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Topic: Coach Smith on Twitter

Topic: Coach Smith on Twitter

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6-4-3
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Member Since: 6/30/2012
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Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/27/2012 11:17:52 PM

If you are not following i suggest you do. Keep up blow by blow with what is going on right now as far as the team is concerned. @coachsmith29.

Last Edited: 8/27/2012 11:19:52 PM by 6-4-3

bobcat28
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/29/2012 1:16:22 PM

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

Donuts
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/29/2012 4:43:41 PM

bobcat28 wrote:

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

Agreed.

Has anyone been able to talk to him or seen him in action yet? Not sure if it's wishful thinking or not, but I see a lot of John Groce in him (appearance and age, not sure yet on coaching intensity or results).

bobcat72
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Member Since: 7/2/2011
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/29/2012 6:30:46 PM

bobcat28 wrote:

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

True...but there's also a faction of alumni that may never again step foot on campus due to his hire. He's got an uphill battle to win over the alumni. Those I've talked to see him purely as an "outsider" to the program.

Donuts
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Member Since: 9/22/2010
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/29/2012 6:45:30 PM

bobcat72 wrote:

bobcat28 wrote:

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

Those people need to realize that Athens, Ohio is not the center of the baseball universe.

It's not like those alumni were flocking to Trautwein Field on a regular basis anyway. Winning solves everything.

stub
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/29/2012 9:33:59 PM

Quote:

Those I've talked to see him purely as an "outsider" to the program.

Sort of like Groce and Solich

bobcat28
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 8/30/2012 7:20:00 AM

bobcat72 wrote:

bobcat28 wrote:

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

These are probably also the same people that think the last 15 years of Ohio baseball have been successful.

ts1227
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Location: Tallmadge, OH
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/3/2012 5:44:17 PM

bobcat28 wrote:

bobcat72 wrote:

bobcat28 wrote:

Its nice to see Ohio baseball finally coming into the 21st century. I've also noticed a real effort to reconnect with the alumni and fans since Coach Smith took over. Kudos for this effort.

These are probably also the same people that think the last 15 years of Ohio baseball have been successful.

This. Eventually their delusion will wear off, and if not, will anyone miss them?

doubledribble
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 3:16:27 PM

As a follower of Bobcat Baseball going as far back as the early 60's, I will miss any of the Baseball alumni who have lost "connection" to Ohio because of this hire. I hope that Coach Smith understands the proud history of the program, and will make time to encourage baseball alumni from all "era's" to stay involved with his program. Hopefully he is smart enough and talented enough to make this happen. Coach Gross and Coach Solich have actively "recruited" former players to encourage them to stay active with their university. Will be watching to see if our new baseball coach makes the same efforts.

6-4-3
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 4:00:48 PM

doubledribble wrote:

I am pretty sure that those efforts have already started.

bobcat72
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 6:47:02 PM

doubledribble wrote:

This. I think many are underestimating how genuinely upset most alumni are with the hire.

I wasn't Carbone's #1 cheerleader, but I liked him as a person and can understand the frustration. Coach Carbone and Coach See were clearly - in my opinion - wronged in the process. Two of the things Carbone really excelled at were fundraising and alumni engagement. As a result, many alumni became loyal to him - and are now furious at the way the new hire was conducted.

There are many alumni that I know want nothing to do with the new coach or Ohio Baseball in general. Coach Smith has an uphill battle to win over alumni and longtime local fans. Barring a miracle, I'm afraid it's a battle he cannot win.

6-4-3
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 7:08:06 PM

bobcat72 wrote:

doubledribble wrote:

And you would be upset with the coach WHY? All he did was apply for a vacant job. With the players, WHY? All they are trying to do is represent Ohio University. Seems a little like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Last Edited: 9/13/2012 7:09:57 PM by 6-4-3

bobcat72
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 7:47:28 PM

I don't think they're upset at Coach Smith - they would be upset at ANY coach that's not Andrew See. There has never been a head coach that's not an alumni. That is something that is very important to many of them. You can argue about Solich and Groce, but baseball has always been different. Baseball alumni feel that the program is held to a higher standard in regards to loyalty and integrity. Ohio Baseball is supposed to be special.

No matter who the new hire was...if it was not Andrew See, there was going to be some serious angst among alumni and local fans. Schaus made the decision that he felt was best - time will tell how that works out. In the meantime, the pocketbook is going to be hurting rather substantially. The prevailing alumni sentiment is one of betrayal - by the university they loved and its administration. If Coach Smith struggles out the gate, expect for there to be even louder cries against him and Schaus.

