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by Tech92 on Oct 18, 2010 9:04 PM CDT
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Baron Batch had a few interesting things to say in the Monday press conference...Excerpts below:
“I think we’re an extremely talented offense. We have some guys who are young, which is not an
excuse at all. I used to discredit the value of experience when I was a younger player. Now that
I’m older, it makes a huge difference looking back on it. We just have to get going. We have, I
think, the past few games excluding this one when we kind of stubbed our toe at times in the
game. We just have to stick to the basic stuff and running it. We are a talented group and there is
nothing really broken about it. We just have to focus on doing our job and people doing their job
and not focusing on anything else.”
On the new coaching staff
“I’ve heard a lot is people saying, “We want Leach back” or “They made a mistake getting rid of
him.” The players love the coaches we have. The coaches are amazing, amazing coaches and
that’s what hurts. The work we put in over the offseason and the stuff that we did to become a
good football team. That’s why it’s so frustrating because we are not a 3-3 team, but that’s what
the record shows and we cant change that. Everybody is on board and looking forward to getting
back to work. That’s the one thing that we can control. I’m going to make sure I police, as being a
senior, to make sure everybody is working hard. I think we will turn it around and be okay.”
On not being bowl eligible yet
“I think at this point you have to think of that. That’s the sense of urgency you think about. We are
3-3 and not close to being bowl eligible. We got a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of good football
teams that we have to play still. Like I said, we are a good football team. We have great coaches
and everybody is on board. We have a good senior class. We can get this thing turned around,
and we will.”
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.
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I agree with you about his commitment.
Players and coaches must be supportive of one another during tough times. Batch has always been a great leader. Negativity or criticism of teammates or coaches in public would probably be completely counterproductive.
As Dale Carnegie famously wrote, “If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive.”
Leadership
As TallMike says in a post later in this thread, Batch is a senior who has been asked to be a leader. Combining that remark with what tech 09 says here reminds me of a leadership rule I learned from my dad and has been reinforced in my Air Force career….praise in public and criticize in private. In my experience, you can count on a leader to generally be positive and not criticize people specifically in public. “Yeah, we missed some tackles and didn’t hit the correct holes.” General comments like that to the public are ok…you’re not singling someone out for criticism. However, I highly doubt you’ll hear a coach or a player give the same level of criticism in public that they give in the film room.
by Techsaninutah on Oct 19, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
It is truly amazing
the way this group of coaches has turned this program around. It is easy to like people who accept your failure and say thats ok we will get em next week, but Baron your senior season is just about over and with it your football career. I am sure you will have found memories of the Gigglefests in the lockeroom, but one day you will wake and realize that this year was simply pissed away.
"A pretty girl will leave you. An ugly girl will leave you too but then again who really cares?"
Baron has repetitively demonstrated a insight and maturity that is well beyond his years. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but Baron has been a dedicated and committed athlete since battling back from a near career-ending injury. As fans, we are not pleased with this team’s on-field performance; however, it is careless and irresponsible to critique a player because he believes in the new coach.
I really like Baron
and he has been good to my family.
That is why it pisses me off so much to see his senior year being pissed away the way that it has been. I do wonder why it doesn’t piss him off and maybe one day I will get the answer to that question.
"A pretty girl will leave you. An ugly girl will leave you too but then again who really cares?"
by FriscoRaider on Oct 19, 2010 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't think for a second...
that Baron is not aware it’s his last season. He knows it. But you know what..Baron also recognizes that life is not won on the football field. Life is won…in life. He’s a devout christian and his life will truly begin at the end of the season…doing missionary work and helping tomorrow’s future. I agree with CRV in that he is mature beyond his years.
These kids know that the season isn’t going the way they had planned. The season isn’t going the way we as fans had expected. But maybe our expectation was falsely set by Leach’s comments about this being his “best returning team”. I find that hard to buy considering these are the same defensive players he’d be using today. I will say this, our defensive cupboard was bare and full at the same time. Bare- few senior leaders; Full – freshmen who will become great leaders/players in the very near future.
You can’t judge a coach after 6 games. If you can, please buy a lottery ticket because you will become fairly wealthy soon. Keep your chin up….it may get worse before itgets better, but in my opinion…it is going to get better. Probably not this year…but soon. This is a bump in the road that hurts.
The defense this year is about as talented as it's ever been...
A little young in the secondary… but with more raw athletic skill there…
My expectations were falsely set by several of Tubs comments when he was coming in… now he’s telling a different story… that type thing has happened too many times for me to really have much faith in anything he says anymore…
by Houston Raider on Oct 19, 2010 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice kid
I have been very impressed with Baron’s efforts on the field and his ability to articulate when interviewed and he is welcome to his opinion.
