Obviously when there's a potential coaching search underway that will steal the spotlight, but I'm genuinely shocked how no one has picked up the not-so-subtle hints of a disunified locker room dynamic.

Schott, on the Studio 12 Podcast with Will Johnson, talked about how the team was split regarding the players' sense of accountability for this season. He acknowledged that comment would "ruffle some feathers," but he basically called out half the team for not feeling accountable for the results this season. For him to just come out and say that on a podcast reveals this wasn't a unified locker room.

Rudis also hinted at this in a post game interview late in the year (during the Mizzou series I believe) where he specifically mentioned that he hoped that some of the younger guys would keep playing for the older guys who may never put a uniform on again.

Has to be more to this!

There should be someone in the organization that brings factions together for a common purpose. That's usually the head coach in successful organizations.

Split factions and ideas of who people are/what they represent happen on every team at every level. It's on a head coach to quell it and bring unity.

Our head coach didn't even attempt to....played favorites, made the wrong lineup decisions, let guys lag in the fall and spring, and it led to a disjointed season.

But he must be a hell of an interview.

Well

I'm sure we would have heard more if a change was made. But now it's probably going to be kept on the low down.


And yes, there clearly were issues on this team. Players coach playing favorites will do that one. That how you are the only team to lose to Mizzou.

some guys were just counting their money

Bunk Moreland said:

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Split factions and ideas of who people are/what they represent happen on every team at every level. It's on a head coach to quell it and bring unity.

Our head coach didn't even attempt to....played favorites, made the wrong lineup decisions, let guys lag in the fall and spring, and it led to a disjointed season.

But he must be a hell of an interview.

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Who do you think he would have played more that didn't? Sure seemed like we had nobody else.

This was pretty obvious early in the season when we didn't seem focused to play our patsy non conf schedule. Guys skipped the offseason program due to "injuries" and their buddy Earley let it slide. There were rumors of the team partying early in the season to the point that it affected their play. Earley let it happen. Zero discipline/leadership from the coaching staff or players. But hey, Mike told Trev he would make changes so it's all good.

Can you post these reports of them "partying" during the season? I want to read them.

Split locker rooms typically happen when there is favoritism for certain players.

This took place under Jimbo as well.

Shouldn't have said reports. That's not right. Rumors, murmurs on campus is a better way to say it. I had heard it and others on the board have alluded to it as well.

LB12Diamond said:

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Split locker rooms typically happen when there is favoritism for certain players.

This took place under Jimbo as well.

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Favored players should definitely be leading…I'll say that.

But in this case, Earley was nicer to some players and less nice to others? Because it doesn't seem he had someone on the bench who shouldn't be.

I don't get how favoritism is why our batters sucked at hitting and our bullpen sucked in general… I get most our bullpen and most our healthy batters couldn't start for most good SEC teams.

"the other side of that is the man in the arena who also fails and has to be accountable for his failure. And I don't think we had that alot on our team. Which bugs me alot. because I know i feel that and (Jace feels that) and that feeling of failing other teammates, this school, Michael Earley. That feeling of failure is something that I hope is something others don't have to feel. That pit is something I hope others don't have to feel"

That might be a tad off from a perfect transcript but that's the quote made by Schott that is relevant to the discussion.

Nothing about that makes me feel bad for these guys and this coach. And to be fair Jace followed it up with more reality....everyone else in the country did the same things.

OA_02 said:

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Shouldn't have said reports. That's not right. Rumors, murmurs on campus is a better way to say it. I had heard it and others on the board have alluded to it as well.

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I'm sure they went to some parties because who wouldn't. But saying that's why they sucked pre-conference….when they sucked all year was my only point of contention.

Ag1188 said:

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Bunk Moreland said:

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Split factions and ideas of who people are/what they represent happen on every team at every level. It's on a head coach to quell it and bring unity.

Our head coach didn't even attempt to....played favorites, made the wrong lineup decisions, let guys lag in the fall and spring, and it led to a disjointed season.

But he must be a hell of an interview.

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Who do you think he would have played more that didn't? Sure seemed like we had nobody else.

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Royo starting earlier in the season should have happened. Unless we hear he was atrocious in the fall I don't get why he didn't get a chance sooner other than favoritism/guarantees.

The entire situation at 1B was a cluster

Bindy continued to get chances in weird situations that he had no business being in

Jace going to 1 in the lineup while he was pressing like a mofo was so stupid

Farr was properly sat for not performing early but also didn't get many more chances as games went on and other guys struggles where he could have helped.

May sound nit picky and it probably is....but imo Earley had his 'guys' and those guys were going to be featured no matter what. May have been NIL related, may have not. Another question for the head coach who has apparently interviewed so well 2 years in a row that we have faith he can lead a program and make the tough decisions.

