Havoc, I just want a well-reasoned argument for some candidate. Like yours for Deggs. I'm not impressed because of his Ark and A&M affiliations. If anything, I think those degrade my overall view of him. "Return to prominence" for Ark wasn't saying much, and it wasn't long-lived. They've done fair in the SEC but their champ teams have been on low-performing conference moments, too, so I don't give him high points for winning in a low-conference.
I do give him more credit for the JuCo affiliations, actually, where he's had to do so much with almost nothing. If Big Time NCAA Baseball suffers from the queer scholarship limits and backhanded treatment in the sports world (cast-off and overlooked HS prospects), the JuCo world is even worse - not only cast-offs and overlooked, but under-skilled in the classroom, or financially handicapped to disqualify them from NCAA programs. Having a coach who can get THOSE players up to champ levels - that's really something good. Wayne Graham at Rice (now at Rice, but the long-time head at San Jacinto, a national powerhouse in JuCo Baseball) has been able to take his 20+ years of JuCo success and take Rice from a Never-Was/Never-Will-Be into a team that NOW only raises eyebrows when it's flopping around - like this year. And yet they'll STILL make the NCAAs, I bet.
My biggest caution against Deggs is his locale. You listed his Ark-East Texas background. Moving him to Neb would gain him - uh - what territory? He'd no longer be "a hour's drive" from hot JuCo property or hotbeds of HS talent. So, taking Deggs out of that region might not deliver much more than his name on the scorecard.
At the same time, you could argue that "Every recruiting year is different and once he builds the inroads, that's how real recruiting success occurs - over time."
Yeah. But probably not 3 or 4 years. It's probably a 10-year process to create a pipeline where any HS or JuCo star would seriously consider his program rather than fair-to-middlin' pro bonus packages. That's what he needs to gain - those players' consideration. I'm never sure Deggs can deliver that - but I don't think any coach-prospect can guarantee that.
It's an interesting candidate to pose, and well-argued.
The SEC is very arguably the best college baseball conference there is. Arkansas has been competetive, and still is.. maybe you forget their 3rd place finish in the CWS last year, but Deggs wasn't there at that time, and i get that. However, hard to argue that Deggs was there with Anderson when the Razorbacks made their first CWS appearance in 15 years.. Also, the Arkansas and A&M connections make him a viable candidate simply of his affiliation with the most successful time period in this programs history. Many people will grab onto the Van Horn and Childress connection and give at least some approval to Deggs. While I have been the furthest from impressed with what Childress has done with A&M, it is a major program and they have at least been somewhat successful.
I see you're point on recruiting, but the fact that he has connections to that part of the states could give him an advantage there. Same argument comes in with football, and while it is certainly different with baseball, the connection to southern high schools can't hurt at all, but I completely understand where you are coming from there.
As far as the JUCO coaching gig is concerned, I also could care less about it. However, some people will be quick to say "He's never been a head coach before," so I'm simply just throwing it out there that he has been a head coach at the college level.
I can find other coaches that would be worthy of considering that have D1 experience, but maybe not quite the potential upside and recognition that Deggs brings, but certainly safer options. What is you're opinion on it? Should Anderson be given ANOTHER year? If not, who is your idea of a candidate to replace him?
