June 24, 2024 • 8 mins
In this episode, we dive into the recent news about Coach David Pierce parting ways with Texas baseball after eight impactful years. We explore his legacy, three appearances at the College World Series, and the big 12 conference championships he secured. Join us as we discuss the reasons behind this decision, the media dynamics, and what lies ahead for the Texas Longhorns baseball program. Plus, we analyze the talent pool, transfer portal activity, and the foundation set for the next coach to build upon. Tune in for an insightful conversation about Texas baseball’s past, present, and future! 🎙️⚾
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Episode Transcript
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(00:03):
He's a Texas legend, a Hallof Fame broadcaster, the voice of the
Texas Longhords, and your host ofthe Craigway Show. Here he is now
Craig Ways. David Pierce and CrystalCounty announced today they were usually parting ways
(00:32):
after Texas baseball season concluded in theCollege Station Regional. Eight years for David
Pierce's three appearances to the College WorldSeries never reached the final. His last
appearance at CWS was in two thousandand twenty two. Leedy captured three Big
Twelve Conference championships and this was astatement from CDC this morning quote. After
(00:59):
this season, Coach Pears and Ihad some time to visit about the year,
the future of our program, wherewe are, and where we're headed.
It was a difficult decision for usboth, but we have mutually agreed
that we should make a change.I am so grateful for Coach Pierce and
all he has poured into our baseballprogram for the past eight years. He
is an incredible person and I've trulyenjoyed my time working with him. I
(01:23):
appreciate the passion, pride, insteadfast commitment he had for coaching and working
with our student athletes, and thankfulfor all he's done for Texas Athletics and
our future university community as our headcoach. I wish Coach Pierce and his
family the best in the future.End quote the timing. This should not
shock anybody. A lot of peopleI've seen on social media complaining about taxes
(01:47):
announcing this during Game three. Mostof the complaints come from A and M
fans. But let me remind youof the story that Craig Way has told
many times on this program, andhopefully I do it justice by retelling it.
But the old owners of the DallasCowboys, Tech Shram, during the
off season, if anything was goingon that was giving coverage to the Texas
(02:08):
Rangers or any other team during theoff season and the Cowboys weren't playing,
Tech Shram would call a press conference. It could be about nothing, but
he just wanted to get coverage tothe Dallas Cowboys. And you've asked any
sports director and reporter who they wouldcover first, the Rangers, the Mavericks
(02:30):
or the Cowboys. The answer wouldalways be the Dallas Cowboys. That's just
how the media works. And wesee it now with the Lakers, right
and Lebron James always taken away fromthe story, right, the Celtics when
the national the nast others from theNBA Championship, what happens. J Reddick's
the next head coach. Right,there's reason why these people are good at
their jobs. And there's a reasonwhy CDC made this announcement today. And
(02:53):
I don't blame him at all.And it's funny that A and M fans
are getting upset, but that's justhow it works. But also, you
know, the season does in today. The transfer portal is open Texas players.
Our players have been visiting Texas overthe last couple of weeks. There's
hundreds and hundreds of guys in theportal. Coaches are now already building their
team. And for Texas they've beenbehind the eight ball in building their roster
(03:17):
for twenty twenty four and with anew coach they will be behind just a
little bit anyway, but bringing backloads of talent. Casey Borba, Will
Gasparino, hopefully Jared Thomas comes backfrom the Year's a lot of guys,
a lot of guys, Max Blueof course, the Big twelve player of
the year. The roster, thetalent is there for a coach to come
in and quickly pick up from whereTexas has been. We saw Pierce in
(03:43):
what his second season take Texas toOmaha after Texas suffer I think the most
amount of wins in twenty fourteen ortwenty fifteen the last Agie year that have
had it in quite some time forthe program. So the program is set
for whoever comes in to do it. Great job the foundation, Yeah,
it is right there because Texas,you know, two years removed from Omaha,
(04:05):
possibly a fly ball away from makingit back last season and this year,
who knows Texas holds on against Aand M. It wins that in
nine innings instead of going to eleven. You know, this season could be
a lot differently, but also atthe factor in two as A and M
and Tennessee play game through the nightthe College World Series Championship decide the national
(04:26):
champion. Those two coaches are reportedin the coaching search by CDC as the
next Texas baseball head coach. TimSlashnagle, of course, was at TCU
win CDC was the ad CDC cameto Austin. Slash went to College Station
after a great run at TCU.They have a relationship already in place if
(04:49):
I Tello, the Tennessee head coach, was an assistant under Slashnagle at A
and M for a few years beforemoving on the Arkansas and then taking the
head coaching job Tennessee, where theyhave reached the College World Series in three
of the past for seasons. Sothose two guys I think are the top
of any Texas fans wishless and Iwould venture the guests throughout the top for
(05:11):
CDC as well. So the eightyears at TCU for Slashnangle seven hundred and
twenty three wins, four trips tothe College World Series CAM, so half
the time he was playing in Omaha, which is absolutely insane to kind of
wrap your head around. Do youfeel bad for Tennessee fans at all?
