2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament

[GT33]

@BainbridgeJacket I don’t know about the fans comments. We were down 11-8 in T8 and the crowd was still in it. Maybe not going absolutely nuts like when it was 8-2, but for having giving up 9, yes nine, unanswered the crowd was still making a fair amount of noise.

There was plenty of fan support Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today.

 

[4shotB]

We didn't do either of those these last 2 games. The moment got too big for our guys at the plate and they tried forcing the issue even when we had the lead. Then, Ramsey left guys in too long and the arms that came in didn't stop the bleeding. I really thought this was going to be the year we got to Omaha, but we fundamentally will never get there playing so damn tight in the regional....

Which brings me to my last point, **** our fans. Seriously, what the **** was wrong with the crowd yesterday?!?! We finally get a team like this and y'all act like an abuse victim the second there's any adversity going dead silent and exuding nervous energy. You don't think the team gets tense when that happens? We would've been better off playing away, because our fans' response to the situation clearly had an impact on our players. I've seen this in every sport at Tech and it makes going to the games miserable. The team is supposed to feed off the energy of the crowd not the other way around. Our pathetic loser fanbase is why no GT sports team will ever succeed because the lack of confidence is contagious and leads to an endless cycle of PTSD induced losing. It's ****ing pathetic and I'm sick of being associated with it. And, yeah, I get that this is the pot calling the kettle black because I do it too.

I felt like this season would have been a success IF we jad gotten out of the regional. Stop. End of story. I felt like it was important for the program for the new guy to stop the bleeding and to declare that there is a new sheriff in town and things ARE different. Not only did we fail to do this, we did it with a generational amount of talent. It will be years before we see that again and some of us may not. So not only did we wash, rinse , repeat it was worse than ever. That's why this game was more important (imo of course) than just one single game of baseball.

Which leads to your second point, to which I agree with to some degree. But it is a whole "chicken and egg" question. My next door neighbor is an Ole Miss grad. i note how he and his friends approach the game and the playoffs. It is a level of confidence and optimism that I actually find refreshing, He sets up a tent and has his garage set up as a man cave with TV's. There's frequently a large tailgate with 10 - 30 people and I invite myself over frequently. The vibe is markedly different than what i see and feel at Tech events tbh.

 

[4shotB]

It's tough watching that press conference. Baseball is such a weird sport. More than others, it's like the more you want it, the harder it is to succeed at the end.

I would argue that golf is even worse than bb in this regard. Simply bc it's individual and there are no teammates to pick you up when you are having a bad gme or in a slump.

 

[Eli]

This is encouraging in dark times..

 

[NW GA JACKET]

Everyone is disappointed, mad, pissed off etc, but I want to thank the coaches and especially the players for a great season of baseball, and for representing THE INSTITUTION with class and dignity. Something that was surely lacking in a lot of the games that I watched during this tournament. BTW THWg as exhibit A. GO JACKETS !

 

[GTJon]

Random thought, my final comment on the home/away situation.

Why not have this rule: For the first 5 games, use the NCAA rules as currently written.
On game 6, the 2-0 team gets to choose one game to be home. Game 6 or Game 7. Who would be against that?

 

[CuseJacket]

The #1 and #2 seeds get walked off on their own field. Not getting to be the home team on your own field is dumb - especially in a game 7 situation.

To be clear, I'm not blaming the loss(es) on this, just saying it's super dumb.

I'll be that guy. I think being the away team was a huge factor in this weekend's outcome. It's not the only reason we lost, but I believe it absolutely had a meaningful contribution to the end result.

Ramsay seems to think so too, starting with last night's postgame presser where he incorrectly thought we would be the home team today and that would help us. Then he led today's postgame presser with a comment that batting 2nd means you always keep hope alive. Probably not the time to say that, and he quickly bit his tongue, but he knows the mental side is just as important as the decisions you make on the field.

It's crap, but unfortunately those are the rules we agreed to by virtue of playing in the tournament. It needs to change.

 

[Wrecked]

I'll be that guy. I think being the away team was a huge factor in this weekend's outcome. It's not the only reason we lost, but I believe it absolutely had a meaningful contribution to the end result.

Ramsay seems to think so too, starting with last night's postgame presser where he incorrectly thought we would be the home team today and that would help us. Then he led today's postgame presser with a comment that batting 2nd means you always keep hope alive. Probably not the time to say that, and he quickly bit his tongue, but he knows the mental side is just as important as the decisions you make on the field.

It's crap, but unfortunately those are the rules we agreed to by virtue of playing in the tournament. It needs to change.

