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VT81hokie OP
Feb 10, 2024 at 08:29 PM ET
Is there no avenue to protest what Auburn did
If I was VT I would protest playing any games tomorrow and would drag Auburn’s coaches name through the mud so they cannot attract teams next year to their tournament.

34 Replies

2
2hhoop3
The best thing VT can do.......
is take away the positive and move on to the next game. Take any frustrations they may have out on their next opponent. Everybody knows what happened today and surprisingly there has not been even more discussion of the bigger picture. Not only was Auburn looking at a 2nd L in as many days to VT but, given the way their staff had been worked over there was the possibility they could have dropped another game later. They took a pass. If you are an Auburn fan or player there is likely significant doubt how good your team really is when the coach sounds the trumpet to retreat.
vthokieq vthokieq
Agree…
…but for us fans, I completely endorse relentlessly trolling Auburn’s social media for next 12-24 hours. 😉
HolidayInnHokie HolidayInnHokie
The thing is, Mickey’s antics are also costing Illinois and Belmont
Those teams came to play, win or lose. So now, as there is no rain for at least the next 4 hours tonight, no one is playing. Players from VT, Illinois, and Belmont are sitting around some crappy La Quinta wishing they were playing the game they love. Coaches from these teams are lamenting making the trip, only to see the rest of the day canceled just as the rain comes to an end. All for Mickey. All for Auburn. Hope you’re proud, Mickey.
laphroaig laphroaig
This would cause me to question playing for him. Wouldn't quit my
teammates but this would definitely cause me to question him as a leader.
VTChip VTChip
You have something in common with this young lady
Carlee McCondichie announced in July that she would no longer be playing softball and specifically said Dean was the reason. Remember four other players entered the portal this year.
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vtdwight
Leaving JMU
I was told that when he left the Dukes he came in dropped off his things and told them you can’t match the offer and just walked out. No negotiations and was abrupt with the team. Says a lot about a coach really. I was told he is like that with the players and some were not sad to see him leave
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VT One
Mickey will never change. He is who he is. Programs have tolerated him
because of his success, not because of his professionalism and sweet demeanor.
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RJHokie
With the portal in place, he will probably lose a lot more
really good players in the future which could hasten his demise as a coach. As @laphroaig posted, he’s a bully. Eventually it will catch up to him.
laphroaig laphroaig
Wow
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RJHokie
I’m surprised anyone plays for him anyway, particularly pitchers.
** Edited by RJHokie at 2/10/2024, 9:18:43 PM
laphroaig laphroaig
Tell me more.
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RJHokie
When he yanks the pitchers he just goes out there, motions them
to leave and doesn’t say anything to them. No fist bumping, consoling, etc. from what I have heard. And apparently chews their asses out later. Apparently he’s a decent coach or he wouldn’t be working.
laphroaig laphroaig
Thinks he's a hard-ass, huh. He's no hard-ass. He's a bully.
You know what you do to bullys? You punch them in the face. Hokies punched him in the face and he crumpled by calling that game a tie.
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RJHokie
Yep. That’s exactly what happened.
MidloHokie MidloHokie
OK. Two Mickey stories when he coached at Radford.
My daughter's JMU played him @ Radford. His starting pitching went 3-0 on the first batter of the game. He yanked her. Several years later my daughter was an assistant at CSU playing his team in the Big South tourney. I always sat in the OF. This happened to be next to the Radford bullpen. I happen to know the travel ball coach of one his better pitchers. I noticed she just stayed in pen rather than in the dugout. I quizzed her as to why. She said she really didn't want to be around Coach Dean if she could help it. I was honestly surprised at his success at JMU as I didn't think the "I'm a hard ass" approach that worked with Radford kids would fly in Harrisonburg. He inherited JJ Ford from the prior staff. That, plus his recruiting connections with the Beverly Bandits (midwest elite travel team) jumped started him there. He added Megan Good a couple of years and suddenly he's one out away from the WCWS. Then on to Auburn.
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RJHokie
I had heard he was bad news.
I’m surprised anyone would play for him.
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RJHokie
Word gets around.
Coaches talk among themselves.
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RJHokie
You can, but it won’t change anything. Take the high road
and play the game tomorrow. But rest assured, word will get out….it always does.
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TomA
Spot on
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IV_Hokie12
We should 100% raise a stink about this and expose them for the cowards
That they are. Idk if its media or NCAA or what the avenue is but we shouldn’t just take the tie and go back to Blacksburg.
E
EDGEMAN
Make sure softball publications spread the news!
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HokieFanDC
Nothing about making a stink would benefit the team. Coach D'Amour learned
a lot about his team this weekend and most of it was good to great. They played great offense and overall the pitching and D was solid. Take the positives, and let the negatives role off your back like water on a duck!
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RJHokie
It will be a he said/she said type of issue,
Pete could say the field was ok. 💩 could say the field was not in good order to play. Then you get into alleged travel schedule “concerns”. It wouldn’t surprise me if they wind up cancelling tomorrow’s games just to “protect” their image. As I said, this stuff gets around.
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jesuisvtguy
My understanding it is not a team's decision. It is ONLY THE UMPIRES...
without any influence from teams as they must meet privately.
Italian Stallion Italian Stallion
So with the weather clearing how is it that unbiased umpires make that call
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RJHokie
Agree. But in this case the school apparently canceled the game before
the umps took control of the game after the weather delay. This is one of the issues that @VTChip mentioned earlier.
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Blueboy
They can't, once the game starts it is totally the decision of the umps So
any complaint should go the conference of the umps because they don't know the rules or their unethical behavior allowed the losing team to call the shots.
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RJHokie
@MidloHokie recently posted a response to this.
For tournament games what 💩 did is apparently not unusual. It’s more likely that 💩 told the umps that the field was in bad shape and he was cancelling the game “due to player safety”. Umps, most likely SEC, said ok and left.
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Blueboy
That is probably what happened but it is not the rules of the game. If any
games are played on sunday the first game would be to go back to 9-5 with 2 runners on base and finish that game first . Otherwise the tournament is rigged.
laphroaig laphroaig
Tournament is rigged. What VT had done to them should from now on be
called a "Mickey".
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RJHokie
I have no doubt about your comment about the tournament being rigged.
And yes, the game should be completed on Sunday as you state.
HolidayInnHokie HolidayInnHokie
Thanks RJ. But the rules are seemingly clear that ONLY the umps can cancel.
I’ve tried to re-read everything below, particularly from Chip. But someone posted the official rules, which pretty clearly (I think?) state that only the umpires have the final say on whether a game is called or not. So I’m not sure how Auburn could legally have called the game? It’s just not their call to make. Right? It doesn’t seem like the official rules allow for any wiggle room on this.
vthokieq vthokieq
So question…how did they cancel the following game.
That would’ve been a host/facility decision would it not?
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RJHokie
Those refs were most likely SEC refs and just believed what
💩 told them about the field and left. Pete might want to talk to them tomorrow if the same crew does our game v Illinois, assuming it’s actually played.