He had a potential future in the pro realm, but whatever potential for him that might have been there, is going to evaporate this year under Tuberville. I wish him well in his job hunting and career path, but the path this football team is on now will never lead him to the NFL.
These coaches may be great with relationships, vision, and strategy ....
but if they get rattled because they are being out coached and don’t call the right plays at the right time, and some of the players don’t know their assignments all of that amazing stuff doesn’t matter.
by Arizona Raider on Oct 18, 2010 10:04 PM CDT reply actions
The tone has really changed between 2009 and 2010...
Leach lost the team after losing to a ranked Houston team. We finished the season with nine wins, but one really important loss.
This year, we suck, but everyone is praising the coaching staff. I don’t get it.
Everyone is praising the coaches because they enjoy working in a professional environment and being respected! If we know nothing else about Leach we know two things
1. He engaged a baby (and his poppa) in repeated tissies
2. He was late to his own meetings
3. He talked smack to his players at the wrong time (like after the Baylor game)
4. He thinks all college girls are fat
I also dont think that we suck. I think we are just different and our expectations of how to get a win are different that Tubbs. Even during the Baylor game we couldve won by 21 or 28 (3rd qtr FG vs OSU) but Tubbs doest coach that kind of game. Eveyone thought Leach was nuts, to us he was normal and we loved it! The Riverboat Gambler could never match the unpredictability of the Mad Scientist.
If you think
Leach’s speech after the Baylor game wasn’t spot on, then I don’t know what to say to you. That speech was exactly how I felt, and how many felt.
Leach was a winner. Tubs has yet to prove himself to me (at Tech).
by logan5555 on Oct 19, 2010 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Spot On
Spot on yes but six weeks before the next game, a lot of good that does when we are all headed back to the parking lot. How about give that speech at halftime or better yet on about Tuesday. Nothing worse that belittling players after they have already blown their opportunity to apply effort
Serving notice that their piss poor play against Baylor isn't going to cut it?
Good lord, the coach better be pissed off. The bar had been raised and now its not. Oh no, belittling players. wow.
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Oct 20, 2010 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions
We should have hired Dr. Phil to coach the team
Strive for Honor Evermore! Unless you’re a Regent or Administrator…
When should a coach review a disappointing season with his team if not after the final regular season game?
That’s when the effort is fresh in their minds. Make it clear that so much more is expected of them. Don’t let them go home thinking that 8-4 was good enough for Texas Tech. 8-4 wasn’t good enough a year after 11-1.
To paraphrase Tubberville
Tommy has lost some games at Texas Tech…(remember, he said ‘Mike won some games’?)
Failure with repeated on-side kicks, failure with time-management on the field, failure at winning games…we will see how well this neck-tied staff changes those the remainder of this season and will revisit their failures as well as what successes they might fall into weekly or at season end.
I have no expectations of much success the remainder of the year.
Baron has the right attitude..
but I think he has been brainwashed. He has to think positively, however, because otherwise he’d probably go crazy.
in that regard...
Wouldn’t every college football player in America be “brainwashed” because they buy into what the coaches are presenting them? Would you still see him as “brainwashed” if we were 6-0, or would he just have the right mid set then?
by Vassago77379 on Oct 19, 2010 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions
maybe so. .
I don’t mean “drinking the kool-aid” brainwashed. You’re right- Baron is a very positive person in general, so maybe I overanalyzed him.
Baron Batch is a gamer.
He will do what the coaches ask, to the best of his ability. I also think he may be a bit brainwashed as he mentioned 2 or 3 times in the quotes above that “we are a good football team.” I am sure he believes that, even though it is evident the team seems fractured at the time. And he may be right (counter-point) that they will “get this thing turned around.” The team as a whole is just not having the success everyone expected. Can they get better? Of course….it would be difficult to get much worse….Right? Can they become bowl eligible? Well, they need 3, maybe 4 more wins. It all depends on several things as to whether 6 wins would be enough to get into a bowl of any kind. I hope they succeed. I do not want them to fail. I will not abandon them, either, as I have stayed a Red Raider fan through many thin years, some worse than this one. I know, I wrote a letter of displeasure to Coach Tubs, but all the other stuff aside, I shall remain a Texas Tech Red Raider.
TTpilk Psalm 117:
1 ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
He signed a contract-he is not allowed to criticize the coaching staff or teammates. If he does then he can lose his scholarship and be removed from the team.
