Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich sent shock waves around college baseball nation, especially at Clemson when he decided Thursday to fire Hall of Fame coach Jack Leggett. Players rushed to social media to give their reaction to the decision.
\nThe Clemson Insider.com also reached out to current, former and future players for their reactions as well.
\nTCI caught up with ACC Pitcher of the Year Matthew Crownover to get his thoughts on Leggett\u2019s departure.
\n\u201cI know he is the AD and has to make his decision, but I don\u2019t see how you can fire Coach Leggett after all the success he has had here. I know we weren\u2019t as successful as we wanted while I was here, but that had nothing to do with Coach Leggett.\u201d
\nCrownover went on to say, \u201cNo baseball mind in the country would have fired Coach Leggett. \u00a0He is a great man\u201d.
\nTCI also caught up with former Clemson great Kyle Parker.
\n\u201cIt is tough for me to understand. \u00a0I feel like the University and fan base as well as a lot of players owe Jack so much more for the time he had invested and what he built and established there. He deserves a lot of credit for where the program is right now,\u201d Parker told TCI. \u201cCoach Leggett was a pivotal person in my career. He had a big influence on me. I was young and didn\u2019t know a lot when I arrived. He brought me in and helped me mature and turned me into a pretty good player.
\n\u201cFor him to be fired is hard for me to understand. \u00a0I can understand the unhappiness. The team had high expectations. With that said I feel like Jack was owed something from us and some kind of respect.\u201d
\nParker arrived on campus early and played his first season at Clemson in what should have been his final semester of high school.
\n\u201cCoach Leggett was a pivotal person in my career. He had a big influence on me. I was young and didn\u2019t know a lot when I arrived. He brought me in and helped me mature and turned me into a pretty good player,\u201d said Parker.
\nParker\u2019s dad, Carl, sent this message to Leggett which he shared with TCI: \u201cCoach. Just read the news and wanted you to know how much I appreciated you! As a parent I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better man or coach for my son to play for. As a coach, I don\u2019t know that I have ever been around a coach that understands the process of building a successful program more than you.\u201d
\nTCI also caught up with Clemson 2015 signee Jake Higginbotham who is expected to get drafted in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft. Higginbotham could be a weekend starter for the Tigers next season if he enrolls this summer instead of heading to play professional baseball.
\n\u201cI\u2019m disappointed for sure. Coach Leggett is a great coach, one of the best to ever do it, and more than that, a great person. I loved his\u00a0energy and passion. I\u2019m bummed that everything transpired this way. I think the world of Coach Leggett and I hope that every thing turns out\u00a0okay for him,\u201d said Higginbotham.
\nWill the firing of Leggett impact his decision on whether to enroll at Clemson or play professional baseball?
\n\u201cNo, it won\u2019t impact my decision,\u201d replied Higginbotham.
\nSocial Media Reaction
\nThe following former Clemson athletes spoke out with their support of coach Leggett on social media.
\nMatthew Crownover
\nToday Clemson let an icon go. We lost our Joe Torre. We lost the face of Clemson baseball. #7 is Clemson baseball
\n#7 is the reason I came to Clemson. He will always be my coach. He deserved better.
\nDom Leone
\nJack Leggett is Clemson Baseball. He will always be Clemson Baseball. Nobody has bled more, fought more, or dedicated more time to that. Program than he has. It\u2019s sad that this day had to come. Of course today\u2019s focus is all about winning. Nobody wanted to win more than 7. He Was and will continue to be a fierce competitor, yet is also an incredible teacher. A mentor for young men both on and off the field. I\u2019ve.. Reached the highest stage of baseball and that is in part to Leggett and his staff\u2019s guidance and teaching. I am grateful of the opportunity He gave to me as a young kid from CT trying to follow my dream and play big time baseball. Best wishes to 7 and his staff.
\nMatt Campbell
\nI sat in a room with D-Rad last year and backed the coaches not only as coaches, but the mentor role they take on for us, myself included\u2026
\nand I stand by my decision. You fans calling for #7s\u00a0head all year, you never played for him.You don\u2019t know the impact he has.
\nI went to Clemson to play for Jack and Pep for a reason. 1 missed postseason in 22 years. That\u2019s all I gotta say.
\nCJ Spiller
\nJust landed and one of alerts come to my phone that Clemson is not bringing coach Leggett back SMH.
\nThanks coach for all you done for our university and making our program one of best in the country, your presence will def be missed
\nJason Stolz
\nIt seems impossible to picture Clemson Baseball without Coach Leggett at the forefront, sad day for
\nPat Krall
\nClemson baseball won\u2019t be the same without you #7. It was a privilege to play for you and thank you for bringing me into the Clemson Family.
\nWeston Wilson\u00a0
\nThankful for the opportunity you gave me to play baseball for Clemson University. #7
\nWill Lamb
\nWords cant explain how much he did for me, but every year he turned 32 boys into men who wanted OMAHA! HOF in my book, coach! Thank you, sev
\nJay Cox
\nClemson lost a great man and leader today. I\u2019m forever indebted and grateful to Coach Leggett for letting me play for the Tigers. Thanks Sev
\nDrew Wharton
\nThanks for everything Coach Leggett. You\u2019re the definition of first class and you impacted my life in many ways. I will miss you 7!
\nDaniel Gossett
\n#7 and Coach Pepicelli are not only two of the best coaches I\u2019ve been around, but two of the best people. Proud I can call you my friends!
\nRudy Cox
\nHe\u2019s in the Hall of Fame. Can\u2019t ever take that from you Coach. Thanks for everything along the way 7. You will forever be a Clemson Tiger.
\nDavid Haselden
\nHate to hear the news about Coach Leggett today\u2026 He deserved better for all he did for the program\u2026 Thank you, #7
\nWilly Korn
\nSome of my favorite moments at Clemson were getting to talk to Coach Leggett around Jervey \u2013 thanks for all the great memories coach!
\nMike Freeman
\nIt\u2019s hard to imagine Clemson baseball without Jack Leggett at the helm.\u00a0 No one believed in Clemson or understood the program better than him.\u00a0 He knows how to develop athletes into ball players and boys into men.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be the same going back to the house that Jack built without the architect running the show.\u00a0 I know his presence will be felt and his legacy glorified.
\nAndy Monin
\nI played for 38 & 7. Wish Clemson fans realized that legends are rare. Leggett is a legend! Its unreal.<\/p>\n