re: Softball Update: LSU only SEC team that qualified and not in regional final!

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look we are splitting hairs now.

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You made an exaggerated claim and I called you on it. The situation is bad enough without embellishing it to make it seem even worse. Michigan, Baylor, and Auburn were comparable programs to LSU in 2017. Cal, Missouri, Nebraska, and ULL were at least as strong when Torina came to LSU. ASU and Oregon have droughts only one year shorter than LSU and were comparable or better programs at the time. LSU is not alone in taking a step back from where they were in 2017.

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problem is LSU does not give a frick about softball clearly

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Softball loses money. Like it or not there is a limit to the resources it is reasonable to dedicate to the sport. There are a handful of programs that dominate the WCWS field and only 4 that have won titles since 2013. Only 11 schools have more than one WCWS berth since 2017 and only 8 with more than 2. Those 8 programs all have at least 12 WCWS appearances in their history, so there aren’t any new programs earning seats at the table. LSU isn’t getting overtaken by programs that weren’t already ahead of LSU before Torina.

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the new TAMU coach is only in her 2nd year. now does that make it acceptable they got shellacked by liberty in a home regional? absolutely not but it was not that coach's 14th year.

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Ford was at a program historically stronger than A&M and LSU when she was at ASU. She hasn’t made the WCWS since 2018. This is her 13th year as a head coach. For all that, she was the highest paid coach in the SEC before Oklahoma and Texas joined.

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now tell me how many SEC titles and tourneys titles BETH has won? Then tell me how many we won before?

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The SEC wasn’t even comparable as a conference when they won those conference championships. Only LSU and Alabama consistently took the sport seriously. S Carolina went to the WCWS in 1997 and Bama went into 2000 and 2003. Those were the only SEC appearances for anyone other than LSU through 2004, LSU’s last regular season title. SEC teams other than LSU have 27 appearances in 12 WCWS since Torina started at LSU. Torina’s best teams absolutely would have won conference titles in Girouard’s time.

There’s no question the program has taken a step back, especially in the last 4 years with only 1 super regional appearance. Replacing her now wouldn’t be unreasonable. The only reason I wouldn’t do it now is that LSU has a WCWS caliber roster next year, especially if Berzon was hurt and returns to form. I wouldn’t risk blowing up that roster. It’s possible that Torina just doesn’t have it any more. If she can’t take this team to the WCWS next year, then it’s absolutely time to move on.