Who knows how he really feels. We probably will never know.
Does it matter if players like the coach?
I could care less if players like a coach, all I care about is winning. Some of the best coaches are ones who players don’t like while playing for because they show them what discipline is, then later gain respect for the coaches. I guess that’s the difference between a buddy and a coach.
by harrell4heisman on Oct 19, 2010 12:44 AM CDT reply actions
We’ve been through this several times, and we all fall into different camps. I could care less if a player likes the coach, but the player damn well better respect the coach.
Well thank goodness I'm not a player
Because imo, respect is earned and Tommy Tuberville has done absolutely nothing to earn respect for his coaching.
Thank goodness, indeed
Can you not relate to or even accept the player’s experience-based perspective? Do you generally barter respect for success in your personal relationships?
by CRV on Oct 19, 2010 7:31 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I doubt RdrPwr has a personal relationship with Coach Tuberville.
wrt college football coaches I’ve never met, the answer to your question is generally yes.
I'm not saying Tuberville is a bad man...
I am only talking about his coaching in general. I understand personal relationships mean everything, thats why we’re in the situation we’re in today.
It's easy to say this as a fan...
Using Rice as my example, I have had more than a few conversations with coach Bailiff and players, and the respect level that these kids have for him is unmeasurable… even though they are 2-4 and the fans want his head. Respect is earned in the offseason and two-a-days during times that we as fans will never see or hear, when blood and sweat are poured for the team and true sacrifices are made. These coaches make endless sacrifices to their respective teams, alienating themselves from friends and family most of the time… The players see and know how much these coaches are giving to the team, but as fans … sometimes we are without a clue
by Vassago77379 on Oct 19, 2010 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Good discussion.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Oct 19, 2010 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Fans
I think generally we are all full of it. Our perspective vs that of people inside the program or totally different. To say we suck it just horrible. Lots of teams suck. We are talented and make great plays but also make really boneheaded plays especially on special teams and busted coverages on defense. But not considering what happened at ISU (I didnt see it) we dont suck. Our rhythm has been disrupted and its disturbing but the level of Suck no way !
One thing Leach himself says on his Sirius Radio show is “The fans always remember the good games the previous guy coached, they dont remember all the bad ones”
I think I disagree…as in life, you are asked to respect the position of a man. However, you aren’t required to respect the man himself. Those are different concepts. But as the head coach, all the players should respect the position he holds, just like you ought to respect the position your boss holds over you. But respecting the person is a different ball of wax.
I'm not saying the players shouldn't act respectful
You can act respectful towards your boss without actually having any respect for him at all, thats a part of life.
If you can fake that....
you will make it in corporate America..
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Oct 19, 2010 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I think what Batch really meant was:
Be a TEAM.
Be the best at doing your job.
Be the most exited to play.
"A pretty girl will leave you. An ugly girl will leave you too but then again who really cares?"
I almost posted
Some stinging reality about his comments. Public comments ARE fair game.
But really, they are only words. I switched the last game off because of what was happening on the field. I am tired of words.
I like Baron a great deal...
but I really don’t care if this team prefers one coaching staff over another. It boils down to winning football games and this team isn’t doing that under this coaching staff thus far. I liked my first boss out of college but he let me do what ever I wanted which wasn’t very productive at the time. I still support Tuberville to this day but he does have problems within his staff. Players are not being utilized properly, especially on offense. The jury is still out on WIllis but Brown has failed with honors in my eyes. If I were Batch I would be very upset at my senior season being a flop with all the potential that is not being utilized properly because of an inexperienced OC.
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
I'm sure putting Baron out there was all about PR.
The coaching staff knows they are not being well received by the Tech faithful. They know Baron is well regarded. Why not put him out there as a spokesman for the team to see if that will help their credibility? I have no doubt whatsoever that Baron believed every word he said, or that he was happy to do so. But PR is PR.
I don't think the coaching staff needs Batch for credibility.
I mean, Willis could just point out the NC ring he wears if he wants credibility, I think.
¡Viva los Matadores!
Yes, but..
he wan’t defensive coordinator at Bama and he hasn’t proved himself at Tech yet. Granted, we’re only halfway into the season. But I’ve worked in PR for a long time and it never hurts to take a fan favorite, an “insider”, to spread the message about how great things are.
And quite a good PR effort - I might add
Of course on reflection, it does seem rather unusual that the Chancellor of a major university is discussing the mid-season fortunes of the men’s football team.
I can’t recall that happening during Spike’s or Leach’s tenure.
Unless of course, the Chancellor feels that it’s necessary to give the new guy a vote of confidence.
