Coach Paul Mainieri Coach Mike Fox Coach Elliott Avent Coach John Savage
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June 14, 2013 has been a different type of game. Sometimes it's An interview with: been high scoring, sometimes low scoring. But our pitching and defense has been pretty consistent, so generally speaking we've been in most of the COACH PAUL MAINIERI ballgames and found a way to win most of them, COACH MIKE FOX fortunately. The great thing about our team this year is COACH ELLIOTT AVENT it's just one of those teams that the chemistry is so COACH JOHN SAVAGE outstanding. I don't know if the chemistry comes because of our winning or the winning is because of our chemistry, but it's been a great group of kids BILL COUSINS: First of all, welcome to work with. I'm so thrilled for our seniors that everybody to our first news conference. These are they had an opportunity to get here before their the Sunday coaches. career ended. Starting at the far end Paul Mainieri from We heard so much all year that this would LSU, SEC Champions and they beat Oklahoma 2 be the first senior class to not make it to Omaha games to none in the Super Regional. Mike Fox, since the incoming freshman of 1982. So that was head coach at North Carolina, the No. 1 national a legacy we didn't want these kids to have, and, seed, they play N.C. State Sunday afternoon, the fortunately, in our last try we were able to get them Chapel Hill Regional Champions, and 2-1 was their here to Omaha. Super Regional against South Carolina at Chapel I'm thrilled to compete against these three Hill. gentlemen to my left, because I will tell you that I Elliott Avent, the North Carolina State head have the greatest respect for all three of them. coach plays UNC at 2:00 o'clock. This is their You know, these guys have all run tremendous second College World Series, they won the programs. I've had personal history with all of Raleigh Regional, and beat Rice twice in Raleigh them, and obviously, we're going to try to beat in a Super Regional. each other out there on the field, but there will be a And then John Savage, head coach at lot of hopefully mutual respect between the teams UCLA. The Bruins 44-17 on the season, playing is that are out there playing. So it should be a great LSU on Sunday night. This is the fourth College series. We're really looking forward to it, and, World Series for UCLA. They won their regional at obviously, we're really happy to be here. home and then went to Fullerton and won two BILL COUSINS: Mike? straight in the Super Regional. COACH FOX: Well, could you all have sat First of all, coaches, welcome, and let's Elliott and I any closer together? We're touching start with an overview, first, Paul, would you start knees, and by the end of this we're going to be with an overview? holding hands. I don't know (laughing). COACH MAINIERI: Sure, Of course the We're obviously very excited to be here as understatement of the day by any coach would be well. I'm sure you're going to hear that from all how happy we are to be here, but we really are. eight coaches today. As all of us up here know, We haven't been here for three years and it and I think everybody knows, it's extremely difficult seemed like an eternity. We're just really proud of to get here. The parity in college baseball is at the the season we've had thus far; our kids have highest level that it's ever been, and all the games played remarkable all year. I feel like we have a in the Super Regionals and the regionals that were pretty balanced team, and consequently each day played throughout the country were evidence of Mainieri Fox Avent Savage - 06 14 1 13.doc visit our archives at asapsports.com that, just very close, hard-fought games. John Savage was an assistant at Nevada, Our season has been a lot like Paul's at Reno, and Mike and I have had a few battles over LSU, and we had high expectations coming in and the last few years. So the relationships are those are always tough to deal with. But we special. Glad to be sitting on this podium with managed through it, and down the stretch had these gentlemen, and like Mike said, the guys in some really tough, hard-fought games in our the other bracket. league and then obviously in the ACC Tournament Our ballclub has been a resilient one. Lot and regionals and Super Regionals. So we feel of injuries early. They persevered. You have to be very fortunate we were just able to navigate resilient in this game. It's the only way you can get through those and come out on top. by. It toughens you up if you can weather some I feel the same way about our seniors. We storms and they did. Very proud of this ballclub. had one in particular, Cody Stubbs, a transfer, who They represent so many players from N.C. State especially thrilled that he's going to end his career through the years that had a chance to get here playing in the College World Series, and, again, it's and didn't quite make it. So we feel like we're here just exciting to be here this early. It never gets old; representing so many people, and we're very, very will never get old. proud to be here. And I concur with Paul that I think all of us COACH SAVAGE: It's great to be back, college coaches have a unique bond, and I think it's good to see familiar faces. Certainly like to that's always neat to see, and I hope it always thank the city of Omaha for putting on, I think, the stays that way. I feel the same way about the best NCAA Tournament out there in any sport. For coaches here and the other four coaches in the families and young boys that feel that they're going other bracket. It's an honor to be here, and we to be college players, this is college baseball appreciate everything that's been done for the heaven, and I know Paul and Mike and Elliott, I players. think feel the same way. COACH AVENT: Paul, you said you It's an honor to be here. I think we're one hadn't been here in three years, right? Mike, you of those teams that people are a little surprised haven't been here in two years and, Savage, you that we are here. We had a very good team last haven't been here since last year. Well, N.C. State year. We lost a lot of players. We think we earned hasn't been here in 45 years, so I don't know if that this trip. We went through one of the most difficult makes me more excited to be here than them. I roads, which was Cal State Fullerton, which, my doubt it. But we are very grateful and very happy assistant at UCLA, Rick Vanderhook, did an to be here. unbelievable job and won over 50 games, which Just, I've heard all of the stories, and I was a very impressive run. came here and did a clinic one time in like 1992 So we feel fortunate, but we also feel like with Joe Arnold and Eddie Cardieri, and did a we've earned this trip. Like Elliott, it's the 16 teams clinic; and as a matter of fact, they took me to a that go to the super regionals and those couple of horse races, I think. I was broke back three-game series is just a complete grind. It's then, and Joe and Eddie sniffed it out and took me almost a relief when you get through that series under their wing, and I swore I'd never come back and have an opportunity to go compete again here unless I had a team to bring with me. I'm just against some great coaches, great programs, and so grateful to be representing N.C. State. So a great venue. So we're excited to be here and happy to be here. All the stories I've heard have looking forward to Sunday. already come true with how you're treated, the city BILL COUSINS: We'll open it up for of Omaha and just everything. questions. I'd like to just book end on what Mike and Paul said about their relationships. First person I Q. Mike and Elliott, is this a good thing saw -- coach I saw was Paul Mainieri. Paul you guys are playing each other right off the Mainieri was head coach at Air Force, and I was at bat? New Mexico State, and I knew he was a recruiter BILL COUSINS: Elliott, you start, please. back then because we woke up in 80° weather and COACH AVENT: Yeah, it's a good thing, Paul Mainieri talked me into coming and playing in because if we weren't here playing each other, snow at Air Force. That is what kind of recruiter he we'd be out recruiting, so, yeah, this is a really is, and we always talked about we'd meet here in the College World Series one day.