Baseball Receives Proclamation From Governor
Relive Miami’s run to the 2001 National Championship.
Oct. 29, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The 2001 National Champion Miami Hurricanes will be making the trip to the State Capitol in Tallahassee Tuesday, October 30th to be honored with a proclamation from Governor Jeb Bush, Treasurer Tom Gallagher and the rest of the State Cabinet of Florida.
Accompanying Governor Bush and Treasurer Gallagher in honoring the 2001 College World Series Champions, are Secretary of State Katherine Harris, Attorney General Bob Butterworth, Comptroller Robert F. Milligan, Commissioner Charles H. Bronson and Commissioner Charlie Crist.
Making the trip for the Hurricanes will be Athletic Director Paul Dee, 2001 National Coach of the Year Jim Morris and players Charlton Jimerson, the College World Series MVP, All-CWS pick Kevin Brown, Javy Rodriguez, Greg Lovelady, Kris Clute, Alex Prendes, Mike Rodriguez and Mike DiRosa.
“We come to Tallahassee every year (to play Florida State),” said Morris. “But this time around I can relax a little and enjoy it. Receiving this proclamation from Governor Bush, Treasurer Gallagher and the state of Florida cabinet is quite an honor for this program that we will surely cherish. This team worked real hard last year and accomplished its goals set in the preseason. This honor is testimony to that.
“At Miami, going to Omaha is our goal every season from the first day we start practice in the fall. To be able to go (to Omaha) seven times in the eight years I’ve been at Miami is proof on how hard our student-athletes, coaches and administration work to accomplish those goals. To be able to win the College World Series championship two of the last three seasons shows just how focused we are in meeting the goal.”
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| Javy Rodriguez presents a Miami baseball cap and jersey to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 in Tallahassee, Fla. The 2001 National Champion Miami Hurricane baseball team was honored by the Florida Cabinet with a proclamation for their achievements throughout the season and for winning the College World Series. (AP Photo/Phil Coale) |
The Hurricanes start preparation for defense of their 2001 crown when fall practice opens on Thursday, November 1st at 4 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. Practice, which will consist of 12 daily sessions, will run through Thursday, November 15th. These sessions are open to the public.
“I’m looking forward to practice,” added Morris. “We have a lot of returning veterans along with a nice class of freshmen players. Our freshman class was recently ranked in the top five, so I am excited to see how they will fare against some of our experienced players.”
The Hurricanes return several members from last season, including national steals leader and All-American Javy Rodriguez (SS), All-CWS Danny Matienzo (C), 2001 USA National Team member Kevin Howard (3B), USA National Team member Kiki Bengochea (RHP), 2001 Freshman All-American George Huguet (RHP) and 2002 All-American candidate Luke DeBold (RHP).
Miami returns 19 players from the 2001 squad that ended the season on a national-best 17-game win streak, including all nine games in the postseason, while finishing 53-12 overall. Among the 19 players returning are nine position players and 10 pitchers. The squad will welcome at least 11 freshmen once the spring practice commences.
Last season under Morris, Collegiate Baseball and the ABCA’s 2001 National Coach of the Year, the Hurricanes won their fourth all-time National Championship and second in the last three seasons. A school-best 11 players were drafted in the MLB First-Year Players Draft, while two more signed free agent contracts. Rodriguez led the nation and smashed the school record with 66 stolen bases. Huguet, the closer, notched 14 saves to tie Robbie Morrison’s 1996 school freshman record. DeBold, the primary set-up pitcher, recorded 67 strikeouts to just seven walks all season. Matienzo, the top returning power hitter, was named to the postseason All-Tournament teams at the Coral Gables Regional as well as in the College World Series.
The 2002 schedule may be the toughest in the nation featuring numerous programs that dominated during the 2001 year. The season opens with a CWS re-match against Tennessee in a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium, followed by games against Florida International, Florida, Minnesota, Southern California, Cal State Fullerton, Houston, South Florida, Rutgers, UCLA, Florida State, Long Beach State, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Jacksonville. Road trips in 2002 will be to FIU, the Homestead Challenge, Cal State Fullerton’s Kia Bash, FSU, UNC and Georgia Tech.
Call 1-800-GO-CANES for season and individual game ticket information. To join the excitement, log on to hurricanesports.com and follow the action.
Head Coach Jim Morris – Ninth Season at Miami
Baseball America listed University of Miami head baseball coach Jim Morris at No. 12 on its list of top college head coaches all-time in the MLB Pre-Draft issue distributed to media during the recent College World Series. It was then inferred that the rate in which Morris recorded his then-893 career division I victories by the age of 49 could potentially lead to him becoming the all-time leader.
