I am just as disappointed/disgusted as any with the present state of our baseball program and I agree with those who feel total changeover in the staff is now the only solution. Further, I agree with those who feel that a mid-season change is not what is in our best interests long term. So what should we do? Here is one opinion.
Jack Leggett and Clemson University should immediately announce that Jack, after 22 years of dutiful service, will be retiring at the end of the 2015 season (with a public face of amicability regardless of it possibly not being so).
Why do I believe this is our best option?
- It takes the pressure off Jack to "win to save his job" (as there would obviously be no job to "save"). Anyone who has followed our baseball team over the Leggett years knows how he handles being under pressure to win.
- It takes the pressure off the players to "win to save the jobs of coaches". Our players, like most players do, like and respect their coaches and, agree or not, they want the staff to remain at Clemson in the future. See above about what pressure has done to Leggett teams in the past. (These two angles MAY help our team perform more consistently down the stretch and somewhat salvage something from this season - whatever that really means at this point).
- While there is no disputing it is time for a change, Leggett has done a lot for Clemson and is well respected in the college baseball community (I see no reason for "personal vitriol" aimed at him - it's simply time for him to go). Allowing him to go out with a "hat waving tour" is fair for him and will mitigate any misgivings potential coaching candidates may have about how his "departure" from Clemson was handled.
- It allows the Clemson Athletics Department to begin an immediate national search for his successor without offending the current staff (or at least being "unfair" to them) or offending potential candidates that they are being approached about a job that is not currently open.
What say you? I just want this train wreck fixed ASAP.
Jack Leggett and Clemson University should immediately announce that Jack, after 22 years of dutiful service, will be retiring at the end of the 2015 season (with a public face of amicability regardless of it possibly not being so).
Why do I believe this is our best option?
- It takes the pressure off Jack to "win to save his job" (as there would obviously be no job to "save"). Anyone who has followed our baseball team over the Leggett years knows how he handles being under pressure to win.
- It takes the pressure off the players to "win to save the jobs of coaches". Our players, like most players do, like and respect their coaches and, agree or not, they want the staff to remain at Clemson in the future. See above about what pressure has done to Leggett teams in the past. (These two angles MAY help our team perform more consistently down the stretch and somewhat salvage something from this season - whatever that really means at this point).
- While there is no disputing it is time for a change, Leggett has done a lot for Clemson and is well respected in the college baseball community (I see no reason for "personal vitriol" aimed at him - it's simply time for him to go). Allowing him to go out with a "hat waving tour" is fair for him and will mitigate any misgivings potential coaching candidates may have about how his "departure" from Clemson was handled.
- It allows the Clemson Athletics Department to begin an immediate national search for his successor without offending the current staff (or at least being "unfair" to them) or offending potential candidates that they are being approached about a job that is not currently open.
What say you? I just want this train wreck fixed ASAP.
