The news of Mississippi State firing Chris Lemonis was not a surprise to me. I had expected it was coming given several years of frustrating baseball and a woeful 42-69 record in SEC play since the national championship. 

Lemonis gave Mississippi State a special season when they won the national championship in 2021. Aside from my wedding day, it was the happiest day of my life. 

Anything can happen in baseball, but I believe COVID delayed Mississippi State’s national championship run in the first place. The 2020 team was special and the season was sadly cut short by the pandemic. The returning players helped the Bulldogs win the 2021 title and then things went downhill. 

Defensive woes, inconsistent hitting and unreliable pitching have plagued this program the last three seasons. I’m not saying Mississippi State lacks leadership from players but it certainly hasn’t been the same edge to the team as I saw in the 2018-2021 squads. 

The changing landscape of college athletics has not made it easier for Mississippi State. The SEC is more competitive than it has ever been before. Student athletes, if you want to call them that, are worried more about making money and themselves than helping build a program. It is understandable why Athletic Director Zac Selmon made the move before the season ended — barring a miracle run, Bulldog fans had seen enough and it was time. 

It’s still hard for me to accept the news. Lemonis was a nice guy, he always answered my questions as a student reporter and would thank me for coming to press conferences. I remember one Sunday morning he sat in front of me at church. Like Joe Moorhead, I wanted to be patient with Lemonis and give the benefit of the doubt. There’s a reason I’m not an athletic director. 

I wonder if the exit of Lemonis will relieve pressure in the program. Maybe there is enough time for Mississippi State to turn the season around. After all, I saw the Bulldogs make a great run in Omaha with a 15-15 SEC record in 2018. The 2018 season started with the resignation of Andy Cannizzaro after the first series. I acknowledge that it was a different team and situation but those boys had an edge this current team lacks. 

All I ask of the next coach is to bring the Bulldog mentality our program needs. I think that’s the ingredient Mississippi State has been missing these last few years. 

Hunter Cloud writes news and sports for The Daily Leader.