Auburn just lost the no-hitter and shutout in the bottom the fourth. Now 13-3. They are "Johnny all-staffing" it today. Can't ask for much better than 13 in T1 when you are doing that.

(06-10-2019 01:57 PM)chrisc Wrote:  Surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The awesomely-named Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 to beat Duke in Game 2 of their Super Regional. Among other things, this ensure that the Rice USM game was NOT the most interesting post-season no-hitter this season.

https://deadspin.com/righteous-baseball-...1835355659

Vandy then routed Duke 13-2 in Game 3 to advance to Omaha.

I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player). He's like 6-4, 230 and threw 131 pitches in the game. Betcha Keith Law doesn't care. He threw 99 in the 1st inning and 97 in the 9th inning.

(06-10-2019 02:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 01:57 PM)chrisc Wrote:  Surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The awesomely-named Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 to beat Duke in Game 2 of their Super Regional.

I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player).

He turned down 1st-round draft $$ out of high school because his mom insisted that he get an education ... and they chose Vandy.

In a local sports-radio interview before this series started, ESPN commentator Rick Waltz said that increasingly, college is for many reasons a better option for top players, especially those not drafted early (who are more likely to be considered non-prospects after a couple of years in low-level minor leagues). He said that in addition to the obvious long-term value of the education received, college assistant coaches at the top programs now make more money than the MLB minor league coaches, so they are attracting higher-quality coaches. And even the travel for many college teams is easier than than the long bus rides in the minors.

I hope we can keep up at Rice.

(06-10-2019 03:26 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 02:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 01:57 PM)chrisc Wrote:  Surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The awesomely-named Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 to beat Duke in Game 2 of their Super Regional.

I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player).

He turned down 1st-round draft $$ out of high school because his mom insisted that he get an education ... and they chose Vandy.

In a local sports-radio interview before this series started, ESPN commentator Rick Waltz said that increasingly, college is for many reasons a better option for top players, especially those not drafted early (who are more likely to be considered non-prospects after a couple of years in low-level minor leagues). He said that in addition to the obvious long-term value of the education received, college assistant coaches at the top programs now make more money than the MLB minor league coaches, so they are attracting higher-quality coaches. And even the travel for many college teams is easier than than the long bus rides in the minors.

I hope we can keep up at Rice.

As Baseball America and D1Baseball have pointed out, Vandy has found ways of getting around the 11.7 scholarship limit moreso than any other D! program. My understanding is that Rocker, as was the case with Price, is on a full paid scholarship.

(06-10-2019 03:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 03:26 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 02:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 01:57 PM)chrisc Wrote:  Surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The awesomely-named Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 to beat Duke in Game 2 of their Super Regional.

I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player).

He turned down 1st-round draft $$ out of high school because his mom insisted that he get an education ... and they chose Vandy.

In a local sports-radio interview before this series started, ESPN commentator Rick Waltz said that increasingly, college is for many reasons a better option for top players, especially those not drafted early (who are more likely to be considered non-prospects after a couple of years in low-level minor leagues). He said that in addition to the obvious long-term value of the education received, college assistant coaches at the top programs now make more money than the MLB minor league coaches, so they are attracting higher-quality coaches. And even the travel for many college teams is easier than than the long bus rides in the minors.

I hope we can keep up at Rice.

As Baseball America and D1Baseball have pointed out, Vandy has found ways of getting around the 11.7 scholarship limit moreso than any other D! program. My understanding is that Rocker, as was the case with Price, is on a full paid scholarship.

A baseball player on full scholarship isn't ipso facto evidence of anything against the rules.

If Vandy's need-based financial aid program is generous enough that many or even most of their baseball players end up better off taking whatever financial aid they qualify for than the fractional part of an athletic scholarship typically offered to baseball players, then Vandy very well could have so many players on financial aid that they can afford to give a whole baseball scholarship to a player from a rich family, i.e., Rocker. This isn't "getting around" anything.

Similarly, David Price's Wikipedia page says he attended Vandy on an academic scholarship. This could be imprecise language for "financial aid" or it could that Price applied for and won one of the 250 full "Ingram," "Cornelius Vanderbilt," or "Chancellor's" scholarships that they give out to each freshman class or he might have applied for and won under any of Vandy's other full-scholarship programs, some of which are based on minority status and others of which are based on residency in various Tennessee counties (Price was from Murfreesboro). The only way any of this would have violated any rule is if Price was given an academic scholarship essentially at the behest of the athletic department.

(06-10-2019 05:09 PM)illiniowl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 03:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 03:26 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 02:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 01:57 PM)chrisc Wrote:  Surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The awesomely-named Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter and struck out 19 to beat Duke in Game 2 of their Super Regional.

I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player).

He turned down 1st-round draft $$ out of high school because his mom insisted that he get an education ... and they chose Vandy.

In a local sports-radio interview before this series started, ESPN commentator Rick Waltz said that increasingly, college is for many reasons a better option for top players, especially those not drafted early (who are more likely to be considered non-prospects after a couple of years in low-level minor leagues). He said that in addition to the obvious long-term value of the education received, college assistant coaches at the top programs now make more money than the MLB minor league coaches, so they are attracting higher-quality coaches. And even the travel for many college teams is easier than than the long bus rides in the minors.