For the record, I'm not a former player - but have been a longtime follower as a student and local resident. I'm fortunate to know many of our great alumni, many from the "golden years" in the 70's. To a tee, the ones that I know are enraged by Coach Smith's hire and will not give a cent more as long as there's an outsider in the coaches' box. Some of these men have given $10,000+ to the program.

I'm willing to give Smith the benefit of the doubt, but a part of me also feels for Coach Carbone and See. Carbone was at Ohio for 24 years and was summarily kicked to the curb at the end of his tenure. He would be revered at most schools - but you'll likely never see him on campus again with this hire. Can you imagine the betrayal and anger he must feel? 24 years of your life and barely any consideration is given to your assistant coach. To me, that is the ultimate slap in the face.

Donuts
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 8:27:09 PM

Everything would have worked out that way most likely if there was just one thing: winning. Since 1997, how many times has Ohio legitimately contended for the MAC? Twice maybe? No coach who goes 15 years with no championships and very few teams that actually contended is going to have his say in who succeeds him. That's something that even small-time high schools would have a hard time pulling off.

In a perfect world, Ohio would have kept things going and had a new alum as a coach. The system was broken. It broke down completely with the untimely death of Bill Toadvine, and never recovered. Ask those same guys just how important Toadvine was to running the program if you don't believe me. Ohio tried to patch things up with quick fixes, but to be honest I don't think Malinowski, See or Cornell were ready at all for something like that.

Cutting donations to the program now is just dumb. Not sure what that will prove. Now, if this coach doesn't do anything in 3-4 years and they want to stop donating, go ahead. Fans only got restless when they realized Bob Wren Stadium has never had to use white paint to add new numbers since the place was built.

catfan28
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Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 10:57:06 PM

Alumnus here, so I'll give my 2 cents...

Carbone deserved better. Much better. He ran a program that was very well respected nationally and consistently produced some top (major-league caliber) talent. Baseball is a grind....it's tough to compete for titles year-in and year-out. But, at the end of the day, his teams were always in the top half of the MAC and did the right things off the field. He will go down as one of Ohio's greatest coaches in any sport. Alumni would have done anything for him, and the feeling was mutual. He was one of us!

I've been a fan of most things Jim Schaus has done, but he botched this hire big-time. As a poster mentioned above, baseball has always been special at Ohio. We've held ourselves to the highest standard on and off the field. There is a tradition unlike any other sport.

As an alumnus, it feels like everything the program has ever stood for has been trampled on with this hire. Virtually all of my teammates and friends feel the exact same way. A little piece of us has been ripped away - and it hurts quite a bit. This is no longer "our" program. After years of tradition, we've sold out to someone who has no clue what it means to be a Bobcat. Many of us feel like the program has been stolen away from us.

I'll continue to support the Ohio Bobcat Club and be a football/basketball season ticket holder as I have for 30+ years, but count me in as one who will no longer be giving to baseball. As I said, I think Jim Schaus has made some excellent hires and decisions. BUT, this one really hurts for me and the entire baseball family. And it's not just alumni - a lot of the older fans locally are just as upset. In fact, I don't know anyone who fully supports Coach Smith's hire.

Carbone and Bob Wren are Ohio Baseball. It doesn't matter what Coach Smith does, he will never be held in the same regard as those great men. I'll have a hard time following the program knowing that their legacy has been tarnished forever.

Last Edited: 9/13/2012 10:58:58 PM by catfan28

6-4-3
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 11:12:13 PM

That's just sad. Very sad.

Last Edited: 9/13/2012 11:13:41 PM by 6-4-3

catfan28
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 11:39:12 PM

6-4-3 wrote:

That's just sad. Very sad.

6-4-3: I see that you edited your response...I'd love to hear your take on it. I'm a bit jaded, but I'm certainly open to other opinions.

What are your thoughts on the hire/process? How would you feel if you were in Carbone's shoes? What's your relationship with the program?

OUs LONG Driver
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/13/2012 11:46:00 PM

I'm just a casual observer of the baseball team so I have no axe to grind against anyone here but it appears to me Ohio baseball hasn't been special for quite some time. The feeling you have about your experience might be special (that's great) and there's no reason that should change. The memories will always be the same.

