jockey16

I can't speak as to now, but when we played the actual playing surface on the field was very good compared to other teams. The surroundings were lacking, but the actual field was just fine. It may be hard for them to appreciate, and I can understand that. However, even if the facilities are the worst in the whole conference, which ours were when I played, the coaches and leaders on the team need to set the tone and attitude for everyone else to follow. We may have less, but we will work harder and take the big guys down. Like I said previously, I look forward to seeing the approach from the team next season. I expect it to be much different than what we have been seeing.

I will not stop with the history lessons. Maybe today's players need to realize what they have is significantly better than previous ballplayers. Yet, previous teams enjoyed much greater success while utilizing lesser facilities. Keep in mind, when I played our facilities were the worst in the MAC, yet we found a way to win. A new field will not magically translate to pitchers holding the runners on better or infielders making routine plays. New dugouts will not help the hitters work the count better. Even new batting cages by the field will not be the difference. A new backstop will not help the catcher throw more runners out. The players made way too many mental errors in the games I saw. Clearly a lack of focus and attention to detail. In my opinion, that is something the coaches should be able to address without state-of-the-art facilities. Rembielak is a very good hire. Previous successful head coaching experience. Previous MAC experience and recruiting knowledge of the area. I will be very interested to observe the approach of his team this next season compared to what we saw previously.

I am also an alumni to the baseball program from the early to mid 90's. When I was a freshman it was our first year in the MAC and we were terrible. Outmatched. By the time I left we made the playoffs twice and won the MAC tournament on Can't's field. The facilities back then were nothing compared to now. We took indoor batting practice in a place we called "The Dungeon." Infielders took groundballs on the gym floor at Memorial Hall. Pitchers through off of wooden mounds made of 2X4's and plywood. We ran sprints in the bays at Rhodes Arena and had to help each other stop before we hit the walls. But, we did what we could and we got better. Of course, facilities are a significant factor in recruiting. But they are not a determining factor in success and/or improvement. I only met Coach Bangston a couple times and do not know any of the players from his teams, but the facilities at Akron should not be an excuse. A new field, new grandstand, new backstop, new indoor cages and new wall will not make the team win. Leadership, teaching, hardwork and attention to detail will bring about improvement. I went to a handful of games this past season and it was easy to see why they lost. Poor plate discipline (i.e. not working the count), routinely throwing behind the runners in the field, lack of execution on routine plays, pitcher's doing a poor job of holding runners, and a lack of leadership on the field are what I noticed the most. These are mostly mental errors. In my opinion, the facilities are "good enough" to be successful. Besides, if you were running the athletic department, would you sink $500k into new facilities for a largely unsuccessful team? Or would you tell them to earn it first? Also, you cannot move the backstop closer to home plate. It is already close by college standards and the field lacks in foul ball territory as it is.