The Official Tennessee vs S. Miss Super Regional Game 1 Thread Sat. June 10 3PM EST ESPNU (Hattiesburg)

[Sudden Impact]

I can be more direct if you like? As a former associate AD of USM and a SEC school I do know a little about the process…. Hope you can make to Hattiesburg and enjoy the hospitality.

You can state it but can you prove it? Wow, take that garbage out of here. Of course it is about money, never the fans or the Athlete especially with the NCAA. If you have the answers and are a former associate AD of two schools, what are you doing on a website boosting about. I am calling BS and if you are you should know better. Go back to the basement. You are an image in your own mind.

 

[cardvolfan]

I know this will not be a popular opinion on here, but the Southern Miss baseball fan support and game day crowd/atmosphere is every bit as good or better than Knoxville. You will also not find a better man or coach in the country than Scott Berry. It being his last year, he has earned the opportunity for his team to host a Super Regional.

I have close family who went to Southern Miss and one who has been directly involved with their baseball program, I have followed their baseball team for many years. I want them to advance but hate the Vols have to match up with them. I have no idea how the host is selected, I am guessing based on revenue generated. But I will not be disappointed if it is Southern Miss because they have earned it just as the Vols have (in other words - either team is worthy to host).

If they are under the radar as a program with anyone here - this is a team/coaching staff which for a very long time has competed at a very high level and fields a NCAA tournament caliber team year in and out. If they host it will be a hard sellout and tickets will be as scarce as they have been at LNS for the past two years. They are a great program with an outstanding coaching staff and will be some great competition to earn Omaha!

I disagree that Berry has earned the right to host a Super Regional because it’s his last year. What about our guys in their final year in Knoxville? Those young men, by metrics, earned their opportunity to play in front of their own home crowd, no? Fairness and equity, along with bias have been a big part of the NCAA issue for years, and the Vols earned the right to host.

I‘m not terribly familiar with Berry and I’m not trying to throw mud here, but I was alarmed that he allowed Tanner Hall to throw 123 pitches Friday and after two days rest had him throw another 30 pitches for 153 in a 3-day span. Others noticed that as well.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

I don't know Zane, but he looks like he is 12 years old. The optics must have been just too much for the umpire.

I’m glad it was directed towards Zane and not Moore. Moore probably would’ve knocked his azz out

 

[Proud Army Wife]

Probably has couple USM alum on it right now on his way to dinner in NOLO.

Lmfao! Never change txbo. Never change.

 

[Sudden Impact]

It is what it is.

The NCAA needs to be evaluated on procedures and policies. I have no idea when it will come but Universities and Conferences needs to send the incompetent workers home. Congress is just as bad. Old folks Boogie.

The Stadium Capacity maybe an issue but when digging into it SRO and kids roaming around the park are calculated in their attendance it will always be higher. Inflated numbers to a degree. I guess we need a playground.

We need this over with in two games. It may take 3 days to get 2 complete games in with the forecast or may resemble last year's SEC's Tournament.

This site selection was not in the best interest of the Athlete but only served in the best interest of the NCAA.

 

[South Florida Vol]

I disagree that Berry has earned the right to host a Super Regional because it’s his last year. What about our guys in their final year in Knoxville? Those young men, by metrics, earned their opportunity to play in front of their own home crowd, no? Fairness and equity, along with bias have been a big part of the NCAA issue for years, and the Vols earned the right to host.

I‘m not terribly familiar with Berry and I’m not trying to throw mud here, but I was alarmed that he allowed Tanner Hall to throw 123 pitches Friday and after two days rest had him throw another 30 pitches for 153 in a 3-day span. Others noticed that as well.

Good points on the Vols earning the right to host, I agree. And I wish they were because I would be there with my kids pulling for them and loving the great atmosphere and baseball.

My point is both teams earned this and either would feel slighted/cheated had they not been selected. And my opinion is if the Vols wanted to host they should have won more games, don’t blame the NCAA or anyone else for something which could have been taken care of on the field.

Regarding Hall/arm care, I don’t know enough about how a college team manages their pitchers to comment. Would we care if Vitello did this, I am guessing no? I think it is a stretch to consider this as having any bearing on anything other than a team fighting to get to Omaha.

 

[Ttucke11]

It is what it is.

The NCAA needs to be evaluated on procedures and policies. I have no idea when it will come but Universities and Conferences needs to send the incompetent workers home. Congress is just as bad. Old folks Boogie.

