Q&A With Head Coach Jim Morris
Feb. 14, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — –
The University of Miami baseball team (6-2), ranked as high as fourth nationally by Baseball America, will host Elon College (5-1) for a three-game series, Feb. 16-18, at Mark Light Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, followed by 1 p.m. start times for the Saturday and Sunday games.
Former Hurricane All-American pitcher and rising Major League star J.D. Arteaga will throw out the ceremonial pitch at Friday’s game, just prior to reporting to Spring Training on Sunday.
Sunday’s game will carried by UM’s flagship station Sports Radio 560 WQAM with “The Voice of the Hurricanes” Marc Vandermeer and longtime analyst Joe Zagacki on the call. Friday and Sunday will also be carried on the Hurricanes’ Spanish Broadcasting Network WACC 830 AM Radio Paz with Jerry del Castillo and Pepe Campos covering the action. The student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM will carry all three games over the weekend. The Miami/Elon games can be heard on the internet as well, at www.hurricanesports.com.
For season and individual ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or check out hurricanesports.com for all the latest on University of Miami athletics.
Q&A with Head Coach Jim Morris regarding the upcoming series with his alma mater Elon College.
What brought you to Elon College in 1969?
I knew that Elon College was the right place for me, because I was going to get the chance to play every day. I was the shortstop for three years. I wasn’t the greatest player coming out of high school or a highly recruited one. I had looked into going to the Air Force if college wasn’t the choice. The head coach at Elon, Jerry Drake, did a great job of talking me into coming. That was a decision I felt changed my life. So I attended Elon on an academic scholarship. At that time, we were right in the middle of the Vietnam War, so you never know what could have happened. I worked hard during my time there and wound up with the opportunity to play professional baseball after I graduated.
Can you describe your experience playing at Elon?
The time that I spent at Elon College was a great and special time for me. I had the chance to be in a fraternity, which I still have a lot of close friends from. My teammates were great. I don’t hold a lot of records at the school, but I know I do have one. My junior year, I didn’t make one error. That is a record that can never be broken, but only tied. I had a 1.000 fielding percentage that season. That was probably the only honor I had while I was a player in school. We did have some big games and some big wins. We played at the NAIA level back then, but now Elon’s in Division I just like Miami. Back then we played mostly the other small schools, but every now and then we took on the North Carolina’s. Elon is a much better program now, than it was when I was playing. They have a lot more money to spend, scholarships and a new ballpark. The park isn’t even in the same location from when I played. Playing at Elon then was an experience that I will always hold in my mind and in my heart. It was great for me, because I feel it changed my life.
How did the opportunity with the Boston Red Sox come up?
The chief scout for the Red Sox came down one night to watch a player from George Washington University. He was there to see a player named Sam Pelazzo on their team, who still is in the Major League as a third base coach with the New York Mets. On that particular night I had four hits, five stolen bases and played very well defensively. The scout came away with my name rather than the other guy. That day turned my career around.
What was it like to be honored by Elon College in 1984 as the Young Alumnus of the Year?
I guess the biggest award I ever received from Elon was that in 1984, when I was named “Young Alumnus of the Year” by the alumni association. The award was based on what I was doing as a coach following my playing career. I was only 23 years old when I was named head coach for the first time. In the early days I spent time as an assistant at Appalachian State then as head coach at DeKalb (Community College in Dekalb, Ga.). By the time I was 28 years old, I was the head coach at Georgia Tech. When I went to (Georgia) Tech it was a program that finished near last, when I left for Miami in 1994 it was ranked No. 1 in the country. The other honor I received was that their Baseball Offices are named after me. That is something that is real nice and I always will remember.
How much of your time spent at Elon is reflected in your current coaching style?
There is no question that I learned a lot from my head coach at Elon, Jerry Drake. I still stay in contact with him. He is no longer coaching. I have also picked up a lot of things over the years from a lot of coaches I’ve worked with. When I first started coaching in junior college, I probably was like Billy Martin. He was a young head coach when he started, and I was only 23 years old. At that time, I had a player who was 22 and I didn’t want him to think I was his “buddy”. So I had to take the opposite side of the fence most of the time. At my age now, I may do more things like my players so I can fit in. So I have changed a tremendous amount as a coach through the years. I also learned a lot from Coach (Ron) Fraser, when I was an assistant on the USA team in 1988 and throughout the years of getting to know him. I find myself always asking questions and always trying to learn.
Do you still have a connection with the Elon College baseball program?
I know (Elon head coach) Mike Kennedy very well. He is a good friend of mine. He used to work my camps at Georgia Tech. We (UM) are always looking for games to play and they (Elon)wanted to play us. They have a good program and have been getting better and better each season. Back in 1999 when we played our first-ever games, I thought playing them would help their program as well as help us as a team. I didn’t think they would come in and beat us in the very first game (13-6). It wasn’t like they beat a guy down the line they beat our ace (Alex) Santos. His record that year ended up leading the nation at 15-1 and was a first-team All-American. (Miami would win the second two games in the 1999 series, 11-0, and 24-5)The problem in coaching sometimes is that you don’t remember the wins as you do the losses. I wish, as a coach, I could enjoy the wins half as much as I suffer the losses. I don’t know whether that is good or bad, but that is the way it is.
Can you give us a glimpse on the 2001 Elon College Phoenix?
From what I know, two of their starting pitchers are pro prospects that will be drafted this year. I will learn more about their position players as the week goes on during our meetings. I know that they are off to a very good start beating five out of six games against ACC competition. (Elon began the season by taking two of three against Duke, followed by a sweep of Maryland) Elon is a good place to recruit to. It is in a beautiful area and they have a nice ballpark. Everyone I know that went there really liked it. They have good players and their coach’s work hard. And if we are not ready, we will suffer like the first time we played them.