If he incorrectly thought he was the home team today speaks volumes on if he is capaable of running a D1 program

 

[4shotB]

I'll be that guy. I think being the away team was a huge factor in this weekend's outcome. It's not the only reason we lost, but I believe it absolutely had a meaningful contribution to the end result.

Ramsay seems to think so too, starting with last night's postgame presser where he incorrectly thought we would be the home team today and that would help us. Then he led today's postgame presser with a comment that batting 2nd means you always keep hope alive. Probably not the time to say that, and he quickly bit his tongue, but he knows the mental side is just as important as the decisions you make on the field.

It's crap, but unfortunately those are the rules we agreed to by virtue of playing in the tournament. It needs to change.

Cuse, excellent points but I would counter with this, being "that guy" to "your guy". Every single year there are 16 teams that advance to the SR. All playing by these exact same set of rules. I'm always a believer that one's time is better spent focusing on what is in one's own control. This discussion is more appropriately suited for the offseason imo.

 

[Vespidie]

Exactly...
Include Oklahoma in that mix...

They got hot at the right time..

Think they only had 2 players hit over .300. Probably had a team ba over 100 points lower than ours....
Look at the Ole Miss team from a few years ago that BARELY made the tournament as the "last four in" and many experts had them missing the tourney...

They rode the hot streak all the way to a National Title...

Remember....you can critique Ramsey and decisions made...He's a big boy and can take it (if he'd even care what we said) but Ramsey isn't 0 for 21 in regionals....He's 0-1. It's just that simple

That pressor was heartbreaking and anyone that can listen/watch that and not hurt for the boys....I'm like dang dude...

He'll learn from this. It's time to reflect. Support the program and move on to 27.

Exactly.

The other point to remember that I don't remember anyone mentioning is that CJR is a first year head coach which implies that he's the man making the decisions...not the guy contributing input for someone else to make the decision. Winning 50 out of 60 games in his first full season as the head man is no small feat. Looking at things from that perspective give me reason to look forward to next season.

 

[CuseJacket]

If he incorrectly thought he was the home team today speaks volumes on if he is capaable of running a D1 program

I wouldn't question whether he is capable, but it was concerning that he wasn't aware

 

[CuseJacket]

Cuse, excellent points but I would counter with this, being "that guy" to "your guy". Every single year there are 16 teams that advance to the SR. All playing by these exact same set of rules. I'm always a believer that one's time is better spent focusing on what is in one's own control. This discussion is more appropriately suited for the offseason imo.

Good news - we're in the offseason!

Sorry, too soon.

I agree with your points, and I don't think they refute mine, including the point that we ultimately agreed to the rules by participating But that doesn't change that it has a meaningful and varying impact depending on how each regional plays out.

The way the rule is set up will remain dumb regardless of what day of the year it is.

 

[BainbridgeJacket]

@BainbridgeJacket I don’t know about the fans comments. We were down 11-8 in T8 and the crowd was still in it. Maybe not going absolutely nuts like when it was 8-2, but for having giving up 9, yes nine, unanswered the crowd was still making a fair amount of noise.

There was plenty of fan support Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today.

Even the announcers were calling out that you could cut the tension with a knife. There being more fans doesn't make it better when we all brace for letdown at the first sign of failure. It was bad yesterday on TV. It was obvious it affected our guys.

 

[Sugar3ThousandPounds]

I wouldn't question whether he is capable, but it was concerning that he wasn't aware

Eh I don’t think you really plan for or play a baseball game differently if you’re home or away. Gotta get 27 outs either way. If it was something where he didn’t know a substitution rule or how overtime works like we’ve seen in other sports that’d be much more damning since that should be a part of your prep/situational planning work.

 

[DecaturJacket]

Ramsey looked like a first year coach the last 2 days. Oklahoma's coach was quick to act when his pitchers were in trouble. We weren't.

This season, to me, felt different because of 2 things:
1. Our guys were patient at the plate
2. We had bullpen depth so we could stop the bleeding after 1 or 2 runs

We didn't do either of those these last 2 games. The moment got too big for our guys at the plate and they tried forcing the issue even when we had the lead. Then, Ramsey left guys in too long and the arms that came in didn't stop the bleeding. I really thought this was going to be the year we got to Omaha, but we fundamentally will never get there playing so damn tight in the regional....

Which brings me to my last point, **** our fans. Seriously, what the **** was wrong with the crowd yesterday?!?! We finally get a team like this and y'all act like an abuse victim the second there's any adversity going dead silent and exuding nervous energy. You don't think the team gets tense when that happens? We would've been better off playing away, because our fans' response to the situation clearly had an impact on our players. I've seen this in every sport at Tech and it makes going to the games miserable. The team is supposed to feed off the energy of the crowd not the other way around. Our pathetic loser fanbase is why no GT sports team will ever succeed because the lack of confidence is contagious and leads to an endless cycle of PTSD induced losing. It's ****ing pathetic and I'm sick of being associated with it. And, yeah, I get that this is the pot calling the kettle black because I do it too.

