LSU baseball: Paul Mainieri stays, Twitter reacts
After reportedly flirting with the University of Texas, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri will remain in Baton Rouge for his 11th season, according to a report by The Advocate.
In the same report, The Advocate also mentioned Mainieri is expected to receive a “significant” raise – something that is probably long overdue.
Mainieri recently led the LSU baseball team to its fifth straight national seed, falling two wins shy of returning to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Did I mention the Tigers replaced eight of nine every day starters from the 2015 squad.
Despite his success in Baton Rouge, which includes a 2009 College World Series title, three other appearances in Omaha, five straight national seeds and 459 wins, it seems Mainieri will never be able to escape the massive shadow of LSU and college baseball icon Skip Bertman, who led the Tigers to five national championships and 11 College World Series appearances in his 18 seasons as head coach of LSU baseball.
The “Omaha-or-Bust” mentality that permeates the thoughts of many LSU baseball fans, has seemingly blinded them to the success Mainieri has achieved while in Baton Rouge.
Paul Mainieri affirms his commitment to being the #LSU Baseball Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/uwySnoI2Cv
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 16, 2016
Has Mainieri duplicated Bertman’s epic run? Of course not, but no one ever realistically could. Bertman was a master motivator and innovator and coached in a different era of college baseball.
Mainieri’s lack of Bertman-esque success during his head coaching decade in Baton Rouge has made him the second most polarizing coach on LSU’s campus (did you really think anyone could top LSU football coach Les Miles?), so it was only natural to see a mixed bag of emotions on Twitter today when the Mainieri to Austin rumors began to circulate.
Some LSU baseball fans were sad to potentially see Maineri leave Baton Rouge, especially with so much talent returning for the 2017 season.
Mainieri better not leave LSU 😭
— Andrew (@andrew_r_tucker) June 16, 2016
Can't blame Mainieri for having convo in ATX, but would be nuts to leave @LSUbaseball w/ returning roster https://t.co/pDkbkEaNGc
— Daniel Bramlette (@DannyBrams) June 16, 2016
Paul Mainieri better not make me sad today. Stay, and bring #LSU to Omaha next year.
— David Link (@davidlink) June 16, 2016
I really hope Texas doesn't take Paul Mainieri off our hands.
— Collin Brister (@CollinBrister) June 16, 2016
A few LSU fans noticed Mainieri employing a similar negotiation strategy used by another LSU head coach.
*Les Miles patting Paul Manieri on the back*
— #Rake (@SteveCarterPP) June 16, 2016
'Leverage, baby! Nothing hustles an extension harder!'
*Eats handful of grass*
Of course, some Tiger fans weren’t exactly sad at the possibility of PM heading to the Lone Star State.
@RossDellenger Screw Mainieri for even flirting with Texas. Hasn't exactly overachieved at LSU. Just saying.
— Inside Saints (@InsideSaints) June 16, 2016
I'm sorry, but I'm not begging Paul Mainieri to stay at LSU. It's LSU Baseball. They can easily find someone to come in and succeed.
— Casey Gisclair (@casey_gisclair) June 16, 2016
Even opposing fans of in-state teams realized how big a deal losing Mainieri would be for LSU baseball.
Not gonna get my hopes up, but man. Wave could dodge a real bullet here if Mainieri chooses to leave Baton Rouge.
— not Fear the Wave (@FearTheWaveBlog) June 16, 2016
Perhaps this tweet best sums up today’s Paul Mainieri saga on Twitter.
What are your thoughts on Paul Mainieri remaining at head coach of LSU baseball? Sound off in the comments below and get ready for an exciting 2017 LSU baseball season!