Carbone certainly had success on occasion but as an outsider to the program I am completely unimpressed with the recent results. He might be a great guy but he never won even a division title since the league split into divisions in 1998. Given 1997 was an excellent year prior to the split.    It doesn't really matter who you are you can't ride on past success for that long. If anything the change should have been made years ago. The program was obviously stagnant and a change was needed. I applaud Schaus for making the bold move. Who knows if it will pay off, but if you don't see an improvement by about year 3 it's time to look to the next guy.

FWIW I knew a handful of players while I was in college in the early & mid 2000's and all of them expressed at some point that they weren't fond of Carbone. These ranged from bench guys to MLB prospect guys.

I don't know Coach See but I can't think of any time a coach in any sport retired/was fired that was either recently unsuccessful or mildly successful and then an assistant was given the next shot. That just doesn't make a lot of sense.  The obvious question would be......what would be different and why would he be successful when his predecessor recently had not been?

Status Quo is no longer good enough at Ohio University in any sport.    Women's basketball is probably next up for a change if things don't go well this year.

I hope coach Smith & the Bobcats succeed and so should every other alumni regardless of affiliation with the program. Winning cures everything.

Donuts
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/14/2012 1:25:05 AM

catfan28 wrote:

Alumnus here, so I'll give my 2 cents...

Carbone deserved better. Much better. He ran a program that was very well respected nationally and consistently produced some top (major-league caliber) talent.

Baseball is a grind....it's tough to compete for titles year-in and year-out. But, at the end of the day, his teams were always in the top half of the MAC and did the right things off the field. He will go down as one of Ohio's greatest coaches in any sport. Alumni would have done anything for him, and the feeling was mutual. He was one of us!

I've been a fan of most things Jim Schaus has done, but he botched this hire big-time. As a poster mentioned above, baseball has always been special at Ohio. We've held ourselves to the highest standard on and off the field. There is a tradition unlike any other sport.

As an alumnus, it feels like everything the program has ever stood for has been trampled on with this hire. Virtually all of my teammates and friends feel the exact same way. A little piece of us has been ripped away - and it hurts quite a bit. This is no longer "our" program. After years of tradition, we've sold out to someone who has no clue what it means to be a Bobcat. Many of us feel like the program has been stolen away from us.

I'll continue to support the Ohio Bobcat Club and be a football/basketball season ticket holder as I have for 30+ years, but count me in as one who will no longer be giving to baseball. As I said, I think Jim Schaus has made some excellent hires and decisions. BUT, this one really hurts for me and the entire baseball family. And it's not just alumni - a lot of the older fans locally are just as upset. In fact, I don't know anyone who fully supports Coach Smith's hire.

Carbone and Bob Wren are Ohio Baseball. It doesn't matter what Coach Smith does, he will never be held in the same regard as those great men. I'll have a hard time following the program knowing that their legacy has been tarnished forever.

We've had one MLBer from the Carbone era, and he was sparingly used his junior season before getting drafted (Adam Russell). I'll give you Krauss as an almost lock, and just for kicks one other (Eldemire or Streich). Three MLBers during his career is not consistent.

Ohio baseball tradition is to finish middle of the pack? That's what has happened the last 15 years. We have not been a consistent team for ages.

I wouldn't dig too deep into the past if you want to stick with the "right things off the field." That's all I'm saying on that subject.

Don't speak for the entire alumni base, because it's more mixed than people think. Just as those who wanted a change were vocal for the last few years, now the ones that didn't want huge changes are the vocal ones.

Ohio has two MAC titles in 40+ years. We can't rely on wooden bat results forever and act like Ohio is something we aren't. Ohio isn't even a top five school in the state for baseball right now, and that's sad.

I still don't understand why people would be so eager to continually support football and basketball with non-OU grads coaching (oh yeah, that whole winning part...). Again, unless you played with Carbone yourself (or older), you've seen two MAC titles! How can people openly support that and be upset that an assistant who has done nothing didn't automatically get the job.

How is Bob Wren's legacy, or Joe Carbone's legacy, tarnished by a hire? Rob Smith's record isn't being credited to them.

6-4-3
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/14/2012 9:16:16 AM

catfan28 wrote:

6-4-3 wrote:

That's just sad. Very sad.

Trust me, I know the feelings you are having and I know they are real. My take, harboring bitterness eats away at the soul and makes life miserable. Things change. Sometimes we just need to accept that and move on. Life is to short.

