Variables

Have you ever considered the variables involved in doing your job? The variables in my job are minimal: will I show up to work, will our staff show up to work and will we be able to accomplish the things we need done.

I started thinking about ALL the variables Coach Lee deals with. I haven’t spoken with him about them but these are the variables from ‘my’ perspective:

A player is recruited-variable- does he want to play, are his parents on board. He makes a commitment. The coach checks his position off the list then the player decides to go to another school. Back to zero and start recruiting process over for next player.

All players signed and ready to go-finds out one is academically ineligible. Out for at least one semester-get the line-up card back out.

Got a new line up filled out getting ready to start first game everyone shows up but one guy-uh oh trouble in paradise-player suspended indefinitely because he had a little too much fun on Thursday night. Get the lineup card back out.

Ok, this time everything should be good a new line up on board. Flu runs through entire infield. Get the lineup card back out.

For Real, line up is submitted. Player breaks his leg in wind sprints. Get the lineup card back out.

See where this is going………

Coaching is really not that tough, if you can first, get the player, keep him, maintain his academic eligibility, keep him out of jail, keep him healthy and uninjured, and THEN see if he is coachable.

Once you have all those variables solved you just have to depend on the weather and the umpires.

There are days when I don’t like my job but I sure as heck don’t ever want to be a college coach and I have the utmost respect for them. Coaching isn’t for the weak at heart that is for sure. I just want to say that I think our coaches are doing a great job.

We had three big wins this weekend in Greensboro. I really never got comfortable or felt like we had the game in the bag even though the score seemed a little one sided at times. Rob Kral was firing rockets on Friday night, three homeruns to tie the school record with Jose Rodriguez adding a pair of his own. Every time I looked up it seemed like a Cougar was coming across the plate and we took that game 14-10. Matt Leeds led the way to the victory on Saturday with four RBI’s and a score of 9-2. (For the record, Saturday was a beautiful day in Greensboro and at one point I said to Ted that I couldn’t imagine being any happier than I was at that moment. I truly feel sorry for the people who haven’t experienced a green grassy hill with kids rolling down it at a ball park.) Sunday we squeaked out another victory at 6-5. Peterson looked good on the mound for his first outing after taking a line drive to his leg a couple of weeks ago.

No home games this week as we travel to Charleston Southern mid-week and then to Western Carolina for the weekend.

See you at the field.

I couldn't resist including this picture of what I hope is a future Cougar.  This kid has an arm coach, I'm just saying you might want to keep your eye on him.