any of it seem ball park to you?

I would expect something on the SC front late Monday, but if it's Lawson, why the wait? (just in theory, I mean).

Real glad you are back around DP, been reading you on IT, thx.
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All of the numbers in the Advocate article came from open records requests, so I have no doubt they're accurate.

Tennessee has to find ways to increase revenues in baseball, otherwise spending more is just going to be losing more money for a better product. Selling for $3 tickets and $5 hot dogs isn't going to get it done. Having porches and patios for group seats isn't going to get it done. UT needs suites and club seats and a motivated staff to sell them. UT needs a marketing team that focuses on baseball and treating it like a priority. They need video crews and writers producing features on the team and players. They need to build a second control room so they can produce baseball and softball games on SEC Network Plus at the same time like other schools do.

Right now, marketing, promotions, video, game experience, all of it is basically the same as 10 years ago. We're way behind and it takes less than 10 minutes at South Carolina, LSU, Ole Miss or Arkansas to realize it. They need to send some of our people to see these other places. When I've brought it up to UT administrators, they think I'm overselling what other programs are doing. They're oblivious to how incredibly behind our program is before one pitch is thrown.

They stepped up and started letting the team take charter flights like a legitimate college program this year. That's a start. There's a long way to go. But they're going to have to generate some revenue to go along with it. Otherwise, all of this is just an exercise in futility.
 
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#405
#405
DeerPark thanks for the insight. It's amazing that we are spending that much money on the baseball program, yet are still so far behind in all of those areas compared to other programs in the SEC.
 
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#406
#406
bowlinggreenvol said:
What the hell are we spending money on? We have the 2nd highest level of expenditures on baseball in the league and it's not even close. We spend $5m per year for sub .500 baseball? What a terrible ROI.
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The expenses might be so high relative to the other programs because the accounting policies are apples to oranges. For example, are the costs associated with the Thornton Center, the TV studio and game broadcast production costs, and the Strength & Conditioning programs being allocated in the same manner as at the conference members? How are the costs of the stadium and other infrastructure being treated? Also, what percentage of the roster has out of state tuition and how do those costs get reported? Even the revenue side might be accounted for differently. Is it just tickets and concessions while the other institutions might be including some donations and/or TV royalties in their published financials?
 
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#408
#408
armchair said:
Where does Lawson coach--or does he? Is he a scout? Would be a bit of strange hire if he is not coaching a team now.
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BruinVol said:
Mostly a scout. Coached 1 year at Tenn under Raleigh. Was the head coach at Tn Wesleyan in the early 2000s.
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Now if that doesn't qualify you to lead a SEC Baseball program nothing does......

Mazy is a name that is very intriguing.....not sure if he'd put up with the Admin bull**** that may exist. He seems pretty gritty and not so politically correct, which may be a good thing.
 
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#409
#409
DeerPark12 said:
All of the numbers in the Advocate article came from open records requests, so I have no doubt they're accurate.

Tennessee has to find ways to increase revenues in baseball, otherwise spending more is just going to be losing more money for a better product. Selling for $3 tickets and $5 hot dogs isn't going to get it done. Having porches and patios for group seats isn't going to get it done. UT needs suites and club seats and a motivated staff to sell them. UT needs a marketing team that focuses on baseball and treating it like a priority. They need video crews and writers producing features on the team and players. They need to build a second control room so they can produce baseball and softball games on SEC Network Plus at the same time like other schools do.

Right now, marketing, promotions, video, game experience, all of it is basically the same as 10 years ago. We're way behind and it takes less than 10 minutes at South Carolina, LSU, Ole Miss or Arkansas to realize it. They need to send some of our people to see these other places. When I've brought it up to UT administrators, they think I'm overselling what other programs are doing. They're oblivious to how incredibly behind our program is before one pitch is thrown.

They stepped up and started letting the team take charter flights like a legitimate college program this year. That's a start. There's a long way to go. But they're going to have to generate some revenue to go along with it. Otherwise, all of this is just an exercise in futility.
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As I said in the football forum. UT has average administrators and major boosters. Until that is fixed there will be no success for UT athletics. Doing things the cheap way is sending this athletic program into mediocrity. They never see things from the fans perspective and do not realize that this is not the 1980's anymore.
 
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#410
#410
onevol74 said:
As I said in the football forum. UT has average administrators and major boosters.
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If lawson is hired it will prove this isn't changing. It will show he can't think for himself and listens to the $.
Lawson has support from donars that couldn't find first base on a diamond.
 
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#411
#411
It's only my two cents....but, the baseball hire needs to be a MANAGER first-not just a coach. My vote (if I had one) goes to Burke. Burke brings baseball connections that can be used to compile and hire the program a solid COACHING staff. A video / mechanic / developmental pitching coach(s) along with a detailed / break down the swing hitting coach(s). Bottom line, successful people surround themselves with successful people.
 