Catdude
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/14/2012 6:52:55 PM

I believe there is a HUGE difference in the way recent alums feel about Coach Carbone and Coach See. Perhaps Coach Carbone's "style" of coaching and his treatment of players changed drastically from the "good ole days" I think some of the earlier alums should sit down and have a talk with the recents. They may tell you stories that you won't believe, or at least won't want to believe.

bobcat28
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/15/2012 5:26:15 PM

Wow. Maybe alumni that played alongside Carbone in the “Golden Years” liked him but I know few baseball alumni in the last 15 years who liked him as a person or thought he was a good coach. His on the field decisions were brutal at best and it cost Ohio countless games. Its no secret he loved to play his pet project developments over more talented players because he was so stubborn and egotistical he couldnt cope with the fact he might be wrong. I will agree he was excellent at teaching mechanics but he had absolutely no feel for the game or his players what so ever.

Would anyone be happy if the football team consistently went 5-7 every year for the next 15 years? or the basketball team went 15-20? Baseball should be no different. Ohio Baseball has not been special for a long time so we were LONG overdue for a change. I don’t feel bad for carbone at all, his era can easily be split into Pre Todavine and Post Toadvine. The guy had a decent run in the mid 90’s and then it all fell apart when Toadvine passed. Anyone who played knows Toadvine was the glue that held this program together. Players didn’t like Carbone. And neither did parents. His legacy will be filled with mediocre records, living on his glory years, and a good track record for fund raising to former teammates. You wont see many alumni in the last 15 years giving money - he has alienated everyone. He can go run an instructional baseball camp teaching fundamentals now, he'll be good at that.

Penalizing the current program and saying you wont give money because of the way carbone was handled is downright sad. I hope Coach Smith can restore this program to excellence soon. Heck I’ll even settle for a real spring trip and upgraded schedule like every other team in the MAC.

6-4-3
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/15/2012 6:10:38 PM

bobcat28,
You sound like a strong baseball fan. I really believe that these guys, by the third year will have Ohio competing at a high level.

firstborn
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/18/2012 10:59:42 AM

I am very excited about the new hire and what is happening with the team. These kids deserve much better than what they have had over the last few (10-15) years. Shame on anyone, alumni or otherwise, for "taking their toys and going home" because See was not hired. What kind of behavior is that. Childish! Respect the program and the players and coaches on the field. I too think you would be SHOCKED at the treatment these men have received under Carbones leadership, with See by his side, never speaking up. GO BOCATS! Leave it on the field and rewards will follow!

doubledribble
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RE: Coach Smith on Twitter

Posted: 9/18/2012 1:07:51 PM

Catfan28, I too am very concerned and saddened by the way Coach Carbone and Andrew See were treated by our athletic director. I am also concerned about the financial impact that this coaching selection decision will have on the future of Ohio baseball. As a non-revenue producing sport, the baseball program has long depended on the generosity of former players and friends of the program for survival. (and even with these donations and support, the program has had barely enough financial support from Schaus to field a team, let alone take the expensive southern trips that one poster longs for.) Believe me, our former staff would have loved to be able to take a big time southern trip every spring! This is lost on the few who continue to dominate this portion of the website, with their own personal axe to grind for their less than stellar careers as Bobcat baseballers. As a long time follower of Ohio baseball from the inside out, I have contacts at many levels that include coaches, former players, managers, parents, and fans. Are there players who for one reason or another didn't care for Coach Carbone over his long and loyal career? Certainly there are. Are there former players who are mad and upset over the decision to not hire a Bobcat and the man reccomended by Coach Carbone? Certainly there are, and my vantage point tells me that the "pro-Carbone' Bobcat baseball followers far out-number the few vocal "axe grinders" who dominate this board. Hopefully Schaus has a plan in place to replace the lost revenue from various equipment deals driven by the stellar national reputation of our former coach, not to mention the loss of funds from former players and program supporters who have posted on this board.
I do not envy the challenge that Coach Smith is facing. To begin with, he will be operating with a less than competitive budget when compared to the competition. His fan base will be somewhat "fractured" due to the large following of Bobcats who would have preferred to see a Bobcat in the dugout directing the program. These are negative circumstances that the new coach had no control over, but none the less, will have to contend with.
I will continue to follow and support the program, but the circumstances of the hiring process and the decision made by Schaus to go outside the program will definitely affect how much $upport I provide. Hopefully, the new coach will be successful in reaching out to all former players and fans, and convince them that Bobcat Baseball is in good hands, deserving of support. If he can produce a program that Ohio can be proud of, on and off the field, as Coach Carbone has done, then he will have a chance to have a long and productive career as a Bobcat.

Last Edited: 9/18/2012 1:12:57 PM by doubledribble

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