Interesting statement

It's not what baseball has become imho.

There are schools out there that are on the opposite end of the spectrum - they could care less what happens on the baseball field.

There are schools out there that most people ought to be aware of and it should not shock them that baseball is a serious business to them. I call them baseball factories and that is no pun on the business of the same name. I am not sure I have ever seen someone post here that they were going to attend Cal State Fullerton for the academics. Some schools, although known for their academics are baseball factories nonetheless.

I am guessing that when the coach made that proclamation that it was music to many of the kids ears in attendence even though their parents may have found it troublesome or worse, offensive. I know that many of the top programs recruit players who want to be great college players but who also desperately want to progress to the next level.

quote:

Originally posted by Blprkfrnks:
...if you don’t want to be a professional baseball player, you should leave the room immediately."...

I found this interesting to say the least.

CD makes good points. I see the statement as a barometer of dedication. I was once at a dinner where Barry Alverez the current UW AD and former FB coach was the speaker. He said that when interviewing assistant coaches he always hired coaches that had the mentality of replacing him one day. IMO, this college coach was challenging the recruits with that statement in the same way. I'm sure he knows that most will come out of school with nothing more than an education and baseball experience but he wants them to come in with high expectations for themselves. With the competitiveness of collegiate athletics today I would expect any coach, in any sport, to want players who want to make the next step.

If your goal is not to reach above where you currently are .........?

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
If your goal is not to reach above where you currently are .........?

I understand always looking to improve and be your best, but the level above for these high schoolers is college baseball.

We have heard that a few times, some at strong academic school where they discourage certain degrees due to their time commitment.

Blprkfranks:

I think what the coach is looking for in players are ones who want to continue to excel beyond where they are at, which is certainly understandable. All of the great D1 programs have kids going on to the pro’s, and stress this in their recruiting. Look at Stanford, academically one of the best schools in the country, but they still hype how they prepare kids for the pros. The problem is that most of us parents understand the statistics and maybe have too realistic of a view. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect the players that go on to play in the pro’s are the ones that carry a major D1 college program. Why would the coach not want a team full of these kids?

Right, or wrong in my son’s mind, he KNOW’s he will play D1 baseball, and might play in the pros. If he accomplishes step one and continues to do well then, I am sure, in his mind at least, he will KNOW he will play at the next level. At the same time he is realistic and is planning on continuing his education and thinking about what “real” job he might pursue. I don’t see a conflict here, but you just have a different perspective than the coach, particularly when thinking about your son’s path.