Any infor would be greatly appreciated. I know they are making the jump to D-1 this year.
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Well, actually they have been an NCAA D1 athletic program in the Sunbelt Conference for a very long time. They are tough at home and a middle of the pack type program.
ASU Indians
ASU Indians
Dad04 I see you have Rajun Cajun icon.Son has talked with several Sunbelt schools which he is very interested in. Seeing first hand what do you see as the pro's and con's of the conference and schools.
The conference is made up of fairly consitant mid-major state schools. UL Monroe is a little shaky on the field, but most teams are fairly even. The Sunbelt took a little dip in RPI in 2003-2004 but is coming back with Troy State entering this year and Florida Atlantic entering in 2007.
The Sunbelt gets kids that sat at SEC schools before transfering in and starring. The quality of play is very good. The rosters are just not as deep as the SEC. That usually means earlier playing opportunity, but less NCAA tourney bids. The conference usually gets just 2 bids.
If your son likes to play for awesome coaches, on TV every Saturday in front of 2,000+ at home and eat like a king after each game, its great to be a Cajun, and especially if you pitch.
I understand we are going back to Hawaii in 2008.
Hawaii pics
The Sunbelt gets kids that sat at SEC schools before transfering in and starring. The quality of play is very good. The rosters are just not as deep as the SEC. That usually means earlier playing opportunity, but less NCAA tourney bids. The conference usually gets just 2 bids.
If your son likes to play for awesome coaches, on TV every Saturday in front of 2,000+ at home and eat like a king after each game, its great to be a Cajun, and especially if you pitch.
I understand we are going back to Hawaii in 2008.
Hawaii pics
Just wanted to bump this school up to see if anyone else would comment on Arkansas State or Sunbelt Conference. Thanks
Arkansas State is coached by Keith Kessinger. He has been there 3 or 4 years after spending time at Carson Newman and also at Ole Miss. Dad Donnie also coached at Ole Miss as well as playing and managing the Chicago White Sox in the 60's and 70's. Keith is a great person and a good baseball guy. He played in the Reds organization and actually got a cup of coffee at the big league level. He has lost a couple of assistants recently but I do not know what to read into that. Christian Ostrander left to take a high school job in south MS and Brad Henderson is out of coaching alltogether. Hope this helps.
They signed a former all-state Rockwall kid, Cade Baxter, who is a freshman there now and got a commitment from another one this fall in Taylor Stetzer, who'll graduate in 07'. Those two kids can play and should help the program pretty quickly.