I hope we can keep up at Rice.

As Baseball America and D1Baseball have pointed out, Vandy has found ways of getting around the 11.7 scholarship limit moreso than any other D! program. My understanding is that Rocker, as was the case with Price, is on a full paid scholarship.

A baseball player on full scholarship isn't ipso facto evidence of anything against the rules.

If Vandy's need-based financial aid program is generous enough that many or even most of their baseball players end up better off taking whatever financial aid they qualify for than the fractional part of an athletic scholarship typically offered to baseball players, then Vandy very well could have so many players on financial aid that they can afford to give a whole baseball scholarship to a player from a rich family, i.e., Rocker. This isn't "getting around" anything.

Similarly, David Price's Wikipedia page says he attended Vandy on an academic scholarship. This could be imprecise language for "financial aid" or it could that Price applied for and won one of the 250 full "Ingram," "Cornelius Vanderbilt," or "Chancellor's" scholarships that they give out to each freshman class or he might have applied for and won under any of Vandy's other full-scholarship programs, some of which are based on minority status and others of which are based on residency in various Tennessee counties (Price was from Murfreesboro). The only way any of this would have violated any rule is if Price was given an academic scholarship essentially at the behest of the athletic department.

No one ever said it was illegal or violated any rules, and I certainly didn't mean to imply that it was. Simply put, Vandy Baseball has gotten around the 11.7 scholarship limit imposed on baseball programs by having a least a couple of their stud recruits each year, particularly those in-state, qualify for one of a handful of the University's unique fully paid scholarships.

Arkansas is putting an OmaHog beatdown on Ole Miss in their Super Regional rubber match ... up 9-1 with the bases loaded and no outs in B6.

ESPn announcer:

"And here come the beer hats. When the bases are loaded here at Baum-Walker Stadium, they wear beer hats."

2-run double makes it 11-1. And after a sac fly, 12-1. (I can't type fast enough!)

One of the ESPN announcers is already projecting Arkansas to win: "The SEC West will be well represented in Omaha. Three teams." (Mississippi State, Auburn & Arkansas)

(06-10-2019 05:27 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Arkansas is putting an OmaHog beatdown on Ole Miss in their Super Regional rubber match ... up 9-1 in B6.

One of the ESPN announcer is already projecting Arkansas to win: "The SEC West will be well represented in Omaha. Three teams." (Mississippi State, Auburn & Arkansas)

And Vandy make four of eight in Omaha. Thank heaven FSU beat LSU last night.

(06-10-2019 05:30 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 05:27 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  "The SEC West will be well represented in Omaha. Three teams." (Mississippi State, Auburn & Arkansas)

And Vandy make four of eight in Omaha. Thank heaven FSU beat LSU last night.

Yep, the SEC will have 4 teams in the CWS. But as you surely know, Vandy is in the SEC East.

(06-10-2019 05:27 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  One of the ESPN announcers is already projecting Arkansas to win: "The SEC West will be well represented in Omaha. Three teams." (Mississippi State, Auburn & Arkansas)

The SEC West would have three teams whether Arkansas or Ole Miss won that game.

Again, I really think a conference should be limited to four teams getting invites. Maybe 6 in baseball due to the format, but a strict limit and a requirement to seed so that two teams from the same conference cannot meet until Omaha (or the Final Four in basketball). I'm an unabashed SEC fan and an Auburn fan in particular (my brother graduated from Auburn, War Eagle). But Auburn had no business in the NCAA tournament. They finished 6th in the SEC West in the regular season, had a losing conference record, and did not make it past an elimination game in the tournament.

Only one team from west of the Mississippi River, Texas Tech.
No teams from the west coast.
And Florida State: 22 CWS appearances, ZERO championships! Will this year (#23) be any different?
1957, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019
I'll go with the only team from Texas...Tech

All eight teams in the CWS are from P5 conferences. Not surprising since 15 of 16 teams in the super regionals were P5. The one G5 team (East Carolina) lost their super regional 14-1 and 12-0. Serious P5 dominance.

(06-11-2019 09:10 AM)temchugh Wrote:  All eight teams in the CWS are from P5 conferences. Not surprising since 15 of 16 teams in the super regionals were P5. The one G5 team (East Carolina) lost their super regional 14-1 and 12-0. Serious P5 dominance.

Yes, but...in baseball, the Big 10 is not one of the power 5 conferences. It falls not only behind the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC and SEC, but also the AAC and Big West.

(06-10-2019 05:24 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 05:09 PM)illiniowl Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 03:43 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 03:26 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 02:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I was going to mention him. Son of Tracy Rocker (ex Lombardi Award winner, NFL player).

He turned down 1st-round draft $$ out of high school because his mom insisted that he get an education ... and they chose Vandy.

In a local sports-radio interview before this series started, ESPN commentator Rick Waltz said that increasingly, college is for many reasons a better option for top players, especially those not drafted early (who are more likely to be considered non-prospects after a couple of years in low-level minor leagues). He said that in addition to the obvious long-term value of the education received, college assistant coaches at the top programs now make more money than the MLB minor league coaches, so they are attracting higher-quality coaches. And even the travel for many college teams is easier than than the long bus rides in the minors.

