Oklahoma City NCAA Baseball Regional Press Conference Quotes

May 25, 2000

Oklahoma Press Conference Audio

Oral Roberts Press Conference Audio

Oklahoma Head Coach Larry Cochell On the tournament:
"Well we're excited to be a part of this tournament being hosted by the University of Oklahoma in conjunction with the Redhawks. We think that it's a tremendous award for the success of our team. We think that it's great that our fans can see not only us play, but three other quality teams. An in-state team like Oral Roberts University, a team from the west in UCLA and a team from the east in the University of Delaware. So we think it has the makings of a great tournament and we're excited to be involved in it. "

On how this regional compares to others as far as strength is concerned:
"I think that from a coaching standpoint, you look at other regionals and point out which ones are strong and which ones are not as strong. I think this regional is a good mix of two in-state teams but you also have a strong team from the east in Delaware who has been a strong team for a few years. Bob Hannnah has done a good year. And then UCLA on the west is always a strong team. I think that this is a good regional that we can win if we take care of business and play the way we are capable of playing."

What adjustments do you have to make going from a six-team regional to a four-team regional:
"I think it allows you the opportunity to use a starting pitcher to a different capacity especially when you get to the second game. You get to use your pitching staff a bit differently than you would in a six-team regional because you have to think in longer terms."

Oklahoma First Baseman Rick Park On coach's experience and how that will help the team:
"Coach is pretty low key most of the time. He really doesn't get too excited or too down. And the two regionals I've been to with him, he just tells us to go out and relax and to play our game and not to do too much. He stays steady most of the time, he doesn't get to excited or too down."

On coach's reaction after Nebraska game:
"I could tell he was disappointed about the way we played and the effort that we gave. That just makes me want to work harder and I know that makes the rest of our team want to work harder. He's a great coach and a good mentor for us so we just want to come out and play better for him."

On motivation after Nebraska game:
"I hope that it has lit a fire under this team. That was a bad day just to say the least and I hope that it will get this team going. Coach wasn't too happy after the game but we've had a good week of practice so hopefully we'll be ready."

On Oral Roberts liking the matchup with Oklahoma:
"I think we like the draw we got too because it's going to be a great game. Both teams are going to play hard and it's going to be fun to play an in-state rival in the first game."

Oklahoma Rightfielder/Relief Pitcher Jeff Bajenaru On preparation after the Nebraska game:
"In that Nebraska game last week, we got away from how we normally play. It's in the past and we're not thinking about it now. We know what we need to do now. This week at practice we went back to what we normally do and it's been a good week."

On his decision to come to Oklahoma instead of Oral Roberts:
"I took a trip to Oral Roberts when I was a sophomore in high school and I thought that it was a great school and then I took a trip to OU. They were both really great places but I chose OU because it felt right and I felt right at home. It's nothing against their school but that was the decision I made."

On Oral Roberts liking the matchup with Oklahoma:
"I'm happy they got us and we got them just because we've played them before so we know what they've got and they know what we've got.

Oklahoma Second Baseman Zach Lekse On preparation this week:
"I think that coach is just trying to get us to concentrate on practice this week and not worry about all of the hype surrounding the game"

On playing Oral Roberts:
"I think it's gonna be great to playing an in-state rival. It'll be great for the fans to come out to Bricktown and to see a rivalry. Sonny Golloway is a great coach and used to coach at Oklahoma and is a good friend of coach Cochell's so it adds a little excitement so we're excited to play those guys."

On coach Cochell's relationship with Galloway:
We sense the mutual respect that they share. I mean, every time we play them, they are talking and you can tell that they enjoy each other's company. But at the same time, when the game starts, those guys are enemies and it adds a little more competitiveness to the game."

Delaware Head Coach Bob Hannah On the tournament:
"Our ball club is one that is very young. We start five first year players and we have a freshman on the mound, so that makes six, so it is a club that has had to grow throughout the course of the year and they have done a terrific job. They have put together a season which gave them an opportunity to play in this great event in Oklahoma City. I am very proud of this team and really appreciate the fact that these kids worked hard to give us an opportunity in the NCAA tournament."

"Obviously, we have it tough in the first round, because we are playing one of the premier programs in the country in UCLA, but I know our kids are looking forward to playing."

His assesment of his team:
"Our ball club is not a power group, I think we are more of a gap group. If you look at our stats, you can see that. We have pretty good team speed and we have pitching that has been consistent for us this year."

Delaware Second Baseman Andrew Salvo On the tournament:
"I'm just really excited to be here. UCLA is a great team and I hope we can put up a good fight against them. This facility is outstanding and we're looking forward to having a good time."

On playing in front of big crowds:
"It should really be a good thing for us. Last year against Arkansas, we played in front of 8,000 people and that was a great experience. I'm looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd again."