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#414
#414
onevol74 said:
As I said in the football forum. UT has average administrators and major boosters. Until that is fixed there will be no success for UT athletics. Doing things the cheap way is sending this athletic program into mediocrity. They never see things from the fans perspective and do not realize that this is not the 1980's anymore.
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They sunk money into a bad stadium in a terrible location.
 
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#415
#415
sport3500 said:
Will the new baseball coach likely be named after the College World Series ends?
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Calvi is available now...Maryland coach is now available...Michigan coach is available...Tennessee Tech coach is available...WVU coach is available...Assistant at UVA is still playing...Vitello at Arky is still playing...Wake Forest coach won his regional so still playing...Bell from FSU is still playing...

games are still going on, so in a couple hours this may not be right...


GBO!!!
 
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#416
#416
Question for people who can give me some insight, why the hate for Lawson? I spoke with some friends tonight and Lawson worked with them and they spoke very highly of him as a person and teacher. Is it just his lack of experience or problems while he was at Tennessee?
 
#417
#417
Orange&White said:
Question for people who can give me some insight, why the hate for Lawson? I spoke with some friends tonight and Lawson worked with them and they spoke very highly of him as a person and teacher. Is it just his lack of experience or problems while he was at Tennessee?
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We're looking for prior head coaching along with sec experience.
 
#418
#418
Lawson does not seem qualified to coach an SEC baseball team. The term "pro scout" sounds impressive but I've known pro scouts and it is not a good job unless you like driving around a lot and watching high school and college games. It's not nearly the same as running a program. One year as an assistant at UT plus Tennessee Wesleyan years ago? Frankly, I can't imagine why we'd hire someone with that kind of background--or why donors would care about this guy. No hate, just a serious head-scratcher. Find a current head coach who's had success and shown a knack for building a strong pitching staff.
 
#419
#419
vol66 said:
Calvi is available now...Maryland coach is now available...Michigan coach is available...Tennessee Tech coach is available...WVU coach is available...Assistant at UVA is still playing...Vitello at Arky is still playing...Wake Forest coach won his regional so still playing...Bell from FSU is still playing...

games are still going on, so in a couple hours this may not be right...


GBO!!!
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I live in Cookeville. Tech is a fun program to watch. They are competitive. But, they do not produce much MLB talent. Bragga's father is director of baseball operations. Kind of a situation where he wouldn't up-root to go anywhere else, and not in danger of getting axed by his dad. Maybe I'm wrong, but he is a very good coach here. May not and probably should not be a Power 5 (or SEC for that matter) manager option. But, I'm not an expert on evaluating manager talent either. Just my avid opinion. I will concede he made a great showing in Tallahassee in a very tough bracket. They were never out of the game in the 2 losses.

Having said that, I think a few TnTc players may have got themselves noticed over the weekend.
 
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#420
#420
vol66 said:
A couple of years ago, when he was at TCU, before he got to WVA, he wrote, for lack of a better phrase, a paper...Mind you he was still in the south....about why northern teams have such a disadvantage in college baseball.

He wanted to move the start of the college baseball season and he made many great points....of course, it's not the best scenario if you are from the south...but it was compelling, and at it's core we would play college baseball on the 4th of July. The problem with his proposal is simple...it makes too much sense.
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The flip side is that a delayed season start to benefit the norther teams moves the southern teams further into the hot season.
 
#421
#421
GVF said:
The flip side is that a delayed season start to benefit the norther teams moves the southern teams further into the hot season.
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I could be wrong, but I'd rather play in 96 degree weather than 40 degree weather any day of the week.
 
#423
#423
Orange&White said:
Question for people who can give me some insight, why the hate for Lawson? I spoke with some friends tonight and Lawson worked with them and they spoke very highly of him as a person and teacher. Is it just his lack of experience or problems while he was at Tennessee?
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I don't hate him at all. He has a couple things going for him as far as recruiting Tennessee and evaluating talent, which is very important, obviously. It's everything else that worries me. Same with Burke or a coach coming from MLB, they obviously know baseball, but that's not all there is too it.
 
#424
#424
GVF said:
I live in Cookeville. Tech is a fun program to watch. They are competitive. But, they do not produce much MLB talent. Bragga's father is director of baseball operations. Kind of a situation where he wouldn't up-root to go anywhere else, and not in danger of getting axed by his dad. Maybe I'm wrong, but he is a very good coach here. May not and probably should not be a Power 5 (or SEC for that matter) manager option. But, I'm not an expert on evaluating manager talent either. Just my avid opinion. I will concede he made a great showing in Tallahassee in a very tough bracket. They were never out of the game in the 2 losses.

Having said that, I think a few TnTc players may have got themselves noticed over the weekend.
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Director of baseball operations has zero to do with the head coaches future. They work like a secretary for the head coach.
 
#425
#425
vol66 said:
I could be wrong, but I'd rather play in 96 degree weather than 40 degree weather any day of the week.
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You're spot on. And in my day, i loved it. Now, I consider low 80's perfect baseball weather.
 
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