Or perhaps the Chancellor has other reasons to be concerned.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Oct 19, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
That was last year.
That was last fucking year.
Oh wait, we don’t say bad words in the locker room anymore. Golly gosh, sorry.
"A pretty girl will leave you. An ugly girl will leave you too but then again who really cares?"
by FriscoRaider on Oct 19, 2010 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Batch is a senior who has been asked to be a leader.
He is leading in the most positive way that he knows how to lead.
His words address supporting team goals to win.
Support his team maters.
Support his coaches.
And one of our favorite traits of a TTU football team…don’t quit.
I bet every senior is or has looked at this season as the last one they will play…they likely will not want to find themselves in the position of looking back after some years and thinking that they did not give their best.
as for me and my house, we chose the Lord.
+ 1 million TM
Well said
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Oct 19, 2010 11:42 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
McWilliams
Ouch. I know, I know, that still hurts a little.
I bring this up to illustrate a point for those that were around when David McWilliams had his cup of coffee in Lubbock. My brother was on the team during that time. I recall how pissed off my family was when he resigned to go to UT. And I recall how pissed off everyone around Lubbock was at the time.
What I found odd through all of this was the actual team has no bad feelings toward McWilliams. For the most part, they all still really liked the guy and didn’t speak badly about him even though everyone around was dragging his name through the mud.
It’s a different perspective on the inside vs the fan base. And sometimes different even among the players and their families. So that is how I view Baron’s remarks. I’m sure he is disappointed, but he is in the arena so we should accept his opinions as such.
But winning a few games in a row sure would help the fanbase (me included).
IMWTx
Stop being a wussy. This is freaking FOOTBALL, not the debate club! YELL LOUD AND RAISE HELL.
by imisswesttexas on Oct 19, 2010 12:02 PM CDT reply actions
This should not surprise anyone.....
That Tommy is praised by Baron. He is more professional, and doesn’t cuss and has a lot more in common with him that Mike. More than likely, a much better human being in many ways. I admire Baron on and off the field, and this comment doesn’t surprise me one bit….nor does it say that he thinks he is a better coach than Mike.
Mike is strong medicine, and it doesn’t always go down smooth. He stirs the pot, and you are uncomfortable and uneasy…..a large reason why I think he was successful.
I can still clearly see Baron, Brandon and Duncan coming out for the 2nd half of the KU game two years ago in Lawrence up two scores (but dominated the first half) and those 3 went up to each player on the team and you hadn’t seen a team that jacked up in years. I knew an ass-kicking was coming.
Did Mike run the team like a disfunctional family? Yes. I but it worked….really well. More power to Baron and others that like this staff. I hope they are able to meet the level of winning established by Mike.
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Oct 19, 2010 2:22 PM CDT reply actions
OK I am convinced
It is much more fun to play on a team when the meetings start on time and no one says any bad words even if you lose every game. If that is ok with the players then who am I to judge. Maybe I can get a printer somewhere to modify my degree.
"A pretty girl will leave you. An ugly girl will leave you too but then again who really cares?"
OK, I'm not!
I like Baron as a person and as a player, but I wish he’d worry about holding onto the ball. When, I hear him talk about “Leach, etc.” and the “amazing(Coach Cornbread’s) coaching staff”, I want to say “prove it and win some games!” Maybe I’m not privy to all the inside locker room information, but I CAN see that this team doesn’t even resemble the team that won 9 games last year and BEAT Nebraska, Oklahoma and Michigan State. I CAN see that this team doesn’t seem to have the fire and discipline that it had in ‘09. Is that all injuries or the player’s fault? I don’t think so. I think these “amazing coaches” are "amazing frauds. Sorry Baron, just calling it as I see it!
No excuses...soft locker room
I think when players are too comfortable in the locker room around coaches, you have problems. I’ve always admired the screamers like Jimmy Johnson who basically made you produce or go home. This current locker room is like a Barney episode with eveybody chanting ‘’I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family……" I would rather hear players and coaches get upset about their lousy level of play rather than saying something stupid week after week like “we didn’t start early”. Well set you freakin’ alarm clock big boy and get your Sh*t together.
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
I doubt it, my coach would have cut me on the spot if I said that
I would pay money to hear you say that last sentence to your boss. Imagine if a student actually said that to a teacher.
Also, don’t include last yr’s half-suspended Michigan State team in any list of impressive teams Tech has beaten.
If anyone hasn't read it. . .
http://baronbatch.blogspot.com/
This is Baron’s blog. I’m glad he can see there is life beyond football.
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