Indiana University Athletics
Around the Horn with Tracy Smith
9/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 30, 2005
The Indiana baseball team is wrapping up its third week of fall practice, and first-year head coach Tracy Smith sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to discuss how things are going with the ballclub.
On Scout Day (Oct. 6):
"We feel this is something that is going to be important for our program because one of the things we want to do is expose our kids to professional baseball. This is a key step in building the relationships and letting the pro scouts have access early on to our kids. That's one thing our guys are going to know. We are working for them, and our recruiting philosophy is that we are recruiting kids that not only want to get an unbelievable education from Indiana University but also want to play professional baseball. With Scout Day coming up, it is going to be a great opportunity. Our first one is going to set the tone how we are going to do things with the pro guys. It's an exciting day for the athletes."
On building the program:
"We're getting there. There are a lot of things we want to do. We have a priority list, and we're just going to keep checking things off as we go. We want to build the premier program in the Midwest."
On the job Terry Hoeppner has done:
"I've mentioned this to the team, and what you can take away from what Terry has done is that people can make a difference. A coach with an infectious attitude about winning and teamwork, that is proof positive right there that things can change. You don't have to settle for being a mid- or lower-level Big Ten team, whether it is baseball or football or whatever. We have the ability to change that. I think coach Hoeppner has taken a very positive approach to turning this around and certainly there are some tangible results as we saw against Kentucky with the crowd and the excitement. Now the real test starts with the Big Ten, and I don't think he'll change a thing, nor will the kids. I want our guys to do and see the same thing. Last year, they finished last in the Big, but he changed their attitudes and everybody believes they can win - that's a pretty powerful, strong tool. We need to follow that model."
On his team's strengths:
"I think defensively we are going to be able to get some things done. I like the attitudes, particularly of the seniors. Their leadership has been a positive. Reggie Watson, Jay Brant, Zach Boswell and those guys have brought a lot to the table. It's like having mini-assistants out there. That's been fun to see. They have enjoyed taking hold of the leadership and the trust we have put into them and letting that permeate throughout the team."
