The Official Wright State @ #17 Tennessee Series Thread (Fri. March 6 6:30PM ET) (Sat. March 7 3PM ET) (Sun. March 8 1PM ET) (All games SECNET+)

[taylorvol]

Chapman and Stone are our two most experienced returning players but I’m not sure what kind of leaders they are , last years team was led by several different players I thought even a couple of transfers , I do think our sophomore class is really talented and will be better for their struggles this early season I just hope it doesn’t take too long for at least a couple of em to get it going

I never figured out who were the leaders on the 2025 team. I’d say Ensley but he was more of a lead by example type. He’s one of my all time favorites for sure. I would say that Andrew Fischer was NOT a leader. A heck of a player but don’t think he was loved in that clubhouse.

 

[taylorvol]

Would mind having a half dozen Garrett Wrights ! I really like players like him. That's the type you want for a leader.

I can’t believe he doesn’t wear an arm/elbow guard. He’s old school and quickly becoming one of my favorites by the way he plays. A catcher and a CF possesses some unique skills.

 

[tnvolfan16]

Somebody bookmark this to come back to at a later date

I think at this point Elander just needs to pick 9 guys and put them out there and let them play every single day and figure it out

sounds like you agree with me that he needs to figure this thing out. there are signs there of this being a rough year

 

[WallyBalls]

I've been around the dugout for all but about 4 innings so far this year.

I will say this- I do think there's a couple of guys who can assume leadership roles. I've seen them do it several times so far this year. Some groups get it ironed out in the fall, sometimes it takes actual time in season to get it sorted.

I think that was what frustrated the coaches so much on Sunday. The dugout had been great for several games in a row, everyone engaged and vocal plus a couple of guys seemingly stepping up to lead. Then Sunday it felt like the team got the 4 wins they wanted on the week and used a PTO day. Hopefully its a lesson learned.

 

[WaywardVol]

I never figured out who were the leaders on the 2025 team. I’d say Ensley but he was more of a lead by example type. He’s one of my all time favorites for sure. I would say that Andrew Fischer was NOT a leader. A heck of a player but don’t think he was loved in that clubhouse.

I’m curious why you say that about not being loved. I sit right behind the home dugout and never saw anything that would indicate that. Went to several meet and greats and Fish was there with other teammates. Great guy. I think Tony wanted that team to take on his attitude. I’m actually amazed at how little I can decipher being that close.

 

[WaywardVol]

I've been around the dugout for all but about 4 innings so far this year.

I will say this- I do think there's a couple of guys who can assume leadership roles. I've seen them do it several times so far this year. Some groups get it ironed out in the fall, sometimes it takes actual time in season to get it sorted.

I think that was what frustrated the coaches so much on Sunday. The dugout had been great for several games in a row, everyone engaged and vocal plus a couple of guys seemingly stepping up to lead. Then Sunday it felt like the team got the 4 wins they wanted on the week and used a PTO day. Hopefully its a lesson learned.

I’ve sat 3 rows behind the home dugout for 6 years. I can’t tell a thing that’s said under the overhang. Unless Tony stepped forward, I couldn’t ever decipher any such thing. I can’t imagine with the lineup shuffling still going on that any of these guys would take a day off. We only threatened one time in that game, so there wasn’t much for the dugout to chatter about.

 

[WallyBalls]

I’ve sat 3 rows behind the home dugout for 6 years. I can’t tell a thing that’s said under the overhang. Unless Tony stepped forward, I couldn’t ever decipher any such thing. I can’t imagine with the lineup shuffling still going on that any of these guys would take a day off. We only threatened one time in that game, so there wasn’t much for the dugout to chatter about.

Just saying what I saw, both in LNS and in Arlington.

 

[tnvolfan16]

Somebody bookmark this to come back to at a later date

Already done

since you all wanted to bookmark this and come back to it, at what point are you all wanting to come back and discuss it? next week will be halfway through the conference season with a three game tilt vs #4 Miss State and they are maybe a little behind where i was predicting they would be, but maybe the easy part of their schedule is yet to come. i still stand by everything i said, this season is going to be full of highs and lows, and the team is not real good and coaching is not real good. but i also still believe it is not fair to criticize a guy who got put in a terrible situation because the coach who had it rolling made a questionable decision, that i still believe, if he had it to do over, he would have never left. so just let me know when we want to talk

 

[taylorvol]

I’m curious why you say that about not being loved. I sit right behind the home dugout and never saw anything that would indicate that. Went to several meet and greats and Fish was there with other teammates. Great guy. I think Tony wanted that team to take on his attitude. I’m actually amazed at how little I can decipher being that close.

No doubt Fischer could rake. No question about his skills. However, he was too much like Jeremy Giambi in Moneyball. Fischer was more concerned about his personal stats and draft status than the team. Fischer loved joking around with the fans by the on deck circle about chugging beers if he hit a HR even with UT down by 5 runs in a crucial SEC game. I don’t think he cared about UT or the Knoxville community, but liked how it could catapult his career. Fischer was great at the few “meet and greets” but he’s paid to be there. Doyle on the other hand hated to lose. With that said, few can hold a candle to the Hunter Ensley's, Evan Russell’s, Trey Lipscomb’s, but think those will be few and far between in the NIL/Portal era. Too many team hoppers for me but maybe playing for 3 or 4 teams (voluntarily) in a college career is becoming the new normal.

 

[Volgrandpa]

No doubt Fischer could rake. No question about his skills. However, he was too much like Jeremy Giambi in Moneyball. Fischer was more concerned about his personal stats and draft status than the team. Fischer loved joking around with the fans by the on deck circle about chugging beers if he hit a HR even with UT down by 5 runs in a crucial SEC game. I don’t think he cared about UT or the Knoxville community, but liked how it could catapult his career. Fischer was great at the few “meet and greets” but he’s paid to be there. Doyle on the other hand hated to lose. With that said, few can hold a candle to the Hunter Ensley's, Evan Russell’s, Trey Lipscomb’s, but think those will be few and far between in the NIL/Portal era. Too many team hoppers for me but maybe playing for 3 or 4 teams (voluntarily) in a college career is becoming the new normal.

Taylorvol, you are always right on.

 

[taylorvol]

Taylorvol, you are always right on.

Thank you sir. I couldn’t bite my tongue on that subject any longer.

 

[Volgrandpa]

Thank you sir. I couldn’t bite my tongue on that subject any longer.

a lot of drama in the clubhouse last year. It isn't easy to build a cohesive team with the portal rules. Players enter the portal and hope to get picked up by a well known school so their draft opportunities increase. Gone after a year and new players come in.