OMAHA, Neb. — When Texas was eliminated from the College World
Series on Monday, heralded coach Augie Garrido summed it up
best.
"It's not good to be the first interview, the first two [rounds] of
the tournament. But that's what we are."
That was Florida a season ago.
Young and overwhelmed, the Gators strolled into Omaha content with
a sense of accomplishment. They left with their heads ducked
between their tails.
The
second time around has been much more pleasant.
"I
hate to say it, but everybody was just happy we got there last
season," senior second baseman Josh Adams said. "It's been a
different mentality. Everybody's been in the right frame of mind
since we've been out here. We're itching to go win it."
After getting drubbed twice en route to a disappointing two-and-out
finish last year, the Gators have totally reversed their fortunes
in 2011.
Charged with a businesslike approach, Florida has stormed through
three games in Omaha to reach the CWS championship series for the
first time since facing Garrido's Longhorns in 2005.
Starting Monday, Florida will take on defending national champion
South Carolina in the best-of-three series.
The
Gators' one-year postseason turnaround has been impressive, but not
necessarily surprising.
Since February, the Gators have talked about filling that hollow
feeling that's haunted them since in-state rival Florida State sent
them home last season. They promised things would be different if
they got back.
So
far, they certainly have been.
"They were a really good team last year, but they're older now,"
Baseball America senior college writer Aaron Fitt said.
"Experiencing Omaha before has really helped. [Coach Kevin]
O'Sullivan has done a great job managing this whole season with the
eye on Omaha."
Last year's core was full of wide-eyed freshman — six, five of
which were freshman All-Americans, played in UF's elimination game
— but those key players have developed into grizzled veterans,
pacing the Gators toward what would be their first-ever baseball
championship.
For
70 games, Florida has played with a confident, yet centered,
all-or-nothing mentality. The Gators have won a school-record 53
games and a conference tournament championship, but each
accomplishment has merely been a stepping stone in self-assurance
that this trip to Omaha would be different.
"We
knew we had a chance to be really good," O'Sullivan said. "I
thought winning the SEC Tournament was big. It gave us confidence
and a huge momentum boost going forward."
Florida has rolled into Omaha knowing what to expect, knowing the
heartbreak of elimination.
With O'Sullivan's regimented approach, the Gators have shed their
lack of maturity and more than prepared for the awaiting circus of
cameras and autograph seekers.
According to a six-time national champion, the process has made
sense.
"My
feelings about that is in being here a few times, that until you've
been here, it's hard to play here," Garrido said.
The
Gators still aren't finished.
"We
all share a common goal, which is to win, not just be here," star
slugger Preston Tucker said. "We're happy we're in the finals, but
we're going to be just as disappointed as if we went 0-2 if we lose
the series."
Florida players erupt out of the dugout after defeating Vanderbilt 6-4 to advance to the CWS championship series.
