The UVA money people on Brian O’Connor: Nothing to see here

For what it’s worth, probably something, the money folks who fund the UVA Baseball program don’t think we’re about to lose Brian O’Connor to Mississippi State, or anywhere else.

The sense that I’m getting today is that the focus of the money people is on making sure that O’Connor gets what he needs in terms of full scholarships and access to as much of the limited NIL and House settlement money that is there for non-revenue sports.

And on that point, nothing is really different than it’s been behind the scenes for the past several months, as O’Connor, 54, who has been the head coach of the UVA Baseball program since 2003, has been fighting hard for every penny that he can get going forward.

What stands out to me, from conversations with the big players, is that the word that has been circulating to the effect that O’Connor-to-Mississippi State is already a done deal doesn’t appear to be the reality as viewed from the UVA Athletics perspective.

ICYMI

The sense isn’t, we’re gearing up to conduct a quick search for a new coach, but more, we’re getting our ducks in a row to make sure O’Connor can build a competitive roster for next season, against the backdrop of new rules that allow programs to offer up to 34 scholarships to flesh out their rosters.

Keep in mind there: you don’t need 34 scholarships, because you’re not going to use 34 guys as regulars in your everyday lineup and pitching staff.

Looking at this year’s UVA roster, for instance, O’Connor used nine everyday players for 100+ plate appearances, with two others getting 50+, and two more getting 20+.

The pitching staff used had two guys going 60+ innings, three going 30+, four going 20+, and six going 10+.

The other eight guys who got on the field had 10 or fewer ABs or eight or fewer innings pitched.

That was, in effect, O’Connor playing with a 26-man roster, which is what he effectively used in 2024 (11 everyday, 16 pitchers), in 2023 (12 everyday, 13 pitchers), in 2022 (11 everyday, 14 pitchers) and 2021 (11 everyday, 12 pitchers).

Give BOC 25 full scholarships, and a little NIL money to give to a projected second- or third-round pick recruit who wants to go to college to become a first-round pick, but also wants some walking-around money, and we’re good to go.

The idea that Mississippi State is somehow better positioned to give O’Connor more to work with money-wise is bunk.

According to the Sportico.com college finances database, State only spent $500,000 more on baseball last year than UVA did, and overall, UVA Athletics outspent Mississippi State by $11 million.

Yes, Mississippi State is an SEC school; but it’s dead last in the SEC in athletics-related spending.

O’Connor-to-Mississippi State wouldn’t even be a lateral move for him.