@BainbridgeJacket I don’t know about the fans comments. We were down 11-8 in T8 and the crowd was still in it. Maybe not going absolutely nuts like when it was 8-2, but for having giving up 9, yes nine, unanswered the crowd was still making a fair amount of noise.

There was plenty of fan support Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today.

I wasn't able to be there last night, but I was there today and I've been to many games over the past 20+ years.

I think the difference here may be expectations and how each of you define "noise."

I tend to be on the @BainbridgeJacket side of this discussion. Our fans are inherently pretty tame. It's a little disappointing, but I mean it's also just the nature of the type of people who generally are Tech fans and/or alums. We don't exactly attract the loud folks.

Using tonight as the example, sure there was some noise in big moments, but there was A LOT of silence throughout the game - especially when we were down early, but really even in rally's and when we were up. Sure, our fans cheer for the 2 strike counts, get excited for the doubles, home runs, etc, we even get the Yellow Jacket chants going from time to time, but there isn't the consistent noise and chatter you get at a lot of college stadiums known for their crowds. In other words, our fans cheer a lot in the obvious moments, but don't stay consistently loud.

Tonight we did get a heckle going for the catcher when he came up the last few times. That's the type of noise we need the whole game though.

I love our fans and alums. We're a different breed though. I'm not sure we're ever going to be known as a tough place to play because of the fans - no matter how many sell outs we have.

 

[DecaturJacket]

If he incorrectly thought he was the home team today speaks volumes on if he is capaable of running a D1 program

I wouldn't question whether he is capable, but it was concerning that he wasn't aware

The stupid rule has more to do with the other teams and the games they've played than your own. He's busy paying attention to our team. It's a dumb rule and not super obvious to even those who know the rule and are watching every game. Don't think it says much of anything. Doesn't impact game planning really.

 

[GTJon]

I wasn't able to be there last night, but I was there today and I've been to many games over the past 20+ years.

I think the difference here may be expectations and how each of you define "noise."

I tend to be on the @BainbridgeJacket side of this discussion. Our fans are inherently pretty tame. It's a little disappointing, but I mean it's also just the nature of the type of people who generally are Tech fans and/or alums. We don't exactly attract the loud folks.

Using tonight as the example, sure there was some noise in big moments, but there was A LOT of silence throughout the game - especially when we were down early, but really even in rally's and when we were up. Sure, our fans cheer for the 2 strike counts, get excited for the doubles, home runs, etc, we even get the Yellow Jacket chants going from time to time, but there isn't the consistent noise and chatter you get at a lot of college stadiums known for their crowds. In other words, our fans cheer a lot in the obvious moments, but don't stay consistently loud.

Tonight we did get a heckle going for the catcher when he came up the last few times. That's the type of noise we need the whole game though.

I love our fans and alums. We're a different breed though. I'm not sure we're ever going to be known as a tough place to play because of the fans - no matter how many sell outs we have.

Watching the games on tv, there was definitely more noise and emotion at the FSU games than these last 2. I get it, I was stressed watching it at home. But I was hoping for some real intimidation like I've seen in other sites. The most they had was the beginning of yesterday and I think was really contributing to their starter's quick troubles.

 

[GeorgiaTechFan]

What a heartbreaking loss but congratulations to Oklahoma but it is just very disappointing that this season was just a waste after winning 50 games but I am very proud of the team! Good season and I am looking forward to next year!

 

[DecaturJacket]

Watching the games on tv, there was definitely more noise and emotion at the FSU games than these last 2. I get it, I was stressed watching it at home. But I was hoping for some real intimidation like I've seen in other sites. The most they had was the beginning of yesterday and I think was really contributing to their starter's quick troubles.

That's valid. I was at the Friday and Saturday FSU games and would agree. Though there were more FSU folks there than there were Oklahoma this weekend. The back and forth may have contributed.

Also, school was in session for that. I think we got much rowdier students at the games when (spring semester) school was in.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Even the announcers were calling out that you could cut the tension with a knife. There being more fans doesn't make it better when we all brace for letdown at the first sign of failure. It was bad yesterday on TV. It was obvious it affected our guys.

I said before the game that I hoped the team had more confidence than the average Tech fan. Oklahoma never looked unconfident. We did. You can be the best team in the country all season long but not be ready to be playoff good.

My mind went back to the first time the Atlanta Braves were in a World Series. If not for a base running error by Lonnie Smith the Braves win it all. Playing under pressure changes teams.