BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

[Back2Back!!]

It seems like Methodist is the Virginia Tech(basketball) of Division 3 Baseball. The last three years they have been on the bubble and cant win games at the end of the year to get them in. Do you think they still have a shot? or is there no hope at all?

[forheavendial4999]

I guess that might appear to be true if you look at only the last three years.

But Methodist has been to a national championship game under their current coach. Virginia Tech hasn't. Methodist hasn't had a losing season since 1979. They've been regional champs 6 times and made the regional 21 times.

They haven't consistently been at that level lately, but they've still got a heckuva lot more of a record of success than Virginia Tech.

[Back2Back!!]

I guess that might appear to be true if you look at only the last three years.

But Methodist has been to a national championship game under their current coach. Virginia Tech hasn't. Methodist hasn't had a losing season since 1979. They've been regional champs 6 times and made the regional 21 times.

They haven't consistently been at that level lately, but they've still got a heckuva lot more of a record of success than Virginia Tech.

I guess thats why I did say the last three years. I wasnt using this example to compare overall records, I was simply saying they have both been on the bubble the last three years. I realize that traditionally they have been very successful.Way to take what I said and turn it into something different again.
+1

[forheavendial4999]

I guess that might appear to be true if you look at only the last three years.

But Methodist has been to a national championship game under their current coach. Virginia Tech hasn't. Methodist hasn't had a losing season since 1979. They've been regional champs 6 times and made the regional 21 times.

They haven't consistently been at that level lately, but they've still got a heckuva lot more of a record of success than Virginia Tech.

I guess thats why I did say the last three years. I wasnt using this example to compare overall records, I was simply saying they have both been on the bubble the last three years. I realize that traditionally they have been very successful.Way to take what I said and turn it into something different again.
+1

Not the one that made the comparison.

I thought it was pretty unapt to describe a program that has contributed what Methodist has to D-III baseball to Virginia Tech in basketball.

I know this probably doesn't mean too much to a competitor that's a Johnny come lately, but there are a lot of baseball coaches past and present that have and had a lot of respect for Tom Austin and Methodist baseball.

[Back2Back!!]

I guess that might appear to be true if you look at only the last three years.

But Methodist has been to a national championship game under their current coach. Virginia Tech hasn't. Methodist hasn't had a losing season since 1979. They've been regional champs 6 times and made the regional 21 times.

They haven't consistently been at that level lately, but they've still got a heckuva lot more of a record of success than Virginia Tech.

I guess thats why I did say the last three years. I wasnt using this example to compare overall records, I was simply saying they have both been on the bubble the last three years. I realize that traditionally they have been very successful.Way to take what I said and turn it into something different again.
+1

Not the one that made the comparison.

I thought it was pretty unapt to describe a program that has contributed what Methodist has to D-III baseball to Virginia Tech in basketball.

I know this probably doesn't mean too much to a competitor that's a Johnny come lately, but there are a lot of baseball coaches past and present that have and had a lot of respect for Tom Austin and Methodist baseball.

In no way shape or form did I say something that would offend Tom Austin or the Methodist Program in my last post. I respect Coach Austin as well as the Methodist Program. I originally said the PAST THREE YEARS .Then you want to go back to 1903 and bring up historical records. Then you make it sound like I dogged Tom Austin and the Methodist Program. Once again you take what I have said and try to make it look different so you can TRY and convinve youself that you are right. Sports analyst's use these comparisons all the time. For Example, the Miami Heat are now the New York Yankees of baseball.

Narch, I hope I didnt offend you with the comparison that I used.

[Back2Back!!]

Heat are now the New york yankees of basketball....

[Will2Win]

Heat are now the New york yankees of basketball....

There's no hope back2back...we've been thru this before lol....

[Will2Win]

To answer your original post back2back....na, doesn't seem like MU is gonna get into post-season play this year. Unfortunate, they're a very talented baseball squad.

[narch]

Narch, I hope I didnt offend you with the comparison that I used.

no offense taken...you spoke the truth - the monarchs have had the post season in their grasp in each of the last 3 years, only to see it slip away - as a fan, it's really frustrating, especially this year, because i felt like those seniors would finally get it done

[narch]

i know we could all play "what if", but i wasn't thinking earlier today...what if mahaffey, fasano and willingham were still pitching for mu...and i did a little research

mahaffey has pitched 14 innings this year for marietta with a 1.29 era and 16 k's over 4 appearances....looks like he hasn't pitched much, so maybe he's missed some time due to injury

fasano has 34.1 innings for d1 rutgers with a 2.88 era and 20 k's - he has the 2nd lowest era on the rutgers staff and has pitched the 5th most innings...he could have helped mu

willingham has thrown 27 innings for d2 north greenville and has a 3.67 era...he is 6th on the staff in ip

those three arms could have helped mu tremendously this year....