The Stadium Capacity maybe an issue but when digging into it SRO and kids roaming around the park are calculated in their attendance it will always be higher. Inflated numbers to a degree.

We need this over with in two games. It may take 3 days to get 2 complete games in with the forecast or may resemble last year's SEC's Tournament.

This site selection was not in the best interest of the Athlete but only served in the best interest of the NCAA. View attachment 555462

bUt eVeRy mEtRiC sAyS uSm sHoUlD hOsT, tAkE oFf yOuR oRaNgE cOlOrEd gLaSsEs!

 

[Jax_Vol]

It is what it is.

The NCAA needs to be evaluated on procedures and policies. I have no idea when it will come but Universities and Conferences needs to send the incompetent workers home. Congress is just as bad. Old folks Boogie.

The Stadium Capacity maybe an issue but when digging into it SRO and kids roaming around the park are calculated in their attendance it will always be higher. Inflated numbers to a degree.

We need this over with in two games. It may take 3 days to get 2 complete games in with the forecast or may resemble last year's SEC's Tournament.

This site selection was not in the best interest of the Athlete but only served in the best interest of the NCAA. View attachment 555462

Wow. That is telling.

Well, I hope the team plays loose and has fun with it. The NCAA is once again telling us that they don't think that the Vols are a very good team. The only tape that the selection committee has is of the Missouri series.

Who knows....the NCAA may be right? We will see which Vols team shows up this weekend. Tennessee is the underdog.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Good points on the Vols earning the right to host, I agree. And I wish they were because I would be there with my kids pulling for them and loving the great atmosphere and baseball.

My point is both teams earned this and either would feel slighted/cheated had they not been selected. And my opinion is if the Vols wanted to host they should have won more games, don’t blame the NCAA or anyone else for something which could have been taken care of on the field.

Regarding Hall/arm care, I don’t know enough about how a college team manages their pitchers to comment. Would we care if Vitello did this, I am guessing no? I think it is a stretch to consider this as having any bearing on anything other than a team fighting to get to Omaha.

Highlighted is a Chicken Crap Statement. Tennessee lost 1 more game than So Miss. So Miss played 5 more games because of a conference tournament and a regional. So your point is just dumb and by knowing this, you Need to go to the other Criteria. Yet you rest your case on this in argument which is week.

A team that loses and then wins against a REGIONAL 3 and 4 Seed x2, then, flaunts we won more games is a Chicken Crap Argument.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Highlighted is a Chicken Crap Statement. Tennessee lost 1 more game than So Miss. So Miss played 5 more games because of a conference tournament and a regional. So your point is just dumb and by knowing this, you Need to go to the other Criteria. Yet you rest your case on this in argument which is week.

A team that loses and then wins against a REGIONAL 3 and 4 Seed x2, then, flaunts we won more games is a Chicken Crap Argument.

If you are talking to me, it is spelled w-e-a-k.

If you are talking to him, we'll let you slide...

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Wow. That is telling.

Well, I hope the team plays loose and has fun with it. The NCAA is once again telling us that they don't think that the Vols are a very good team. The only tape that the selection committee has is of the Missouri series.

Who knows....the NCAA may be right? We will see which Vols team shows up this weekend. Tennessee is the underdog.

It is what it is.

The NCAA needs to be evaluated on procedures and policies. I have no idea when it will come but Universities and Conferences needs to send the incompetent workers home. Congress is just as bad. Old folks Boogie.

The Stadium Capacity maybe an issue but when digging into it SRO and kids roaming around the park are calculated in their attendance it will always be higher. Inflated numbers to a degree.

We need this over with in two games. It may take 3 days to get 2 complete games in with the forecast or may resemble last year's SEC's Tournament.

This site selection was not in the best interest of the Athlete but only served in the best interest of the NCAA. View attachment 555462

Leave it to the hillbillies to uncover a non-existent conspiracy. Quoting Lowell George definitely garners some sympathy from me, but the people who sat in the room made this decision on the merits, not collective bias. You may not agree with the criteria, but it wasn’t the mad act of a rabid cabal. The driving factors in an NCAA decision with two closely matched parties is usually money. That money comes through lots of channels, including ad revenue, bids etc. Traveling fans is the lowest input as it only benefits one team, one town, and not the NCAA. Our stadium and AD five years from now would win this on facilities, conference superiority, environment, and we’d pay. For now, they have a better stadium, a better TV experience and the narrative of a retiring coach. They also bid high, from everyone’s account. They have one great pitcher, and one good closer. They area good power hitting team. We have three (minimum) great starters and a deep pen. Our defense is playing out of their minds, and our clutch hitting is strong. We run better than they do, and use our players better. The level of competition we play is substantially better. We face better pitches and bats all year. Game one will be very tough for us. That throws the average outcome, but we’re much better on paper for game two and three. Let’s beat them in their “better” stadium with their retiring coach story, and move on to Omaha. Whining about who’s backyard we’re in just makes us look dumb.