Kind of being collateral damage here becauseit seems like Slashnangle being the number one
(05:32):
pick, Vittello probably being the numbertwo. His seven seasons at Tennessee two
hundred ninety three wins, one hundredand twelve losses at Tennessee. He's built
an incredible program for the volunteers aswell. Do you feel bad for Tennessee
fans at all? No, Idon't because they're playing for a national championship
tonight, and I think if notfor CDC's relationship with Slaan Schnegel, he
(05:57):
may not even be number one.And I don't know where the board looks
like for CDC. I'm guessing you'sSlash number one, considering what he's done
with A and M in just inthree years, a game away from winning
their first ever national championship, andalso what he did at TCU went to
the CWS four times from twenty fourteento twenty seventeen, had a COVID year
after tc you got off to agreat start, you know, and then
(06:19):
you know, tied for first inthe conference of the Big twelve and twenty
twenty one before coming to A andM. So that relationship there, I
think it plays a big part.But you know, I think whether it's
Slash or if I tell either one, I think would be a great hire.
Yeah. So follow up question.So, we were talking a little
bit off air about the buyout andit's I think a three million dollar buyout,
(06:41):
give or take. For Slash.I asked you the coffers never run
empty at the University of Texas.Three million dollars buyout though is not an
insistent and that a small amount ofmoney. But you don't think that that
matters. Do you think that it'sgoing to be no matter what. Money
is no object? No, Idon't think so. I think no matter.
I don't think it matters. Thisis the guy. I think.
(07:02):
Yeah, I think CC's gonna goout, He's gonna get his guy.
He may already have this guy,we just don't know it yet. I
think he's gonna go out and gethis guy, and he will do whatever
it takes. And that's why Ithink whoever this coach is hired, whether
it's gonna be Slashnagel or if Itell or somebody else, most likely will
probably be up there in terms ofhighest paid college baseball coaches. Well,
the infrastructure at Texas too is probablybetter or like we were mentioned, the
(07:26):
foundation. It's not one of thosejobs that somebody's gonna turn their nose up
at point plank. Period. Thisis one of the best jobs in the
country, bar nut. So itis one of those things where you come
to Texas, you know you're gonnaget the resources, you know you're gonna
get the backing of the athletic department. So I think that also along with
the money, plays a pretty bigpart. Yeah, and also it will
be interesting to see, you know, Slash and fight Tel. They seem
(07:49):
really happy where they're at too,So you know, maybe sometimes not all
the money in the world can makea big difference. But Texas, I'm
certainly will make sure that whoever theyoffer the job to, they're gonna make
them say no. I'd like togive him author they have to decline.