[Back2Back!!]

i know we could all play "what if", but i wasn't thinking earlier today...what if mahaffey, fasano and willingham were still pitching for mu...and i did a little research

mahaffey has pitched 14 innings this year for marietta with a 1.29 era and 16 k's over 4 appearances....looks like he hasn't pitched much, so maybe he's missed some time due to injury

fasano has 34.1 innings for d1 rutgers with a 2.88 era and 20 k's - he has the 2nd lowest era on the rutgers staff and has pitched the 5th most innings...he could have helped mu

willingham has thrown 27 innings for d2 north greenville and has a 3.67 era...he is 6th on the staff in ip

those three arms could have helped mu tremendously this year....

Does this happen alot at Methodist? Players transferring to Division 2 and Division 1 schools? and if so do you think they come there with the mindset that they will transfer after a year or two or are they just not happy there? I remember Seth Kivett transferring out when I was playing and he was a HUGE stick in your lineup.

[narch]

Does this happen alot at Methodist? Players transferring to Division 2 and Division 1 schools? and if so do you think they come there with the mindset that they will transfer after a year or two or are they just not happy there? I remember Seth Kivett transferring out when I was playing and he was a HUGE stick in your lineup.

it obviously has happened in these situations...i'm not sure any of those guys attended mu with the intention of transferring, though...mahaffey is originally from ohio and fasano is originally from ny, so perhaps they were getting closer to home...kivett was a shock because he left after 2 years...i don't know much about willingham except that he went to a christian high school and north greenville is a pretty strongly religious place, so perhaps it was that - ultimately that's part of the game

[Back2Back!!]

Does this happen alot at Methodist? Players transferring to Division 2 and Division 1 schools? and if so do you think they come there with the mindset that they will transfer after a year or two or are they just not happy there? I remember Seth Kivett transferring out when I was playing and he was a HUGE stick in your lineup.

it obviously has happened in these situations...i'm not sure any of those guys attended mu with the intention of transferring, though...mahaffey is originally from ohio and fasano is originally from ny, so perhaps they were getting closer to home...kivett was a shock because he left after 2 years...i don't know much about willingham except that he went to a christian high school and north greenville is a pretty strongly religious place, so perhaps it was that - ultimately that's part of the game

It is a part of the game.........but why not go to a Division one school out of high school? It happens at Shenandoah all the time players leaving but it normally is players who really dont get much playing time. All these guys would have made a big impact.

[forheavendial4999]

i know we could all play "what if", but i wasn't thinking earlier today...what if mahaffey, fasano and willingham were still pitching for mu...and i did a little research

mahaffey has pitched 14 innings this year for marietta with a 1.29 era and 16 k's over 4 appearances....looks like he hasn't pitched much, so maybe he's missed some time due to injury

fasano has 34.1 innings for d1 rutgers with a 2.88 era and 20 k's - he has the 2nd lowest era on the rutgers staff and has pitched the 5th most innings...he could have helped mu

willingham has thrown 27 innings for d2 north greenville and has a 3.67 era...he is 6th on the staff in ip

those three arms could have helped mu tremendously this year....

Does this happen alot at Methodist? Players transferring to Division 2 and Division 1 schools? and if so do you think they come there with the mindset that they will transfer after a year or two or are they just not happy there? I remember Seth Kivett transferring out when I was playing and he was a HUGE stick in your lineup.

Well of course Averett lost Jason Dooley after he was the D-III pitcher of the year, and at a bad time for that program. 2 more years with him could have really built something there. Not a decision that worked out well for Dooley either. Really one of the more headscratching transfers I can think of in any sport, considering where he went to.

Charlie Furbush transferred from St. Joes, ME to LSU. Marietta had a couple of freshman pitchers transfer after they won the national title. IIRC, Chapman had a couple of high profile transfers up in recent years.

But it happens the other way too. Kean has a transfer from NC State that is their ace. Marietta had a transfer lead their last NC team in hitting. Van Horn from Wooster is a Princeton transfer. UT-Tyler's ace I believe is from Texas A&M?

I'm sure there are others I'm not thinking of.

[BMoore#4]

Transfers are a crazy subject anyways in d3 baseball.. especially with no money for scholarships to give out.  That could have a major factor in it as well as being close to home.   Its a sticky situation for coaches and makes it hard on them. Sometimes though coaches get lucky recruiting.  Look at the 2006 ncwc world serious team i played on. Matt Smith was headed to UNCW but a spanish grade in highschool did not allow him to go there so he ended up at NCWC.  Chris Pecora.  recruited by some D1 schools but wanted to be close to home  ended up at ncwc.  Ryan Syder a all american 2nd baseman that was looked at by d1 schools but decided to go smaller for playing time. Kenny Flyth a ecu commit and grades led him to ncwc. Myself had a uncw walk on spot or a 15% scholarship to Elon but 3 weeks before schools starts i come to NCWC.  Andrew Webb who was going to go to Campbell but decided to stay close to home and get more playing time end up at NCWC.   So yes transfers hurt coaches but also can help and by kind of doing nothing end up with a good team.   

Speaking of teams  here is a good topic   lets come up with a all Century team  2000- 2010    lets do 8 position players.. 1 util.. and 6 pitchers as they could carry a team...