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Paul Mainieri’s message to South Carolina fans hoping to win

Posted on by angelo
Paul Mainieri’s message to South Carolina fans hoping to win

Video Breakdown: What Stands Out From Paul Mainieri’s Introductory Press Conference

South Carolina has its new head baseball coach. A coach who not only knows what winning looks like, but also a coach eager to help lead the Gamecocks back to the promised land.

“I don’t see why we can’t compete for everything from the start,” Paul Mainieri said Thursday during his introductory press conference. “I didn’t come here to lose. I didn’t come here to be mediocre. In my opinion, Carolina baseball represents excellence. I think we have to win now.

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With more wins than any active DI baseball coach, Mainieri won either the SEC regional season title or the SEC tournament ten times in 14 full seasons at LSU. The 15th being the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020. A two-time SEC Coach of the Year and the coach who led LSU to a national title in 2009, he is well aware of the importance of coaching fans who have great expectations. A standard he wouldn’t want to be held to otherwise.

“There is only one thing worse than criticism: apathy. There will be no apathy among South Carolina fans. There was no apathy among LSU fans. Criticism should not be taken personally. (The fans) want to win and I don’t blame them. They own season tickets and support the baseball program. There’s no Major League Baseball here. This is Major League Baseball for our fans and for the people who watch the games. But let me tell you this. They won’t earn more than I want to earn.

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Reaching the College World Series for the first time in 1975, Omaha, South Carolina’s 12-year drought is the second longest since that first trip. Their longest drought occurred from 1985 until its return in 2002.

“This program is not in the doldrums. They won 37 games last year. They won three games in the SEC tournament. They won a game at regionals. They are close. There is talent on this team. I know there is talent on this team.