On the tournament field:
"I know UCLA is a good team from top to bottom. I haven't heard much about Oral Roberts, but from what I've seen, they're a very good club. Oklahoma is another good club. They have a really good closer and a strong pitching staff."

Delaware Pitcher Dave Mullin Playing in front of a big crowd:
"The crowd in Arkansas was phenomenal and it was a fun experience to be a part of. I don't think it was much ragging on us, but they just really wanted their team to win. I'm just looking forward to tomorrow because this is my last go around with this team and thankfully we were able to be back to another regional. I'm just going to have fun with it."

Oral Roberts Head Coach Sonny Golloway On the tournament:
"This 2000 club returns a lot of players that have been to two regionals and are three-time Mid Continent Champions. I see the hunger in my players eyes, not just to be here, but wanting to make some noise in the 2000 regionals. We are sitting here with a 48-13 record, second best in the country behind South Carolina."

On success at ORU and possible success in the postseason:
"I have already in my mind visualized us advancing to the College World Series. We don't want to put the cart ahead of the horse but I think you have to get there in your mind as an athlete to achieve great things."

"This has been a five-year process and you definitely sweat the details in your dreams and visualize a national championship. That is a long way from the first round of a regional."

On playing against Larry Cochell and OU (Golloway former assistant at Oklahoma under Cochell):
"I grinned at first when the selections were made, you know the good outweighs the bad. It is good because our university employees, fans and parents get to take a short trip and see us play at a high level and that is a joy. The downside is I have to play somebody that I would like to see advance to Omaha. I wish there were two national championships that we could win one and Coach Cochell could win one. I'll forget that I know Larry for the three hours during the game because that is what it takes."

Oral Roberts Pitcher Mike Rose On playing against Oklahoma for the third time this season:
"We're excited, we don't look at it as revenge for the two losses earlier, we are just happy to be here and be in a regional with this type of atmosphere."

On the importance of making a statement at the regionals:
"I think it is very important, the last few years we haven't made a good showing. We've been wanting respect but we haven't earned it. I think this year it is important for us to go out and earn it."

On ORU not getting much national respect:
"I think people look down on our conference, we won 26 games in conference, we can't control that, we just have to take care of what we do on the field. We don't get caught up in rankings."

Oral Roberts Shortstop Steve Holm On playing against Oklahoma for the third time this season:
"It doesn't really matter who we are playing, we still have to go out and play to the best of our abilities whether it be Oklahoma or Cal-State Fullerton."

UCLA Head Coach Gary Adams On the evaluation of his club:
"We tied for first in the Pac-10 Conference, it is a little bit like kissing your sister or your cousin. It isn't exactly what we wanted, but we'll take it and we're happy to be here. Last year, we barely made it in, this year, we were confident of getting in when we got hot midway through the season. Our goals then became to win the Pac-10 Championship. It was a rollercoaster ride for a while, we were hot at the beginning and then became ice cold and got hot again. We played our best ball at the end and feel like we peaked at the right time. From now on, each game is a must game for everybody. We are all at 0-0. If you lose two games, then it is good-bye."

On focusing on the tournament with the MLB draft around the corner:
"We are pretty much used to it at UCLA. We talk about it a lot. At the beginning of the season, from fall practice to the end, our players are pretty much used to dealing with the scouts. They call them all the time. We talk about getting our priorities straight, we have no control over what the scouts think, we can only control the way we play. We do have about 11-12 guys that will be drafted and that will be saying 'sayonara' at the end of the season."

On playing in a midwest regional:
"We like it because we get to play in a great atmosphere. The guys liked coming out to Wichita State last year and playing in front of big crowds. We would like to host, but at the same time, the bids were placed when we weren't playing well and since then we've gotten hot."

UCLA Outfielder Bill Scott On playing in a midwest regional:
"We were hoping to get out of California. Everybody had a good time at Wichita last year and it may be even better here. Our big games at home draw around 1,500 because they are a lot of things to do back home. It's going to be a lot of fun and we're really looking forward to playing."

On the team's up and down season:
"When things are going bad, they go real bad. When things are going good, we are hard to beat. A lot of times, teams rise to the occasion and I think we will rise to the occasion.

On receiving a number one seed:
"I think we all believe we deserve a number one seed. We have a lot of good talent, and like we said, when things go right for us, we are hard to beat. Everyone is really excited to be here."

UCLA Second Baseman Chase Utley On the upcoming MLB draft:
"We know the draft is there, but you can't do anything about it. If you play well, you get drafted, it really isn't that hard. You focus on playing well as a team and everything will fall into place."

UCLA Pitcher Rob Henkel On the upcoming MLB draft:
"It's there, everybody is aware of it, but we've just got to focus on the task at hand. This is the reason everyone plays college baseball - qualify for regional play and play for a national championship. I'm just excited about pitching tomorrow and our chances this weekend."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma City NCAA Baseball Regional Press Conference Quotes

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