The University of Mississippi Athletics
Oxford Regional Friday Post-Practice Quotes
6/10/2005 | Baseball
June 10, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. -
OLE MISS
Head Coach Mike Bianco
(on Texas' pitching)
"It is just like the scouting reports you have heard. They are very good. They are the fourth ranked staff in the country with a 2.88 ERA. They throw a lot of strikes. They don't walk very many people. They don't give up very many hits or homeruns. They are solid. One of the things that seemed a different is that they have done it with only nine guys. We dress out 11 pitchers."
1B/ LHP Stephen Head
(On preparing for Texas)
"We are going out there and preparing as if it was an SEC series. Obviously it is one day later. Usually we're playing on Friday. That's not the case. But we are practicing the same and preparing the same. We have kept our routine the same. There is really no difference just because it is the Super Regional. It is almost like a regular SEC weekend."
(On starting the series on Saturday rather than Sunday)
"I think we are just more anxious about playing. We have already been pushed back one day. We would really like to be playing today. We are excited more than anything. We are excited to be in this position for the first time in school history. This is one step closer to our goal."
RHP Mark Holliman
(On preparing differently against Texas batters)
"We have not changed much. We are pretty much sticking to our original game plan. The pitchers as a whole look at the hitters. But we don't think there is any reason to compare the pitchers to the hitters."
TEXAS
Head Coach Augie Garrido
"We are honored to be here in this Super Regional. Ole Miss has a great ball club. We had a chance to play another Southeastern Conference club in Arkansas in the regional, and they gave us a lot of trouble. We expect this to be the same baseball. Ole Miss is a very competitive team and the coaches do a great job. The team plays well and is fundamentally sound. We hope to play the same."
(On two top-10 ranked teams playing before Omaha)
"We're happy to be here. As long as you have the opportunity to be in the tournament, that's what you ask for. It's always confusing in certain things. This seems to be better than the BCS, though. It's not ever going to be perfect. I don't want to be judgmental on how you get there. Our players have worked hard and so has Ole Miss. Eventually you will face someone good, that's what the paring down does."
(On fighting back all season and surviving)
"If you look at where we've been the most aggressive, it's been when we are sitting with our backs against the wall. Nebraska was in a similar situation to this. Their (attendance) numbers were a little higher than this, but the fans are on top of you and feel like they are in the dugout with you. They had the advantage of being the home team and playing for a lot. They beat us 3-2 in 15 or 16 innings. We came back the next day and really played well and separated ourselves. That's what has been happening so far. Championships are heavily influenced by the unexpected. We haven't just gone in and put someone away. We have had more of a survivor's instinct than a killer instinct."
Texas Pitcher Kyle McCulloch
(On the Ole Miss hitters) They hit the ball well. I don't know much about them. I know they put up big numbers. I just have to go and pitch my own game, and not worry about them. They are a good club, and we'll have to battle. I have no control over them. I have to pitch my own game. They will do what they do, and I have to do what I do."
Texas Catcher Taylor Teagarden
(On returning and playing with a back injury)
"The coaches have given me a lot of leeway with preparing for a game, if I don't feel like I need to take batting practice or something. I started off taking it easy, and not worrying about my offense. Last weekend I started feeling better at the plate. I have just worked my way back into it. At this point I feel the same as I did last weekend, and I am ready to get after it."
Texas Infielder Seth Johnston
(On Ole Miss' pitching staff)
"I saw them the day of the selection show. I was up late and saw a replay on Fox Sports South. I saw Mark Holliman pitch and saw a lefty throw for (Ole Miss). They have good command. We have faced good pitching before in the Big 12. The challenge is to see a new pitcher who throws the ball well."