Mike Leach post-Baylor speech…
- Thread starter MacNit07
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Linked and yes, our team certainly deserved that message at many points over the years. This is not anti-franklin or to say leach is some championship level coach, but we could use that messaging, particularly the part against Texas. He says its not good enough to come close to Texas, they need to beat them in games they can win. Franklin mostly, at least publicly, espouses positivity and how the team battled. Might be a different message in the locker room but I suspect not. At some point losing closley to OSU and playing down to the competition once or twice a year is NOT good enough and the players need to understand that at the risk of losing their starting job or inclusion on the team. I dont think leach is mean spirited here, its more about mentality. Before I get chopped by the pro coach mob, I want Franklin to remain coach, but I do want him to be harder on the team on occasions.
I read The Umpire Strikes Back by Ron Luciano many decades ago, he tortured Weaver
Weaver feud
Luciano was also known for a long-running feud with Orioles manager Earl Weaver, whose career closely paralleled Luciano's. The two men first met in Double-A during a four-game series in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1965; Weaver was managing the Elmira Pioneers. Luciano ejected Weaver from all four games, with the last ejection coming during the pre-game lineup exchange.[2] After an argument with Luciano during a 1967 Triple-A game, Weaver literally stole second base, taking it to his dugout and refusing to give it back.[4] In the majors, Luciano once ejected Weaver from both games of a doubleheader; the second ejection came, once again, before any pitches had been thrown.[4] "The problem with Earl is that he holds a grudge," he said. "Other managers, if they disagree with a call, may holler and shout, but you can still go out for a beer with them after the game. Not Earl. He never forgets. Heck, he even holds your minor league record against you. Once, a couple of years ago, I made a controversial call at the plate. Earl charged out of the dugout, screaming that that was the same call I'd blown at Elmira in '66. That sort of thing can get to you."[10]Luciano ejected Weaver so often that Orioles players reportedly placed bets on the inning in which their skipper would be removed.[11] Jim Palmer wrote that Weaver "protested any game Luciano umped."[12] The friction became so intense that for an entire year, Luciano was transferred whenever his umpiring crew was scheduled to work an Orioles series. In the third inning of Luciano's first Orioles game a year later (August 26, 1979 at Chicago's Comiskey Park), he ejected Weaver — who in turn publicly questioned Luciano's "integrity" and received a three-game suspension.[2] Eventually, each admitted a grudging respect for the other. Weaver said Luciano was "one of the few umpires people have paid their way into the park to see."[13] Of Weaver, Luciano wrote, "It's impossible for me not to admire him, but it's pretty hard for me to like him."[4]
Tommy John was pitching for the White Sox against the Orioles (Weaver) and accidentally dropped the ball behind him during his motion. He completed his delivery, and as a joke I called "steee-rike" on the batter. The batter, Don Buford, was aghast. He looked at me as though I was crazy. And out on the mound John was falling all over himself with laughter. I changed the call to "no pitch", of course, but John couldn't stop laughing. He walked the next three batters, gave up a double and was taken out of the game. He laughed all the way to the showers.[3]
One problem: Franklin is not going to suddenly change his approach…he is what he is…good and bad
2 time NCAA Division 1 Coach of the Year?
A good old Earl Weaver the most overrated manager in baseball history. I'm good friends with sons of some of the former Orioles who played on Earl's teams in the 70s and even they will tell you he cost them a couple championships.
It's a good speech because it focuses on their actions, how to improve them, and not on them as people. He provides concrete examples and adds some levity.
Totally agree. Btw, Leach is a very smart guy and none of that was by accident. People like Porter would probably faint if they heard a speech like that!
Yep, I agree with your overarching point (and like you, this isn't an anti-franklin thing)....the messaging is what I think the players need like this. I totally get the 'starts with love, ends with love' mantra JF preaches...he believes in brotherhood, and being together, etc. That is great...but I have to think that a little piss & vinegar like the Leach clip is what some guys need. Not everyone responds to the same messaging...some players you need to message to differently and coach differently. At the 5:55 mark, Leach said exactly what I feel about this team under JF about not having the mentality and identity of the team we need to be. I mean I ask rhetorically, what is the identity of our team? Hard for me to figure that out and I don't think that's a good thing.
Don't think Mike would play well to our woke PSU administration.