Not saying this happened.

But if some players are allowed to skip practice etc. bc of a coach playing favs. That can kill a team.

Ag1188 said:

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Can you post these reports of them "partying" during the season? I want to read them.

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This is part of what I overheard and posted about during the Mizzou series when we spent a few innings in the parent section to avoid the sun.

Drunk/high cousins or friends (passing vape pens around) running their mouth in that section yelling "c'mon _________, I bought you rounds last night, do better bro".

waco_aggie05 said:

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Ag1188 said:

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Can you post these reports of them "partying" during the season? I want to read them.

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This is part of what I overheard and posted about during the Mizzou series when we spent a few innings in the parent section to avoid the sun.

Drunk/high cousins or friends (passing vape pens around) running their mouth in that section yelling "c'mon _________, I bought you rounds last night, do better bro".

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I mean you need not look any further than the massive party that was held at Jace and Schott's place in the off season that they were cited for. If that's what your "leaders" are setting the culture as then you can expect that to continue to take place.

That would be pretty much the opposite of partying during the season.

tigerag said:

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waco_aggie05 said:

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Ag1188 said:

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Can you post these reports of them "partying" during the season? I want to read them.

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This is part of what I overheard and posted about during the Mizzou series when we spent a few innings in the parent section to avoid the sun.

Drunk/high cousins or friends (passing vape pens around) running their mouth in that section yelling "c'mon _________, I bought you rounds last night, do better bro".

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I mean you need not look any further than the massive party that was held at Jace and Schott's place in the off season that they were cited for. If that's what your "leaders" are setting the culture as then you can expect that to continue to take place.

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Yeah but they had a great post season interview and called out others. Legends.

Quote:

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I mean you need not look any further than the massive party that was held at Jace and Schott's place in the off season that they were cited for. If that's what your "leaders" are setting the culture as then you can expect that to continue to take place.

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Who cares if they party off-season? When I was in school, we never lost a home football game (1990-94), but I went to a 25 keg party thrown by some football players one spring. Obviously didn't hurt their performance during the season.

dabo man said:

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Quote:

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I mean you need not look any further than the massive party that was held at Jace and Schott's place in the off season that they were cited for. If that's what your "leaders" are setting the culture as then you can expect that to continue to take place.

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Who cares if they party off-season? When I was in school, we never lost a home football game (1990-94), but I went to a 25 keg party thrown by some football players one spring. Obviously didn't hurt their performance during the season.

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Most years we have an off-season thread about guys playing summer ball. Maybe the Omaha run going so deep impeded that but last year that was non-existent. It's one thing to party in the off-season, it's a whole other thing to take the entire off-season off, which has been well documented here.

These boys know the difference between the two. They thought they could get POS' results without having to be under his thumb and it backfired. Our only hope for next year is Earley tightens things up and the kids don't throw tantrums as he makes changes.

tigerag said:

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waco_aggie05 said:

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Ag1188 said:

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Can you post these reports of them "partying" during the season? I want to read them.

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This is part of what I overheard and posted about during the Mizzou series when we spent a few innings in the parent section to avoid the sun.

Drunk/high cousins or friends (passing vape pens around) running their mouth in that section yelling "c'mon _________, I bought you rounds last night, do better bro".

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I mean you need not look any further than the massive party that was held at Jace and Schott's place in the off season that they were cited for. If that's what your "leaders" are setting the culture as then you can expect that to continue to take place.

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God forbid college kids do what college kids do. They are about to leave, and had a party in the off season when it didn't matter. I guarantee you that had nothing to do with their play.

I can think of one or two successful college athletes who partied just a little. A certain scooby doo costume comes to mind...

I read the bible and did charity work in my free time when I was in college.

Sorry guys but this falls 100% on Earley. And as a new HC, he has never had to deal with the responsibility and challenges of creating a culture of accountability.

Schloss achieves it through fear, like many coaches. Fear more than anything of else of not seeing the field and being kicked off the team. And also a degree of demoralizing players.

I know that Earley treated his starters and main studs as PEERS. He asked for their input and brainstormed with the players to identify solutions to their ongoing struggles.

He didnt have the answers as he had ZERO HC experience to fall back on. This was his sword.

I sure hope he realizes that he needs to be seen as an authority figure and having a friend-to-friend like relationship with his players is a BAD thing.

Earley some advice from a tenured father? Be a demanding father 1st to your players, you can be a friend once they grow up and become productive adults.

When the skipper, being paid CEO money, takes over the helm by being everybody's buddy, this inevitably leads to decention in the ranks.

Earley doesn't know how to coach, plain and simple