You know all the gushy promos featuring Omaha and the College World Series on ESPN? The outtakes from the TV and radio announcers bestowing heaps of praise on the city for its unending hospitality toward all who enters the community during the CWS? The Florida Gators want to play in front of that crowd.
Can you blame them? During UF’s last trip to Omaha in 2005, the Gators’ reward for a tough first-round win against arch-enemy Tennessee was a winners bracket game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Perhaps the only people in the rainbow colored plastic seats at Rosenblatt cheering for the Gators that day were family, friends, traveling fans, and Creighton Bluejays backers.
Still, the Gators prevailed. They advanced to the National Championship game before settling for the runner-up trophy (Texas took the title).
This year, Big Red isn’t here to overwhelm the Gators. And a matchup with a longtime rival will have to wait for a winners or losers bracket game (Florida State is in the same side of the draw). If the 2005 Gators were able to overcome those roadblocks and play for a title, what might the 2010 version be ready to accomplish?
WBR turned to Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun to answer that question and a few others ahead of his trip to Omaha.
This Gators fan is pumped for the trip to Omaha
White & Blue Review: If you ran into a casual College World Series fan in line at Rosenblatt Stadium, and he or she asked you to quickly recap the Gators’ season to this point, what would you tell them? For someone with minimal knowledge of Kevin O’Sullivan’s team, what are the key things to know about the 2010 Florida Gators?
Kevin Brockway: Florida has won this season with a blend of excellent starting pitching, timely hitting, and solid defense. Starters Hudson Randall (2.95 ERA), Alex Panteliodis (3.26) and Brian Johnson (3.97) all have ERAs under 4.00. The bullpen also has done an exceptional job, led by closer Kevin Chapman (11 saves, 1.48 ERA). Florida is 41-0 this season when leading after six innings. Offensively, Florida has managed to come up with clutch hits in key situations. The Gators scored 8 of their 11 runs in the Super Regional sweep against Miami with two outs.
WBR: Florida entered the season highly ranked in most polls, and begins the CWS near the top of the rankings. Aside from the everyday bumps and bruises playing 60-plus games brings, what adversity have the Gators fought through to make it to Omaha?
KB: Florida suffered a tough blow when early-season ace pitcher Tommy Toledo was hit in the face with a line drive against Charleston Southern. In Toledo’s absence, freshman Brian Johnson stepped up as UF’s third starter. The Gators went through a 9-8 stretch in late March-early April, but have since won 19 of their last 23 games.
WBR: The Gators hosted a Super Regional last season but lost to Southern Miss. For CWS fans who haven’t seen UF play this season, what are the major differences between last year’s team and this season’s CWS qualifier?
KB: Better pitching. Last season, Florida had just one starter it could depend on consistently. This year, the Gators are much deeper in the rotation and in the bullpen.
WBR: Last season Preston Tucker was co-Freshman of the Year in the SEC. This season, Austin Maddox won the FOY award outright. How has Tucker improved in his second season of collegiate ball? For those casual CWS fans, what makes Maddox such a powerful player as a true freshman?
KB: Tucker spent the offseason working hard on becoming a better defensive first baseman. He’s improved in that area. Early in the season, teams pitched around Tucker, but he’s heated up of late. Tucker is batting .339 with 11 homers and 46 RBIs. Maddox has exceptional power to all fields and has a knack for coming through in the clutch. Of his 71 RBIs this season, 37 have come with two outs.
WBR: The Gators seem to field a team full of underclassmen. How important has the leadership been from upperclassmen (and high school teammates) Matt den Dekker and Chapman?
KB: den Dekker and Chapman have provided steady leadership, mostly through example. In the Super Regional clincher against Miami on Saturday, den Dekker played a key role in helping the Gators jump to a 2-0 lead, getting on base with a bunt single and two walks. He scored UF’s first two runs. Chapman picked up a two-inning save and a five-out save in back-to-back games to help Florida clinch the regular season crown at South Carolina.
WBR: The last time Florida made it to Omaha, the Gators played for a national championship. What has to happen next week for UF to advance to the title games and hoist a trophy?
KB: Florida has to maintain its formula of pitching, defense, and timely hitting. The Gators don’t have a lineup 1-9 that’s overwhelming. But Florida has enough speed at the top of the order and power in the middle of the order to generate runs. Just don’t expect UF to win too many 12-8 games. The Gators are at their best when they keep games low-scoring.