 

[volfan102455]

At this point the location is what it is - we can't change that even though we will never know why USM was selected. The only reasons could be they overbid or sentiment for the retiring coach. In the flurry of messages, I read USM were upset about having to go to Auburn. Well the top 16 all host the regionals. USM was not deemed as being one of the top 16 which is why they did not host. 16 was Bama - the argument should have been that they were better than Bama or South Carolina, etc. and should have been seeded. But they lost to Bama.

NCAA baseball does need to get to modern times though - regardless of location fans of both teams should have reasonable access to the tickets. At some point we need to pass the need to select a venue based on whether the local team can fill the seats with their fans and set the locations especially for the super regionals to 8 pre-set locations around the country.

Edited to add: I see no problem with the regionals being at the top 16, but by the time you get to the super-regionals - the NCAA should lose the need to have one of the teams host.

 

[Sudden Impact]

If you are talking to me, it is spelled w-e-a-k.

If you are talking to him, we'll let you slide...

Thanks I will fix it auto correct I guess. I agree just play the game and be done with it. The Venue sucks as the town as well. The whole state does for what it is worth. It has been poor for some time and this state has a ton of self inflicted wounds. They Should actually combine Alabama and Mississippi and let them both feed off of their own likeness.

 

[South Florida Vol]

My point above on winning more games was not comparing win total to USM. My point is avoid this problem and debate by winning more in the season and being a top 8 national seed.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Leave it to the hillbillies to uncover a non-existent conspiracy. Quoting Lowell George definitely garners some sympathy from me, but the people who sat in the room made this decision on the merits, not collective bias. You may not agree with the criteria, but it wasn’t the mad act of a rabid cabal. The driving factors in an NCAA decision with two closely matched parties is usually money. That money comes through lots of channels, including ad revenue, bids etc. Traveling fans is the lowest input as it only benefits one team, one town, and not the NCAA. Our stadium and AD five years from now would win this on facilities, conference superiority, environment, and we’d pay. For now, they have a better stadium, a better TV experience and the narrative of a retiring coach. They also bid high, from everyone’s account. They have one great pitcher, and one good closer. They area good power hitting team. We have three (minimum) great starters and a deep pen. Our defense is playing out of their minds, and our clutch hitting is strong. We run better than they do, and use our players better. The level of competition we play is substantially better. We face better pitches and bats all year. Game one will be very tough for us. That throws the average outcome, but we’re much better on paper for game two and three. Let’s beat them in their “better” stadium with their retiring coach story, and move on to Omaha. Whining about who’s backyard we’re in just makes us look dumb.

No Conspiracy at all. Who stated Conspiracy? Prior to the selection, I may have a alluded to it or even afterward. Don't know and really don't care you can look it up and call me out on it if you want to spend the time to Shift the intent of my post.

I contend that Our stadium, should have won the bid, this year. I am not worried about what may or may not happen 5 years from now. 5 years from now it may be the same decision with the same facts, can't say it will or it will not. Maybe the NCAA changes it's procedures, who knows. All I am saying is that the NCAA has a charter to assess, evaluate and determine the best teams and rankings based upon the facts and it seems that they cannot get it right in any of the sports (All Sports, not just Baseball) Furthermore, there is an NCAA bias when it comes to investigations.

I am not whining, I am just tired of the BS the NCAA does in all of its duties. No Conspiracy, Just Totally Incompetent. An Example, if the NCAA had been competent, they would have accepted NIL and put out Guidelines to every School before the first $ was spent. Instead, they stuck their Head in the Sand and decided to take it to Congress and the Supreme Court vs accepting it and working through it. NO Conspiracy, Just Incompetence

 

[Sudden Impact]

My point above on winning more games was not comparing win total to USM. My point is avoid this problem and debate by winning more in the season and being a top 8 national seed.

You brought it up, and all I got to say is "Whatever" address the facts, instead of searching for a ray of light to justify So Miss being the host.

I did not know that USM was a top 8 national seed. Again Whatever.

You really can't justify USM hosting this Super when faced with the facts.

