Posted by Baseball Devil on January 16, 10 at 08:20:38:
In Reply to: Re: Oregon's New BB Stadium posted by Real Devil Fan on January 15, 10 at 07:50:32:
: : : This is shared with the minor league team or University of Oregon only?
: : : I know it's not done yet, but I'll be honest and say I expected more.
: RDF: I think it is UO's only, but not positive.
::: They are sharing w/ the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League (single A). The Emeralds are moving out of their old stadium. The two seasons don't really overlap so it works out well for UO and the Emeralds. I don't know how you could make a judgement from that one picture but the stadium looks really nice in the artistic renderings they have on the UO website. Unless ASU makes some renovations really soon to Packard, UO is going to start taking some kids from the northwest that in the past would have come down to ASU. Those are probably kids you don't want in your program anyways if they're making a decision based on facilities but it does happen.
I was a huge fan of how Pat Murphy coached on the field. Don't agree with even the minor NCAA infractions that possibly went on and those were things he should have been aware of as head coach. But the guy was a great motivator and got kids to buy in to what he was teaching. Getting kids to be team first guys at a school like ASU where the whole roster is very talented is a tough thing to do but Murph was great at it. Sad to see him go. But I think Esmay will do a great job. Not only because he's a great baseball person but you'd have to imagine this is a job he's wanted for a long time.
If Esmay can keep recruiting well, keep winning, and the program does not end up losing scholarships or having to miss post season play, and gradual improvements are made to Packard to bring it up to par w/ the Big 12, SEC, ACC, and the nicer PAC 10 facilities, the program will be fine.