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Jay Johnson cool press conference quote

Posted on 2/23/26 at 7:56 am
Posted by VCeagle2013
Member since Apr 2013
329 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 7:56 am
Johnson, Schmidt and Curiel at the podium.

"Both these guys are great players for me, but they're also a huge part of my life. They mean alot to what we're doing."

"Relative to William Schmidt, He was young when i first came to LSU. He came to a camp and you could really see him spin the breaking ball, but i think he was 81 mph at the time. I got some advice from a scout that I trust alot. He's like 'Its going to be more important to say NO to players at LSU than it is to say YES'. "

"So we let him go and we said we'd watch him develop. Very shortly after that he committed to Mississippi State and we're like 'oh boy we may have messed up on that one'. We kept following him and seeing how he was doing. and by that time we'd won the first national championship. And luckily people around town were kinda relaying to me that maybe this is where he wants to be and what he wants to do. And when i heard that i started to move aggressively to get him to our side. Really glad we did."

"Whats more important with both of these guys(gestures at Schmidt and Curiel) is to say 'Im going to college'. Because plenty of these guys that you never hear of, they take the 2 million bucks and nobody ever hears of them again. With these guys, they are now 2 of the premier players in college baseball at the best program in college baseball. And they're going to have long careers after LSU because of how well they are developing here. and also becoming even better people than they are players. and i'm honored to coach them while I can."
Posted by liquid rabbit
Boxtard BPB®© emeritus
Member since Mar 2006
64829 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:00 am to
That's a coach.

Posted by TigerReich
Member since Dec 2024
915 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:00 am to
Proof is in the pudding. Who wouldn't want to play for JJ and the Tigers with the chance to win 1+ nattys, develop, and out earn your HS teammates that took the quick cash.
Posted by Big4SALTbro
Member since Jun 2019
23408 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:02 am to
Unlike Mr boring loser matt, Jay is playing chess dominates on the field and off the field
Posted by GeauxtigersMs36
The coast
Member since Jan 2018
12784 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:05 am to
That’s what I hope all college baseball moves to… play big time college baseball verses upfront money and A ball.
Posted by Big4SALTbro
Member since Jun 2019
23408 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:07 am to
It’s been heading that direction after some years of kids taking the money.

Now you see more and more go to school develop and end up with better careers for it
Posted by ProjectP2294
South St. Louis city
Member since May 2007
76344 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:08 am to
quote:

play big time college baseball verses upfront money and A ball.


Nearly every single player that plays college baseball (even big time college baseball) and goes pro, will still play in A ball.
Posted by That One
Northern Virginia
Member since Jul 2004
6088 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:28 am to
The only positive outcome of NIL is College Baseball or at least it sounds like it.
Posted by Geaux_Tigers_08
Member since Nov 2015
773 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:32 am to
LSU is extremely lucky to have Jay... they better pony up with the funds to keep him. The Box is in desperate need of upgrades and baseball needs a big jump in the NIL percentage. Go listen to Doug Thompson on Louisiana Loaded... great interview, he brings up the need to bring baseball money to the top of the pack in the SEC.
Posted by FnTigers
Member since Sep 2021
2807 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:34 am to
Even in the NIL era, Baseball is easily the most pure.

Best people in all sports no doubt.
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
289683 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:42 am to
Schmidt started tearing up I think lol
Posted by TigerLunatik
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Jan 2005
106230 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 8:43 am to
quote:

That's a coach.

The man crush grows larger and larger and I am not ashamed to admit it publicly.

Posted by yakster
Member since Mar 2021
3800 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:21 am to
Why you gotta throw sand in the gas tank bub?
Posted by LSUminati
Member since Jan 2017
4100 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:22 am to
Jay is going down as college baseball’s GOAT, no doubt in my mind.
Posted by GumboPot
Member since Mar 2009
139975 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:27 am to
I love Jay Johnson interviews.
Posted by Tammany Tom
Mandeville
Member since Jun 2004
5420 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:31 am to
quote:

Nearly every single player that plays college baseball (even big time college baseball) and goes pro, will still play in A ball.


The person who downvoted you is clueless. Tre Morgan, a National Championship Star at the best baseball program in America, and the highest rated prospect in the Tampa Bay Organization, when he was drafted, started off in A Ball.
Posted by HonoraryCoonass
Member since Jan 2005
20001 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:33 am to
Johnson is ALWAYS recruiting.
Posted by mikejsjr0912
Member since Jun 2024
661 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:33 am to
I really think (and hope) kids are seeing guys like Crews, Skenes, Langford, etc get to the pros much faster by going the college route instead of dwelling in the minors for 6 years.
Posted by Islandboy777
DAUPHIN ISLAND
Member since Jul 2023
3384 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:43 am to
Coach Johnson is already recruiting for the future with these press conferences
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
71889 posts
Posted on 2/23/26 at 9:43 am to
quote:

The only positive outcome of NIL is College Baseball or at least it sounds like it.



Keep in mind NIL while it does help is only having a smaller effect on the higher draft guys. Guys like Curiel and especially Schmidt are easily commanding 7 figures out of high school. Schmidt probably could have gotten $3M+. NIL for them is simply not coming anywhere close to that, so for guys like that it really comes down just wanting to play some college ball.

It helps too for guys like Curiel they are draft eligible just 2 years after going to college so they have pretty good options (2 years of having leverage in college for the draft if they so need it or wanted it).

In the end for guys like that no real amount of NIL is going to compete with their signing bonuses in college baseball - at least right now, but it can help ease the blow of coming to college financially as opposed to the past for sure. I'd be pretty shocked if Schmidt ever made $3M in 3 years in college here in NIL, but if he ends up a high 1st round pick in 2027 signing for $3M+ at least I'm pretty sure he wont care and will have enjoyed his time in college because thats what he wanted.
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 9:48 am
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