I was going to say, I'dlike to find the head coach across the
board that has said no to CDC. Yeah, and that's a good point,
(08:09):
Godfather, that's a very good point. All Right, we're up against
it here. We're gonna take abreak and when we come back, I
promised you would get to it onFriday. That's right. The rest of
Steve Sarkesan's interview with Joel Klapp,stark talks about this ever changing college football
landscape, how he navigates the DecemberPortal now, how sustainable it is to
(08:30):
be the head coach, the CEOand also the play caller, and also
his best and worst play calls ofhis coaching career. All that and more
here on The Craig Way Show.On sports radio AM thirteen hundred. The Zone
He's a Texas legend, a Hallof Fame broadcaster, the voice of the
Texas Longhords, and your host ofthe Craigway Show. Here he is now
Craig Ways. David Pierce and CrystalCounty announced today they were usually parting ways
(00:32):
after Texas baseball season concluded in theCollege Station Regional. Eight years for David
Pierce's three appearances to the College WorldSeries never reached the final. His last
appearance at CWS was in two thousandand twenty two. Leedy captured three Big
Twelve Conference championships and this was astatement from CDC this morning quote. After
(00:59):
this season, Coach Pears and Ihad some time to visit about the year,
the future of our program, wherewe are, and where we're headed.
It was a difficult decision for usboth, but we have mutually agreed
that we should make a change.I am so grateful for Coach Pierce and
all he has poured into our baseballprogram for the past eight years. He
is an incredible person and I've trulyenjoyed my time working with him. I
(01:23):
appreciate the passion, pride, insteadfast commitment he had for coaching and working
with our student athletes, and thankfulfor all he's done for Texas Athletics and
our future university community as our headcoach. I wish Coach Pierce and his
family the best in the future.End quote the timing. This should not
shock anybody. A lot of peopleI've seen on social media complaining about taxes
(01:47):
announcing this during Game three. Mostof the complaints come from A and M
fans. But let me remind youof the story that Craig Way has told
many times on this program, andhopefully I do it justice by retelling it.
But the old owners of the DallasCowboys, Tech Shram, during the
off season, if anything was goingon that was giving coverage to the Texas
(02:08):
Rangers or any other team during theoff season and the Cowboys weren't playing,
Tech Shram would call a press conference. It could be about nothing, but
he just wanted to get coverage tothe Dallas Cowboys. And you've asked any
sports director and reporter who they wouldcover first, the Rangers, the Mavericks
(02:30):
or the Cowboys. The answer wouldalways be the Dallas Cowboys. That's just
how the media works. And wesee it now with the Lakers, right
and Lebron James always taken away fromthe story, right, the Celtics when
the national the nast others from theNBA Championship, what happens. J Reddick's
the next head coach. Right,there's reason why these people are good at
their jobs. And there's a reasonwhy CDC made this announcement today. And
(02:53):
I don't blame him at all.And it's funny that A and M fans
are getting upset, but that's justhow it works. But also, you
know, the season does in today. The transfer portal is open Texas players.
Our players have been visiting Texas overthe last couple of weeks. There's
hundreds and hundreds of guys in theportal. Coaches are now already building their
team. And for Texas they've beenbehind the eight ball in building their roster
(03:17):
for twenty twenty four and with anew coach they will be behind just a
little bit anyway, but bringing backloads of talent. Casey Borba, Will
Gasparino, hopefully Jared Thomas comes backfrom the Year's a lot of guys,
a lot of guys, Max Blueof course, the Big twelve player of
the year. The roster, thetalent is there for a coach to come
in and quickly pick up from whereTexas has been. We saw Pierce in
(03:43):
what his second season take Texas toOmaha after Texas suffer I think the most
amount of wins in twenty fourteen ortwenty fifteen the last Agie year that have
had it in quite some time forthe program. So the program is set
for whoever comes in to do it. Great job the foundation, Yeah,
it is right there because Texas,you know, two years removed from Omaha,
(04:05):
possibly a fly ball away from makingit back last season and this year,
who knows Texas holds on against Aand M. It wins that in
nine innings instead of going to eleven. You know, this season could be
a lot differently, but also atthe factor in two as A and M
and Tennessee play game through the nightthe College World Series Championship decide the national
(04:26):
champion. Those two coaches are reportedin the coaching search by CDC as the
next Texas baseball head coach. TimSlashnagle, of course, was at TCU
win CDC was the ad CDC cameto Austin. Slash went to College Station
after a great run at TCU.They have a relationship already in place if
(04:49):
I Tello, the Tennessee head coach, was an assistant under Slashnagle at A
and M for a few years beforemoving on the Arkansas and then taking the
head coaching job Tennessee, where theyhave reached the College World Series in three
of the past for seasons. Sothose two guys I think are the top
of any Texas fans wishless and Iwould venture the guests throughout the top for
(05:11):
CDC as well. So the eightyears at TCU for Slashnangle seven hundred and
twenty three wins, four trips tothe College World Series CAM, so half
the time he was playing in Omaha, which is absolutely insane to kind of
wrap your head around. Do youfeel bad for Tennessee fans at all?