I hope we can keep up at Rice.

As Baseball America and D1Baseball have pointed out, Vandy has found ways of getting around the 11.7 scholarship limit moreso than any other D! program. My understanding is that Rocker, as was the case with Price, is on a full paid scholarship.

A baseball player on full scholarship isn't ipso facto evidence of anything against the rules.

If Vandy's need-based financial aid program is generous enough that many or even most of their baseball players end up better off taking whatever financial aid they qualify for than the fractional part of an athletic scholarship typically offered to baseball players, then Vandy very well could have so many players on financial aid that they can afford to give a whole baseball scholarship to a player from a rich family, i.e., Rocker. This isn't "getting around" anything.

Similarly, David Price's Wikipedia page says he attended Vandy on an academic scholarship. This could be imprecise language for "financial aid" or it could that Price applied for and won one of the 250 full "Ingram," "Cornelius Vanderbilt," or "Chancellor's" scholarships that they give out to each freshman class or he might have applied for and won under any of Vandy's other full-scholarship programs, some of which are based on minority status and others of which are based on residency in various Tennessee counties (Price was from Murfreesboro). The only way any of this would have violated any rule is if Price was given an academic scholarship essentially at the behest of the athletic department.

No one ever said it was illegal or violated any rules, and I certainly didn't mean to imply that it was. Simply put, Vandy Baseball has gotten around the 11.7 scholarship limit imposed on baseball programs by having a least a couple of their stud recruits each year, particularly those in-state, qualify for one of a handful of the University's unique fully paid scholarships.

OK, but it actually would be a big-time NCAA violation for VU to basically be setting aside academic scholarships for athletes. Something like 1% of applicants to Vandy are offered merit scholarships, so if baseball just somehow magically manages every year to get two (or more you say!) of those for its recruits, then they need to be turned in to the NCAA. In fact, I would imagine that in the hypercompetitive SEC there isn't any shortage of programs and boosters trying to blow the whistle on everyone all the time, so don't you think that if Vandy baseball recruits really were consistently winning full academic scholarships at a statistically highly improbable rate, something would have been done about it by now?

To me, the Occam's Razor explanation is that once in a blue moon a Vandy baseball player might have won a full scholarship on merit and the rest of the time any player is "on full scholarship" it is either need-based financial aid or a full baseball scholarship that the program can afford not to split up because so much of the rest of the squad is taking financial aid rather than athletic scholarship money. There's probably also some hearsay inaccuracy going on too (calling a full-tuition award a "full scholarship," etc.).

But I repeat - if Vandy Baseball really is somehow magically managing to consistently get academic scholarships for recruits, then let's turn them in. A simple audit and statistical analysis would prove this in no time flat.

(06-11-2019 09:25 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 09:10 AM)temchugh Wrote:  All eight teams in the CWS are from P5 conferences. Not surprising since 15 of 16 teams in the super regionals were P5. The one G5 team (East Carolina) lost their super regional 14-1 and 12-0. Serious P5 dominance.

Yes, but...in baseball, the Big 10 is not one of the power 5 conferences. It falls not only behind the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC and SEC, but also the AAC and Big West.

It's only a matter of time. In every sport.

(06-11-2019 09:25 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 09:10 AM)temchugh Wrote:  All eight teams in the CWS are from P5 conferences. Not surprising since 15 of 16 teams in the super regionals were P5. The one G5 team (East Carolina) lost their super regional 14-1 and 12-0. Serious P5 dominance.

Yes, but...in baseball, the Big 10 is not one of the power 5 conferences. It falls not only behind the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC and SEC, but also the AAC and Big West.

The AAC has never put more teams into the 64-team regionals than the Big Ten, in its 6-year history.

The Big West has only done so one time, in 2014, in the same period. And has sent only a single team to the NCAA's the last two. In the last 3 years, the Big Ten has had 14 teams in the regionals, compared to 4 for the Big West.

(06-11-2019 09:43 AM)illiniowl Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 09:25 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(06-11-2019 09:10 AM)temchugh Wrote:  All eight teams in the CWS are from P5 conferences. Not surprising since 15 of 16 teams in the super regionals were P5. The one G5 team (East Carolina) lost their super regional 14-1 and 12-0. Serious P5 dominance.

Yes, but...in baseball, the Big 10 is not one of the power 5 conferences. It falls not only behind the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC and SEC, but also the AAC and Big West.

It's only a matter of time. In every sport.

I'm supplying information about Track and Field on the recent NCAA Championships thread.

Not exactly sure the right thread for this but Hallmark is the new HC at UTSA.

(06-15-2019 10:35 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Not exactly sure the right thread for this but Hallmark is the new HC at UTSA.

Saves on relocation costs. UTSA is about 20 minutes from UIW.

(06-16-2019 02:30 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(06-15-2019 10:35 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Not exactly sure the right thread for this but Hallmark is the new HC at UTSA.

Saves on relocation costs. UTSA is about 20 minutes from UIW.

My thought too