Indiana University Athletics
Around the Horn with Tracy Smith
9/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 14, 2005
The Indiana baseball team kicked off its fall practice schedule on Monday, and first-year head coach Tracy Smith sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about how practice is going, how the team looks and other thoughts about the Hoosier program.
On the first two days of practice:
"Up to this point everyone has just been a name, now I can see the kids and work with them and put a face to the name. It's been fun from that point of view. As we said coming in, we know we have things we need to work on, and we are trying to get a day better every time we go out there. I think the kids are buying into that and enjoying it. To get out on the field is always fun. It's some of the best weather we'll have at this time of year. We're just trying to take advantage of their enthusiasm to get better."
On the team:
"I think we're going to field a competitive team. We have some issues and concerns, but we're going to do whatever we need to do to give us the best chance to win this year. We're not looking at writing this year off. In our minds, we're going to try and compete for the Big Ten Championship our first year."
On what has impressed him about the team:
"I like the willingness of the kids to try different things and learn. We are a fairly athletic team. With the change of attitude, we have seen immediate improvements. We've been asking some kids to move positions, and they've been willing to do that."
On the team buying into the new coaching staff:
"I still think they are trying to figure some things out. Over time, I think it is going to get better. From what I've seen, they've appreciated the staff. Maybe our enthusiasm has worn off on them. We are going to turn this thing around, and I think they are picking up on that and are buying into what we are preaching."
