Comments on: Pat White Rips West Virginia Baseball Coach

By: c_town200

c_town200 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:15:04 +0000

Stats to back up these comments:
2008: 21-5 non-conference record, 14-16 in conference
2007: 19-6 non-conference record, 10-16 in conference
2006: 22-9 non-conference record, 14-13 in conference
2005: 15-15 non-conference record, 10-15 in conference
2004: 13-13 non-conference record, 10-16 in conference

By: c_town200

c_town200 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:13:19 +0000

I don’t see where White said anything that was false. Look around online and you’ll find a website dedicated to how terrible Van Zant is (gvz-sucks.com). You can also find posts all over the place (including this page) where former players say how terrible he is.

I’d like to comment on woodywoodrum’s information about Van Zant and playing crappy teams. Here are stats that back that up:

2008: 21-5 non-conference record, 14-16 in conference
2007: 19-6 non-conference record, 10-16 in conference
2006: 22-9 non-conference record, 14-13 in conference
2005: 15-15 non-conference record, 10-15 in conference
2004: 13-13 non-conference record, 10-16 in conference

By: Bob Joseph

Bob Joseph — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:29:57 +0000

Ooops — I’m thinking that White is gonna back way off his original comments or this story just has to blow up. — Bob J.

Just wanted to fix that.

By: Bob Joseph

Bob Joseph — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:26:14 +0000

The fact is he called that guy a racist and that guy is hired and supported by the university. This needs to be fleshed out.

I’m thinking that White is gonna back way off his original comments are this just has to blow up. — Bob J.

By: Ex Player

Ex Player — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:58:50 +0000

I can tell you from first hand experience that GVZ is not a well liked coach in fact he is often hated. I have a pretty good idea who put up the GVZ sucks website, it’s most likely the same ex player who took it upon himself to write down all of GVZ’s signs and tendencies and mail them to every coach on WVU’s schedule. I believe that was back in 01 or 02.

Fact is GVZ isn’t a very good coach, fact is he doesn’t really coach at all. For the most part his players hate him because he treats them as servants and he’s the master. When I was there he was going through a divorce and at times really took out his frustrations on the players. GVZ understands situational game strategy but he knows almost nothing about hitting and pitching fundamentals.

GVZ’s players have been complaining about him for years but no one listens. It’s not until Pat White steps up and says something does anyone take notice. I don’t think GVZ is racist, I think he’ll sign anyone that can help him win but Pat’s comments about his players not liking him is 100% true. I know I lot of former WVU baseball player support Pat’s statements and think it’s about time this came to light.

By: woodywoodrum

woodywoodrum — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:34:02 +0000

Greg Van Zant is arrogant, content to load up his schedule with weak teams at home to win 30-35 games per year and finish in the upper half of a weak Big East, at least for baseball. He has no intention of challenging his program or becoming anything more than a scholarship eater in Olympic sports.

WVU scheduled Akron, went to the Coastal Carolina tournament (where they met Western Carolina, the home team and then Marshall for the first time in a decade, as Van Zant refuses to play in Huntington or Charleston since the two games in the early 1990s at Watt Powell Park), Iona, Coppin State, Morehead State, St. Bonaventure, Morehead State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Ohio, Dusquesne and Youngstown out of conference.

The Big East’s top team was Louisville, who was #51 in RPI. USF was #62, Cincinnati was #83, Notre Dame #98 and WVU #102. Their ranking was the lowest of any team with at least 35 wins except for Liberty and Bethune-Cookman.

By: Adam Zagoria

Adam Zagoria — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:03:56 +0000

I asked him if the coach was “excited” about White potentially playing baseball and he shook his head, No.

By: boom

boom — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:44:30 +0000

Thanks for the story, Adam.

I would like a bit of clarification, though. I’m thrown off by the parentheticals inserted into PW’s comments.

Specifically:
Asked if he had spoken directly with Van Zant about playing for him, White said: “(No), he wasn’t (excited). He wasn’t interested.”

Did PW say that he hadn’t spoken with Van Zant? Did he shake his head? Why the “(No)”?

I also don’t understand your use of “(excited)”.

Did White actually just say “he wasn’t…he wasn’t interested” ?

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

By: Adam Zagoria

Adam Zagoria — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:46:36 +0000

Folks:

I just played the tape for Jeff Rider of the WV Gazette and my understanding is that he will be running the comments in tomorrow’s editions.

To clarify, I had no idea Pat would make these comments. I was simply curious about why he wasn’t playing baseball and he offered the comments about race and the baseball coach. I think he was being frank and sincere and I admire him for it.

I left a message for Van Zant, who has not yet returned my call.

By: Adam Zagoria

Adam Zagoria — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:39:40 +0000

I have the conversation on tape. I verified the comments several times by listening again. I also went over them with another reporter who was there. Dick Weiss of the Daily News heard them, and I believe Pete Thamel of the NY Times as well.

I then mentioned them to the WVU SID so he was aware.

I’ve been a newspaper and internet reporter for 10 years and stand by the comments. They are on tape.