time2time

I think everyone should jump off the bandwagon, quit going to games, burn all their Cardinal gear and ignore LU football because if Lamar doesn't go undefeated in it's first season with QB who would have a tough time starting at a good D2 school then the coaches suck, and the team has no talent or heart.  I don't know about you all but after the first game in 20 years when LU lost to McNeese, for me the season was over.  Can't go undefeated if you lose your first game.

There is nothing wrong with knowing both. ;)

"moot point"

Would appreciate any update to those making it out.

Well I found the answer to my own question, it looks like the Cards take on NAIA Houston-Victoria in a Fall action this Saturday. "The Lamar baseball team will host Houston-Victoria in a scrimmage at noon Saturday at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Houston-Victoria is coached by former Houston Astros outfielder Terry Puhl. Fans will be admitted for free." - www.lamarcardinals.com That leaves one other Fall game, does anybody know if the Cards have already had it or will they take on someone later this Fall? (as I said they only scheduled 54 in the Spring - leaving two for the Fall) Will anybody be able to make it?  If so, could they give an update/report.

It's only a 54 game schedule.  The NCAA allows for 56 games in the Spring.  Since the Cards aren't playing the full allotment, does this mean they played 2 Fall games against outside opponents? The NCAA allows up to 4 Fall games but that total will be deducted from the Spring season allotment.  For example, earlier this TX State beat UT in a scrimmage.  And if the Cards did play two against outside opponents this Fall, against whom? How did they do? And what does the team look like? Lot of hitters/position players back and couple of starting pitchers.

Could not agree more with NorthoftheBorder.

Add Chris Laird, Nederland - LHP

Looking at what's coming in, here's what I found: 1.  OF Damon Loewen - Clarendon JC - He had monster freshman year with .404 ave, 14 hrs, 58 rbis; his sophomore year was not quite as strong with a .324 ave, 6 hrs, 22 dbls, 50 rbis  Here is some youtube video - [Hidden Content] 2.   P Shane Hamaker - Alvin JC - He threw 51.1 innings, struck out 60, walked 30, with a 4.21 ERA 3.   P Trae Hester - Vidor 4.   3B-P Kane Beniot - PNG 5.   P-1B  Chase Angelle - Orangefield 6.   P John Gilligan - Alvin JC - He threw 28.2 innings, struck out 24, walked 7, with a 4.08 ERA - yes he is related to Coach Gilligan.  See [Hidden Content] 7.   P Stephen Tromblee - Transfer from Centenary (LHP) - see [Hidden Content] I'm sure there will be more, but that is what I found so far.  Got the bats already, looking for the arms now.

Oh brother, here we go again . . .  there isn't anything this TAMU-CC grad doesn't know.  Really, it amazes me.

I think this is a hilarious thread.  Baseball25 patting himself on the back, even though the Cards made the NCAA regionals which he can't just man-up and say he was wrong - believe me Baseball25 takes pleasure in the Cards losing - it helps to prove his two points (1. Gilligan has lost it and 2. the LU schedule stinks) and now he's bashing pitchers b/c they aren't ready b/c of the schedule.  That's laughable considering Mattison Smith was never going to pitch a mid-week non-conference game since Gilligan clearly thought he was their no. 1 and would be saving for the conference weekend series.  The big pink elephant in the room that this thread ignores is really whether Gilligan should have started Smith at all, at least for Game 1.  Considering he just pitched 13 plus innings (9 Wednesday with 4-plus more on Saturday).  I was wondering all week whether Gilligan would give Smith the ball in Game 1 all week.  Gilligan must have thought that Smith gave the Cards the best chance to win.  I'm more likely to second guess the decision to start Smith, rather than the other two starter who would have been more rested.  That's the issue for me, not whether the team was ready.  And by the way look for TCU's starter to be in the starting rotation for TEAM USA this summer.

Baseball25 - there is difference between an excuse and a reason.  You may think it is an excuse but really it's a reason.  You don't have to like it, you don't have agree with it, but it is a legitimate reason.  You may think Gilligan thinks he's bigger and more important than he really is, and you may be right . . . or you just may be wrong . . . stop and considerate that before you respond.  You can criticize Gilligan all you want to but the reality is that the LU program belongs to Gilligan and he can run it anyway he sees fit.  When you become coach at LU or any other baseball program you can run it any way you want to and the public can criticize you just as you have the right to criticize Gilligan, but again just because you're critical does not mean you are right.  I think most LU baseball fans would like to see a tougher non-conference schedule, I know I would, for instance bring back ULaLa and get rid of the historically black colleges  . . . that we can agree on.  However, he's got his team in the Regional.  PERIOD. That means he's the right man for the job. PERIOD.  I get the impression when you were at A&M-CC you still talked crap while and after your team got beat, b/c they did get beat regularly.  The answer then as it is now is S C O R E B O A R D!!!

It's too bad that some LU alums (Chris Rucker) cannot just live in the moment and enjoy the success of the their alma mater.  If you will just enjoy the present and not worry about the future then there is nothing to stress/worry about and you really can enjoy the team's success.  There are like some 200 teams that play D1 Baseball and only one gets to end their season in a victory during the post season.  So enjoy the ride and see how far it goes.  That's why I feel sorry for UT football fans.  I mean your win 10 games during the regular season and it's just an alright season.  Yea, it's great to have that much continued success but you take it for granted and you can't even enjoy a win, it has to be something more.  As a former college athlete that's sad because I know how hard the players and coaching staffs prepare for each game, and how a lot of times the separation in talent is a lot narrower than the fans realize. As for anyone else, especially baseball25, Texas St. had a tremendous non-conference schedule; where are they playing this weekend?  UT-Arlington had a tremendous non-conference schedule; where are they playing this weekend?  I mean it makes perfect sense to me, I would much rather say "Hey we played a tough non-conference schedule!" than say, "Hey, we're the lone representatives from the SLC and get to play in the NCAA tournament with a shot of winning CWS!"  Maybe, just maybe Gilligan knew what he was doing.  Maybe he knew that the league was a one-bid league this season or that he would be starting 8 new guys.  And by the way, I think this team is one season ahead of schedule.  Sign a couple of good arms and next season they would win 35-38 regular season games.