That same week Morris’ Hurricanes won four more games and celebrated their second National Championship in the last three seasons. According to Baseball America following the CWS, Morris may be moving up that list.
In his eight-season tenure at Miami no other program nor head coach has qualified for the College World Series as much as Morris and his Hurricanes. Miami, which has qualified for the NCAA Tournament a NCAA-record 29 consecutive years, has made it to Omaha in seven of the eight seasons Morris has coached in Coral Gables. Inside his seven trips to the CWS, Morris set a new NCAA record for guiding a program to the CWS in each of his first six years at UM. Morris had set the record in 1999 with his sixth straight trip. In addition, Morris has led a team to the NCAA Regionals for the last 17 years, eight at Miami and nine at Georgia Tech.
Morris has directed the Hurricanes to a 393-119-1 (.767) mark since arriving in 1994. Including his 12 seasons at Georgia Tech (1982-93), Morris has forged a 897-363-2 (.712) division I record over 20 years. Overall, Morris has been the head coach at the collegiate level for 24 seasons, spending the first four at DeKalb (GA) C.C. from 1976-79, and has recorded a 1,028-404-2 (.718) mark.
The Hurricanes claimed the 2001 National Championship with a 12-1 victory over Stanford in the College World Series finale at Rosenblatt Stadium. The 11-run margin of victory over the Cardinal tied a 45-year-old CWS record for a championship game, while the Hurricanes 12.3 runs per game set a new CWS mark. Miami had also defeated Tennessee twice, 21-13 and 12-6, and Southern California, 4-3, to advance to the title game.
Miami finished the 2001 season riding a NCAA-high 17-game win streak, including a nine-game sweep during the postseason. The Hurricanes claimed the Coral Gables Regional championship with wins over Bucknell, Florida and Stetson, followed by a two-game sweep of Clemson in the Coral Gables Super Regional.
The Hurricanes 53-12 overall record in 2001 marked the most in wins (53) and winning percentage (.815) under Morris. Miami also led the nation in stolen bases (228) and relief pitcher appearances (223). Morris also saw school record 11 players were drafted and two more signed to free agent contracts off his 2001 squad.
Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association each honored Morris with its National Coach of the Year honors following his 2001 title to give him five such honors for his career. He additionally won top honors from Collegiate Baseball and the ABCA after the Hurricanes defeated Florida State, 6-5, for the 1999 National Championship. Morris’ first National Coach of the Year honor came in his first season at Miami in 1994.
Morris has tasted success everywhere he has been, and he knew when he came to the University of Miami in the fall of 1993 that there was no better place for a winner to be than at the helm of the Hurricane program.
Kevin Brown
First Base/Finance
North Fort Myers, Florida/North Fort Myers High School
One of the Hurricanes top power hitters all-time…Brown lands at No. 3 on the Miami all-time home runs list with 48…a four-year letterman…named to the 2001 All-CWS team after batting .467 with three doubles, three home runs and a team-high 10 RBI…Brown’s slugging percentage at the CWS was an impressive 1.267…named the 2001 Coral Gables Regional MVP after breaking his record performance at the plate…in the Regional championship game against Stetson, Brown belted three home runs and 10 RBI to break one school record, one NCAA Regional record and tie three more school records…as a senior, Brown led the Hurricanes with 15 home runs and a .648 slugging percentage…drafted in the 19th round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves…graduated in 2001 with a degree in Finance…provided assistance to several community relations activities, such as Child Identification Sign-Up, Miami Children’s Hospital Beach Party and the opening of the Sports Education Program at Riverside Elementary.
Kris Clute
Second Base/Criminology
Miami, Florida/Killian High School
One of the Hurricanes top infielders during the Morris era…a four-year letterman…started three seasons at second base and was in the starting line-up of two College World Series Champion teams in 1999 and 2001…a unselfish player, he places second all-time at UM with his 44 career total sacrifice hits…had the game-winning hit in UM’s 10-8 win over Clemson in the Coral Gables Super Regional…was drafted in the 37th round by his hometown Florida Marlins following his senior season and played with the Utica Blue Sox of the New York/Penn League this past summer…nearly finished with his degree in Criminology…participated in the Child Identification Sign-Up program as well as providing instruction at the Perrine Little League Baseball Clinic…he and his wife, Natalie, recently gave birth to a son, Kade Andrew.
Mike DiRosa
Catcher/Management
Miami, Florida/Coral Gables High School
The primary catcher for the Hurricanes his final two seasons…attended UM after a record high school career at nearby Coral Gables HS…a powerful hitter who had a .541 slugging percentage as a junior with nine home runs and 30 RBI…had 17 home runs on his career…in the 2001 College World Series, started the opener against Tennessee and had a two-RBI double and three walks…drafted in the 16th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 MLB Draft…at UM, was enrolled in the school of Business with a major in Management.
