Ron throws a hissy fit......

[Greenhead22]

Polk: "I just got slapped in the face, punched in the stomach"
Posted 6/6/2008 5:30 PM CDT on clarionledger.com

Reaction on the expected hiring of John Cohen turns to now-former Mississippi State coach Ron Polk, who was, well, here ya go:

"I just got slapped in the face, punched in the stomach," he said. "All my coaches have been slapped in the face, punched in the stomach by a young athletic director who has absolutely no clue what he's doing."

Polk said he plans to send Byrne a letter that states "within 48 hours, my name comes off the stadium, comes off the centerfield fence, the banner off the concourse comes down. It will remain down until (Byrne) gets fired or somebody runs him off."

Polk said he intends to remove MSU from his will as long as Byrne is the AD.


I asked Polk if he was concerned what these statements would do to his legacy, he responded that he thinks people will recognize that "he stood up for his boys."

Polk, obviously, won't be in attendance at tomorrow's press conference that is expected to name Cohen, but that it wasn't personal between he and Cohen. Polk said he spoke with Cohen two days ago about the job. "I'm not castigating John Cohen," Polk said. "He probably felt like if he wasn't going to take it, somebody else would."

And one more: "All this might say 'Well, sour grapes'," Polk said. "It is sour grapes, yeah. I think I'm the athletic director for baseball. I deserve that right."

[Greenhead22]

And another one to Greg Ellis......

Polk is ticked off bigtime; done with MSU

I’m just going to let you read what Ron Polk told me over the phone. He’s in Athens watching Georgia in the Super Regionals.

Wow! Brace yourselves. Remember, he pushed hard for Tommy Raffo to get the job.

“Unfortunately, our new athletic director slapped me in face and punched me in the stomach. He also slapped Tommy Raffo in the face and punched him in the stomach after 15 years of loyalty to Mississippi State. He did the same to our players, their parents and signees. I think I have more knowledge about the game than young Mr. Byrne.

“I want my name taken off the stadium and in the concourse until Greg Byrne is fired. And if they don’t do it, I will. And as soon as I get back to Starkville, I’m going to make sure the MSU Foundation is taken out of my will. And that’s a lot of money. I’m going to ask former players who give to quit. If you’re asking if I’m mad, then yes. I’m mad.

“I was up front with John Cohen, Pat Casey, Steve Smith all along. If Joe Torre got the job, I wouldn’t support him. I know more about Mississippi State baseball than anyone. Greg Byrne doesn’t know anything. Well, he’s about to find out what my name means.

“I love John, he’s a former player, but he knew how I felt. And when he walks into his new office, there will only be a desk and chair. No papers on the players or anything. I don’t like what’s done, but I guess he really wanted this job very bad. Good luck.

“Is this a good job? I don’t know. Kentucky has the lottery and we don’t. But I’ll tell you one thing, Greg Byrne may be the athletic director, but I’m the athletic director for baseball. I’ve been there for 31 years, and no one is more loyal than me.”

“Do you think Vince Dooley is glad he listened to me. Look what Dave Perno has done with Georgia and he’s close to getting them back to the world series. But with this hire, Greg Byrne has thrown 15 years away of Tommy’s coaching life and the four years he has played here. Is he the best candidate, I don’t know. I say give him four years. If he doesn’t get the job done, then fire him. But no, Greg Byrne wanted to make a splash. But he’s not a Mississippi State guy, and doesn’t understand what MSU baseball is all about. His honeymoon is over. He blew it.”

Polk then said he now wants to return to coaching as a volunteer assistant.

He was mad and his voice quivered. He said he won’t stay in Starkville, either. He also said he won’t attend tomorrow’s press conference. That’s probably a good thing.

[Bullet]

If he really said all this then someone needs to put him in timeout and give him a spanking cause he's acting like a big ol 4 yr old.

Dam dude

[Greenhead22]

He should've retired after last season, and Raffo would've become the head coach because of LT. Raffo would still have had a better chance if Ron hadn't kept beating a dead horse, constantly talking about Raffo as his successor.

He talked to the three coaches behind Byrne's back. He basically ran Casey and Smith away........Cohen didn't get bluffed.

[big gumbo]

Wow, I love sharing this with others.

[Money]

Cohen-Dement Stadium ?

[Bankermane]

He's going out about like Roger Clements did. I got a bad taste in my mouth.

[Duckdawg10]

they are ripping his butt over on genespage. He is a fool and I hope he leaves and never comes back!

[Damn_It_Boy]

What a disgrace to baseball, MSU, and the state of Mississippi. We ought to kick his ass outa of the damn state....IDIOT.

[rebelduckaholic]

Biatch

[duck_nutt]

"Polk then said he now wants to return to coaching as a volunteer assistant."

now that's funny...I saw jerk his damn name down BEFORE he gets back and screw him!

what a dickhead..he over stayed his welcome..should have never came back from georgia..

[hillhunter]

Sounds like he really isnt interested in whats best for MSU baseball, but rather whats best for his ego. As for Raffo, I don't have anything against the guy but he has no accomplishments that compare to Cohen's resume. I just cant see hiring a career assistant as a head coach at this point when we had three other qualified people for the job. As for Polk acting this way then it sounds like to me he wanted to be GM of MSU baseball and he knew he could use Raffo as the puppet in his game, that way if he didn't like the way something was going all he would have to do is pull a string. Right now he's not thinking of the Univ., the team, or the players in giving them a chance to be successful next year, he's only thinkin of himself.... good ridance if thats your attitude.

[stitch]

Coach Polk's only issue....if you want to call it that, I consider it an excellent trait....is his big heart and loyalty to his players......it's why his players love him so much. You can't say that with many coaches these days.....and everyone around him has shown that loyalty back, except Mr Byrne. ...I would like to hear some comments from some of Bianco's former players and how they feel about him.

On another note......Cohen probably had the best recruiting class in the country at Kentucky....yes Kentucky......imagine what he will do in Starkville

[bigoak]

Polk may have been loyal to his players over the years but he screwed this one up big time. I bet Cohen does not feel any support from Polk right now. He should not have endorsed Raffo in such a public way because he had to have known that there were several other of his former players that wanted this job. He should have endorsed Raffo privately. It is not like Byrne went out and hired some unproven assistant from Idaho that has no ties to State. He hired a former Mississippi State player that went out and turned a consistent loser into an SEC champion. This is a no brainer, the best coach got the job.

Why hasn't Raffo already landed a head coaching job somewhere else? Why didn't Templeton give it to him when McMahon left? I applaud Byrne for putting what is best for Mississippi State ahead of any one persons ego. I really believe Polk is going off the deep end.

[SWAG]

I agree Polk should have not went so public with his wishes to have Raffo take his place. I do not see the great "loyalty" that Polk refers to Raffo as having for MSU. Was Raffo offered some head coaching jobs and turned them down to remain at MSU? That would be loyalty. I think he would have moved on and found a head coaching job as so many other Polk assistants have if the offers had been there. I also see Polk's side somewhat, but in the end it has to be a MSU decision. Baseball being a game of who can do the best over an extended amount of time, Polk sees no big thing with giving Raffo a four year "try out" and replacing him if things do not go well. I on the other hand do not want to wait 4 years. Things have changed, we do not just get the cream of the crop of high school players as we did 10-15 years ago. Ole Miss is a wolf at our door and I want pure dominance back. May get it with Cohen, may not; but I like the choice. Steve Smith, Louisville coach, or Coastal Carolina coach would have been good choices from what I have read. I would have really opted for Steve Smith overall, but I am pleased with Cohen as the hire and any of the 4 would have went ahead of Raffo.