LU did win. [Hidden Content]

Problem with that argument is that this was his 9th start in conference, I believe the previous 8 would have had him ready for today.

I would like to see at least the bottom row of suites have outdoor seating, like two or three rows of seating, so those people in the suites can enjoy the weather, crowd noise and general ambiance of a beautiful fall Saturday.  Guess they could always do it in the future.

Look, it just boils down to this: 1. I agree with a lot of what you say, i.e. the schedule is weak, the program is not performing like we all would hope, Lamar should play for championships, the conference is improving 2. You could be right in saying that Gilligan just wants Ws and has gotten lazy about how he does it, although I don't believe it, but like I said you could be right and I may be wrong 3.  This season is far from over but there are some serious questions.  Further, talent or lack there of is a bigger concern than whether the preseason/non-congerence schedule strength. 4.  I do NOT believe Gilligan should be fired.  You have your opinion, I have mine.  Gilligan and the Cards have not had a losing season since 1998 and making 9 straight conference tournament appearances does say a lot, but I do recognize the Cards could be .500 team overall the season even with a weak schedule. They have a lot of work to do to make the conference tournament this season.   5.  I do belive that Gilligan could be replaced/fired, but he has not reached that point yet.  For me, it is not even close and [i]really[/i] it doesn't matter what you or I believe?  That is unless you have a lot sway and money with LU athletic department - which I don't  and I highly doubt you do either. 6. I do believe there is a personal bias by Baseball25 against Jim Gilligan. 7.  FINALLY, I'm tired of getting on this board to read about LU baseball and having Baseball25 hijack every baseball thread with "how weak the schedule is" and "how baseball has passed Gilligan by".  Since I don't forsee a change at the top for the foreseeable future, it has become really depressing to think that those are only two things we're going to hear from Baseball25 until the day comes that Gilligan does step down.  It would be nice if we talked about what's happening on the field, which I've tried to do before, but once LU loses, here comes Baseball25 to say "see I told you so."  So please turn the page, at least until the end of the season.    I know I will.

your clueless, once in the tourney, win it and you're in automatically, and by the way if you don't make the conference tourney in the SLC, you aren't going to get an at large bid either, I don't care how good your non-conference schedule.

"thats when the southland was down, the southland is a 2 team bid now for regionals, other teams are getting better and there program is moving up we are talking about now, not 1985 not 2004, its 2010 things change man" - Baseball25 Just refuse to give Gilligan any credit.  If it wasn't already, well your bias has definately been exposed. Interesting, I guess Rice's national title should not count since they came from a weak conference. Facts, don't let them get in your way; and when they're presented to you, you argue . . . "yeah but . . ."

I agree, my brother.  The SLC is a better conference, never said it wasn't.  Funny thing though, even though the conference has improved it has not stopped LU from making the conference tournament.  LU has made the conference tournament every year since 2001.  So that must mean that LU is at least one of the top six teams in conference for the past 9 seasons, which covers the last 5 seasons, my brother.  Don't let facts stop you from arguing.

By the way at Rice, Wayne Graham walks on water period.  They will not fire him, no matter how far they underachieve this season or next.  Just ask Rice president David Leebron. I'll bet you this too, I bet Gilligan loves that people believe he should be canned because that means he's successful and raised expectations.  By the way the last time Gilligan had a losing season was 1998 (went 26-27, the Cards did go .500 in 2000).

Baseball25 is being short sighted when it comes to his theory of the sinking-ship that is the LU baseball program with Gilligan as manager. Baseball25 likes to say it's been 5 years since LU made the NCAA tournament.  But if he had done a little research he would discover that it isn't like LU made the tournament every year.  In fact LU did not make the tournament for 6 years in a row, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.  It could have been argued that LU baseball was a sinking-ship after those six seasons.  However the next three seasons (2002, 2003 and 2004) they did make the NCAA tournament.  So if LU had canned Gilligan, would the Cards made one of the best runs in LU history?  Anyway, I am just hoping to add some perspective.  And honestly I expect it to be lost on Baseball25.  It's obvious he loves to thump his chest after every LU lose and give conditional congratualions after every win (i.e. that team sucked but good win). 

I think Baseball25 is the only one demanding Gilligan be replaced.  It's clear he believes that Gilligan is only in this to pad his career wins statistics by playing a soft schedule.  Maybe he's right (and I do agree the non-conference schedule is soft), but I still believe Gilligan is right man for the job.  As much as Baseball25 knows about baseball, and it may be a lot, Gilligan has forgotten more the Baseball25 knows, especially when it comes to running a Division 1 baseball program, unless Baseball25 is a head coach at a Division 1 university, then I apologize to Baseball25. As far as the Bobby Bowden comparisons, apples and oranges.  College baseball is not college football.  YOu act like LU was winning the conference every year up to the last 5 seasons.  Not true.  This program like many others has had it's up and downs. One last thing, LU has a winning record, at least as of right now.  Hopefully the players has a little more resolve then some of the posters on here.

Your both right, the only thing keeping Lamar from the CWS is Jim Gilligan.

yawn . . .