FSU Baseball: Has Mike Martin Come to The End of His Time With Noles?

FSU baseball has been in a recent slump this season – which has some wondering if it’s time to move on from Mike Martin as head coach.

When you look at the history of college baseball, there are some programs and head coaches that are synonymous  with the game. One of those is certainly FSU baseball and the man who has been leading them to titles and postseason appearances for close to four decades, head coach Mike Martin.

Entering his 38th season in the dugout at a stadium that bears his name on the field, Martin and the Seminoles were going to be a team that would at least make it to the College World Series – and possibly win it for the first time in program history. The reality is that the ‘Noles are stuck in a slump, losing seven of their last 10 games to sit at 21-14 entering this weekend’s games against No. 4 ranked Clemson.

It begs the question that FSU baseball fans may not want to ask but need to be honest with themselves about – is it time for Martin to move on from the program?

Yes, I know that he is not the one out there committing errors and giving up runs during the recent woes – but this is his team. Much like what we saw during the final years of legendary football coach Bobby Bowden’s time with the school, the noticeable decline in product is enough to raise the question if the school is being too loyal.

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Clearly, Martin’s best years have already come and gone. For the 10 season between 1991 and 2000, the Seminoles made their way to the College World Series eight of those times – over the last 17 seasons, the ‘Noles have been in Omaha just three times.

With 11 games left in the month of April – including six against ranked foes Clemson and Virginia along with three on the road at long time rival Miami – there is a considerable chance that the once top ranked Seminoles could be unranked and a .500 team entering the final month of the season.

When FSU football was 2-4 alway through the 2009 season, people were ready to get rid of Bowden at that moment. With FSU baseball staring down the barrel of another 20 loss season (which would be their third straight for just the second time in the Martin years) and a potential losing record in the ACC, it would be insane to not even think about the future.

Does this year’s Seminoles team have the talent to turn things about and finish the year on a high note, making another appearance in Omaha? I would have said yes a few weeks ago, but now no one can be so sure. That fact alone has to make you wonder if it’s time to look at the man wearing No. 11 and ask if the best thing for the program is keeping him in charge.

It’s going to be tough for longtime FSU supporters and alumni to part ways with Mike Martin for the length of time he has led the program and all the accomplishments during his tenure. However, the reality is that the current state of FSU baseball is one of uncertainty and slight disappointment – a recipe to at least explore the idea of a change at the helm.