Kind of being collateral damage here becauseit seems like Slashnangle being the number one
(05:32):
pick, Vittello probably being the numbertwo. His seven seasons at Tennessee two
hundred ninety three wins, one hundredand twelve losses at Tennessee. He's built
an incredible program for the volunteers aswell. Do you feel bad for Tennessee
fans at all? No, Idon't because they're playing for a national championship
tonight, and I think if notfor CDC's relationship with Slaan Schnegel, he
(05:57):
may not even be number one.And I don't know where the board looks
like for CDC. I'm guessing you'sSlash number one, considering what he's done
with A and M in just inthree years, a game away from winning
their first ever national championship, andalso what he did at TCU went to
the CWS four times from twenty fourteento twenty seventeen, had a COVID year
after tc you got off to agreat start, you know, and then
(06:19):
you know, tied for first inthe conference of the Big twelve and twenty
twenty one before coming to A andM. So that relationship there, I
think it plays a big part.But you know, I think whether it's
Slash or if I tell either one, I think would be a great hire.
Yeah. So follow up question.So, we were talking a little
bit off air about the buyout andit's I think a three million dollar buyout,
(06:41):
give or take. For Slash.I asked you the coffers never run
empty at the University of Texas.Three million dollars buyout though is not an
insistent and that a small amount ofmoney. But you don't think that that
matters. Do you think that it'sgoing to be no matter what. Money
is no object? No, Idon't think so. I think no matter.
I don't think it matters. Thisis the guy. I think.
(07:02):
Yeah, I think CC's gonna goout, He's gonna get his guy.
He may already have this guy,we just don't know it yet. I
think he's gonna go out and gethis guy, and he will do whatever
it takes. And that's why Ithink whoever this coach is hired, whether
it's gonna be Slashnagel or if Itell or somebody else, most likely will
probably be up there in terms ofhighest paid college baseball coaches. Well,
the infrastructure at Texas too is probablybetter or like we were mentioned, the
(07:26):
foundation. It's not one of thosejobs that somebody's gonna turn their nose up
at point plank. Period. Thisis one of the best jobs in the
country, bar nut. So itis one of those things where you come
to Texas, you know you're gonnaget the resources, you know you're gonna
get the backing of the athletic department. So I think that also along with
the money, plays a pretty bigpart. Yeah, and also it will
be interesting to see, you know, Slash and fight Tel. They seem
(07:49):
really happy where they're at too,So you know, maybe sometimes not all
the money in the world can makea big difference. But Texas, I'm
certainly will make sure that whoever theyoffer the job to, they're gonna make
them say no. I'd like togive him author they have to decline.
I was going to say, I'dlike to find the head coach across the
board that has said no to CDC. Yeah, and that's a good point,
(08:09):
Godfather, that's a very good point. All Right, we're up against
it here. We're gonna take abreak and when we come back, I
promised you would get to it onFriday. That's right. The rest of
Steve Sarkesan's interview with Joel Klapp,stark talks about this ever changing college football
landscape, how he navigates the DecemberPortal now, how sustainable it is to
(08:30):
be the head coach, the CEOand also the play caller, and also
his best and worst play calls ofhis coaching career. All that and more
here on The Craig Way Show.On sports radio AM thirteen hundred. The Zone
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