 

[VolGee4]

My point above on winning more games was not comparing win total to USM. My point is avoid this problem and debate by winning more in the season and being a top 8 national seed.

Same could be said for USM…that’s why we are here. The NCAA needs to figure this out going forward, but we know they won’t.

 

[cardvolfan]

There is plenty of bias in selection processes, both inherently and intended. It happens in sports, it happens in business, it happens everywhere.

 

[VolGee4]

Leave it to the hillbillies to uncover a non-existent conspiracy. Quoting Lowell George definitely garners some sympathy from me, but the people who sat in the room made this decision on the merits, not collective bias. You may not agree with the criteria, but it wasn’t the mad act of a rabid cabal. The driving factors in an NCAA decision with two closely matched parties is usually money. That money comes through lots of channels, including ad revenue, bids etc. Traveling fans is the lowest input as it only benefits one team, one town, and not the NCAA. Our stadium and AD five years from now would win this on facilities, conference superiority, environment, and we’d pay. For now, they have a better stadium, a better TV experience and the narrative of a retiring coach. They also bid high, from everyone’s account. They have one great pitcher, and one good closer. They area good power hitting team. We have three (minimum) great starters and a deep pen. Our defense is playing out of their minds, and our clutch hitting is strong. We run better than they do, and use our players better. The level of competition we play is substantially better. We face better pitches and bats all year. Game one will be very tough for us. That throws the average outcome, but we’re much better on paper for game two and three. Let’s beat them in their “better” stadium with their retiring coach story, and move on to Omaha. Whining about who’s backyard we’re in just makes us look dumb.

I had a long time friend come up to me last night at a function. He’s a MSU grad and huge baseball fan. “I’m not sure who is more upset at John Cohen- us or you?”

This was definitely something discussed outside of the 2 fan bases.

 

[knoxvol52]

I have said for years all Super Regional matchups should be on a neutral field with the tickets first come first serve.A neutral site for this series would be Hoover maybe I'm wrong

 

[Sam I Am]

Moving on......

 

[VolGirl81]

I still feel like we got screwed, but whatever, over it at this point. It will be a tough series, but I like how we looked at Clemson, battling back constantly. The team has developed a new identity and confidence this last half of the season. Despite batting woes, here and there, defense has really stepped up, bullpen has really come on strong, we’re throwing people out on steals, hell, we’re even bunting! I want them to win it just to show everyone that while they may not be as talented as last year’s team, they are still an excellent team-earned the hard way. They can take it all the way to Omaha which would be quite the coup for this team!

 

[South Florida Vol]

For the record I think Tennessee should be hosting, just offering a different perspective than “we are Tennessee and we always get screwed.”

I think one thing we can all agree on, let’s just play the games and settle this on the field. The debate is fun but silly, and I’ve debated enough.

I love college baseball, I hope the NCAA doesn’t change much about it. But like other sports money will slowly erode it.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Not to look ahead, but assuming all of the favorites win this weekend, our side of the bracket looks exponentially tougher in Omaha than the other side.

Wake Forest
Stanford
LSU
Tennessee

Vs.

Florida
Virginia
Oregon
TCU


If we win the CWS this year, no one can say we won’t have earned it. We’re facing a brutal path all the way to the finals if we get there.

 

[preacherman20]

Good points on the Vols earning the right to host, I agree. And I wish they were because I would be there with my kids pulling for them and loving the great atmosphere and baseball.

My point is both teams earned this and either would feel slighted/cheated had they not been selected. And my opinion is if the Vols wanted to host they should have won more games, don’t blame the NCAA or anyone else for something which could have been taken care of on the field.

Regarding Hall/arm care, I don’t know enough about how a college team manages their pitchers to comment. Would we care if Vitello did this, I am guessing no? I think it is a stretch to consider this as having any bearing on anything other than a team fighting to get to Omaha.

I can't speak for the crowd but I can GUARANTEE you I would call Vitello out if he threw a kid this much in 3 days. That is abuse. DVH did it and others and I have called everyone out. I had never heard of this guy until this week so he is not a famous college coach. And I have been around it for years. I don't keep up with mid-majors that are not consistently on the national scene and getting to a regional is not on the national scene. But when it comes to a guy who has a future, you are supposed to protect it. People on here trash V and A for not pitching some enough, including mine, but they will never be accused of pitching a kid too much. Coach A is passionate about getting guys ready and successful at the next level. He has said it many times in my presence to different players or parents that his concern is not just what can you do for me but making sure he makes them better for the rest of their lives in baseball and life.