Charlton Jimerson
Outfield/Computer Information Systems (CIS)
Hayward, California/Mt. Eden High School
Jimerson had one of the most storied seasons in UM baseball history on and off the field in 2001…a four-year letterman…a walk-on who had just 38 starts in 117 career games, he started 35 of 58 games in 2001…he batted a career-high .302 along with seven doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBI and was successful on 31 of 34 stolen base attempts…after earning a spot on the Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament Team, Jimerson became the Hurricanes fourth College World Series Most Outstanding Player after making several highlight plays at the plate and in the outfield…At the 2001 CWS, Jimerson batted .333, hit two home runs and led the tournament by stealing seven stolen bases without getting caught…his home runs led off UM’s first two games against Tennessee and Southern California, the first time this feat was accomplished at the Series…he was drafted in the fifth round by Houston in the 2001 MLB Draft and will start the 2001-02 season at the Astros high-Class A team…expected to graduate this spring with his degree in Computer Information Systems…was a mentor with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, as well as visiting the Miami Children’s Hospital and Olympic Day at Bel Aire Elementary…given the University’s 2000-01 Community Service Award.
Greg Lovelady
Catcher/Finance
Miami, Florida/Palmetto High School
A fan favorite at Mark Light Stadium ever since his freshman season in 1998…was named the team’s Most Popular Player in a vote by the fans in 2001…served as co-team captain in 2001 and is a four-year letterman…a former walk-on who jumped into the starter’s role down the stretch in 1999 and helped lead the Hurricanes to the National Championship that season…was the starting catcher in both of the Hurricanes’ title games against Florida State in 1999 and Stanford in 2001…was selected to the 2001 Coral Gables All-Regional Team…signed as a free agent following his senior year with his hometown Florida Marlins and spent the summer playing with the Utica Blue Sox of the New York/Penn League…walked across the stage in 2001 with a degree in Finance…was a member of several Honor Rolls, including Provost, Athletic Director and Dean’s List…recently returned to the UM program as an assistant coach for the 2002 season…participated in Career Day at West Homestead Elementary.
Alex Prendes
Left-Handed Pitcher/Management
Miami, Florida/Gulliver Preparatory
A left-handed pitcher who spent the majority of his career as a situational pitcher…closed out his career in style by finishing off the final inning of the College World Series title game against Stanford…has thrown in more games (88) than any UM pitcher since All-American Robbie Morris left in 1998…his 88 career appearances, all in relief, place him sixth all-time at Miami…was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox after his senior season and earned a place in their Class A farm system this upcoming season…is nearing completion on his degree in Management…participated in various community relations activities such as Child Identification Sign-Up, March of Dimes Walk, Perrine Little League Baseball Clinic, Miami Children’s Hospital Beach Party, Reading Day at Gulliver Academy, Career Fair at West Miami Middle School, Flamingo Elementary Pen Pals…was awarded with the University’s 1998-99 Community Service Award.
Javy Rodriguez
Shortstop/Criminology
Miami, Florida/Gulliver Preparatory
Led the nation in 2001 with a school-record 66 stolen bases and a 1.05 per game percentage…an all-around impressive player who excelled at the plate with his team-high .382 batting average and on the base path with his record stolen base total…was selected the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2001…named to the Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament team…selected to the Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American list…was also chosen MVP of the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Minneapolis MetroDome earlier in the season…was a Player of the Year candidate by Baseball America…a clutch player who led the team with 10 game winning hits, including a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning that brought in the winning run in a 11-10 victory over ninth-ranked Stetson in the regular season…expected to earn his degree in Criminology during his final season with the Hurricanes in 2002…took part in the Red Ribbon Day Assembly at Gulliver Academy.
Mike Rodriguez
Outfielder/Management
Cooper City, Florida/Cooper City High School
One of the fastest outfielders in UM history…a three-year letterman…batted .357 at the 2001 College World Series with five hits, six runs scored, seven RBI, five walks and four stolen bases…led the team in 2001 with 68 runs scored and placed second with 53 stolen bases…was successful on 53 of 55 stolen base attempts for a .964 percentage…placed fourth nationally with his 0.83 stolen base per game percentage…also placed among the team’s best with his 76 hits, 15 doubles and 110 total bases…broke a 21-year-old school record in 2001 when he was successful on 36 consecutive stolen base attempts, passing the former record of 30…was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2001 Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Minneapolis MetroDome…was drafted in the second round by the Houston Astros in the 2001 MLB Draft…took part in an autograph session at Pembroke Lakes Youth Club.
