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Feb. 11, 2004
Since everyone is asking, I thought I might help with the answer. Following the loss to North Carolina State this past Saturday, people were talking about head coach Pete Gillen’s response to a question regarding his future in our post game. Many did not hear the question, which by the way came from a reporter who loves to dig for this kind of thing. Pete was just responding to it. He did not, on his own, bring up anything about the future of his contract, recruiting, or next year’s incoming class. Coach Gillen answered the question honestly and was very upfront with his explanation.
Virginia baseball’s annual fundraiser was a tremendous success, highlighted by the appearance of Cal Ripken, Jr. and brother Billy. Cal spent the better part of the day touring Davenport Field, chatting with the team, and posing for pictures with people of all ages.
“I enjoy giving back,” the future hall-of-famer told the crowd of 500. “Whether it’s little league baseball or college baseball, the sport continues to be about dreams and that’s what I love about it.”
Ripken was drafted out of high school and toiled in the minors for four years before reaching “the show”. He began his career in Bluefield, West Virginia and spent a couple seasons in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I had to have at least a thousand at bats before I got comfortable with the game and what I was trying to accomplish,” Ripken said. “Maybe that says a little something about persistance, but I certainly learned a lot about myself and the game.”
We all know about the streak and why he is called the “Iron Man”. Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive games before taking a day off at home in a final series with the Yankees. During one stretch he logged over 8,000 consecutive innings and over 3,600 other major leaguers went on the disabled list during that time. His brother Billy, who was the other half of the Ripken double play combination for six years, spent 12 years in the majors and now runs the Ripken baseball business.
As far as first year Coach Brian O’Connor and the Virginia baseball program? The Cavs open a series in Greensboro this weekend against North Carolina A&T.
I hated to see that Andy Heck was leaving Coach Al Groh’s staff for the NFL. One of the great teachers in the game, Heck is headed to Jacksonville, Florida to join former UVA offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. Heck has spent the last three years on Groh’s staff and has been the driving force behind tight end Heath Miller’s development. Not only that…he is a terrific team guy and great to have on your side. As far as a replacement, word is Coach Groh is leaning toward John Garrett, a Cincinnati Bengals assistant and offensive coordinator, and brother of former Dallas back up quarterback Jason Garrett.
Paige Davis, one of the more outstanding athletes at The University the past few years and Cavalier volleyball player, told me she would like to play professionally, and will have to head west to do it.
“I think I have to go to California for a while, play some beach volleyball, and prove myself,” Paige said. One of Virginia’s first All-Americans, Paige has registered 1,432 career digs.