re: Vitello: "I almost lost a finger in the postgame handshake"

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If Vitello coached lsu the fans would think he could do no wrong

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I would have a major problem with our players acting like his do, no matter what. I’m glad we didn’t hire him for that reason.

I’ll say this- I spoke to a friend of mine after the game and learned a little something today. It’s all a fricking ploy by UT to exploit the situation with the rules and how the SEC enforces them.

My best friend has been an official/ref/umpire across several sports, getting as high as doing D2 football years ago. He stays local now and does high school football and works scoreboard, replay, stats and other things for multiple sports. Any time I have a question about a controversial call, he’s the man to ask. He knows every rule across the board and he’ll tell me if the ref blew it or not.

He texted me after the game today and told me the home plate ump is a friend of his. He said his strength was in the field and that he just had a B+ on the strike zone. I told him we and UT fans would likely have a lower rating for him today based on a few iffy calls

I mentioned all of the UT players barking and that I was surprised he never told them to zip it or warned anyone. Evidently, there is a ton of headaches, paperwork and justification that has to be dealt with for any player or coach ejection. If you warn someone and don’t back it up, there’s no power there, and there’s nothing official to warn with like a Technical Foul in basketball.

Another issue he mentioned is that the SEC head of umpires almost always backs the coaches over umps in disputes, so it’s risky to eject a player unless it’s for something very obvious. He told me that two other umps he knows left the SEC for the Big 12 this year because of how they are treated.

This is an SEC problem. Vitello knows it and that his players can act a fool and nothing will happen.

Vitello is awesome

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Why would he even mention that?

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Because he knew idiot LSU fans wouldn't get hyperbole and ask this question on Tigerdroppings.

Vitello maybe a douche but you can’t deny the job he’s done at Tennessee is as good as any coach in recent memory

LSU fans are getting soft. So much back handed dick sucking of Vitello in this thread.

He will step on our throats if he has the chance in omaha. Don't let up on this trashy bum.

That’s the magic moment of the series right there

Tony is a great coach, I honestly like him. Makes the sport more entertaining having a team to hate.

Huge series Jay

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Vitello is awesome

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Surprised by how candid he is in his interview. No coaches talk, just calls it like is. Blames himself for bad decisions and calls his players out who need to step up. Accountability is very refreshing

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But their first base base was a good sport with some shite talking, especially Friday night. They had a rowdy crowd Friday giving him some hell all night. He finally broke late in the game and chirped back. But he was smiling and seemed m to be cool about it.

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I don’t disagree with this. A little good-natured back and forth is just fine.

The biggest issue I have is with how UT’s players stomp all over the rules against them griping at the umps. We have guys that will shoot a look and maybe talk a little under their breath after a strike call. Then Jay will step in if it’s necessary. That’s as far as it should ever go.

Their guys are making eye contact and going at the umps every fricking strike out and call they don’t like. That’s for the coaches to handle.