James Keithley

Just wanted to say this publicly regarding the baseball program at @UTSA to anyone who gives a damn. (@UTSABSB) I went to school there from 2008-2011 before transferring to UH to finish my degree. I was there for the first football game. I was there when they won their “first 4” game of the basketball tournament with Devin Gibson before getting blown out by Ohio State in the 1 v 16 matchup. My brother is the all-time leader in pitching appearances there. I’m pretty well versed regarding the history of the athletics program. I used to wait in line at Panda Express with Larry Coker on campus. That said, what the men’s baseball team did this year is WITHOUT question the single greatest season in the history of the school’s athletics program in ANY sport and it’s not even remotely close. If anyone would like to refute this, I’m open to dialogue on it. I’m not including track & field or cross country or w/e other sport that nobody really watches (respectfully). This was something REAL and it MATTERED. They went into the University of Texas and DOG WALKED them all 3 times they faced them this year including when it mattered most. They were one of the final 12 teams standing in the country this year. They were UNDOUBTEDLY the best D1 men’s baseball team in the state of Texas and they proved it over and over. They gave Roadrunner fans an ACTUAL reason to flaunt their school’s colors on a national stage with the “big boys” for the first time ever. I’m not talking about “Oh! They won the American!” or “Oh! They won a Bowl game!” either. I’m talking about this team was a LEGITIMATE National Title contender and they did it with probably a 1/50th of the resources as these other programs they’re competing against on this stage. With all due respect, that will never happen in football or basketball. Texas football beats the life out of UTSA football and that will never change. I get that there are business decisions behind this. I understand the school wants to drive revenue. But, the current approach is so insanely closed minded. Pat Hallmark (@Pat_Hallmark) is the best coach that the University has ever had in any sport and he’s one of the 10-15 best men’s baseball coaches in the country. He has done more with LESS than any coach in D1 over the last 3 years and I feel like you’re just going to string him along the same way that y’all did with Jason Marshall before him @LisaUTSA. He’s a unicorn that fell into your lap and Wayne Graham (one of the most legendary coaches in the history of baseball) knew it too. He will LEAVE if you don’t provide him with the tools he needs to continue to do this and he SHOULD leave if you don’t. A decade ago, In the ultimate “piss on my leg and tell me that it’s raining” move, Y’all gave them a portable trailer and called it a “locker room”, then decided “oh they’re good for the next 2 decades”. Men’s baseball is the best chance the university will ever have at winning a National Title in any sport in our lifetimes. It’s just a fact. I’ve said this for years and this season only validated that. Pay attention to programs like Coastal Carolina and Dallas Baptist…UTSA should have EXPONENTIALLY more resources than those schools to be able to equip Coach Hallmark and the baseball program with what it needs to make this a REGULAR thing. It’s SO INCREDIBLY POSSIBLE. (More students than LSU) But, if you don’t, he will be gone. Because, a school that wants to do it for real will take him from you. He’s special like that. I’m proud of @JamesTaussig and the rest of his teammates. Y’all are dogs and legends forever for real. I LOVE this baseball program. My late father did too. I hope all of y’all join me moving forward in pushing for BETTER than what we have right now. We’ve EARNED it more than any of the other programs. “If you build it, they will come.” #BuildTheStadium So damn proud of y’all.