Baseball Prepares To Open Season Friday Against Tennessee
Feb. 1, 2002
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University of Miami Hurricanes (0-0)
#2 Baseball Weekly/ESPN, #2 NCBWA, #3 Baseball America and #7 Collegiate Baseball
vs.
University of Tennessee Volunteers (0-0)
#25 Baseball Weekly/ESPN
Friday:
Fox Sports Net (TV), Sports Radio 560 WQAM, WVUM 90.5 FM
Saturday:
Sports Radio 560 WQAM, WACC (Spanish), WVUM 90.5 FM
Sunday:
Fox Sports Net (TV), WVUM 90.5 FM
Game #1-3,
February 1-3, 2002
Mark Light Stadium, Coral Gables, FL
MORRIS AT MIAMI —
In his ninth season as Head Coach at Miami, Jim Morris has compiled a 393-119-1 record with the Hurricanes. He has guided UM to the College World Series in seven of his eight seasons in Coral Gables, including an NCAA-record six straight trips in his first six years. In 2001, Morris’ club went 53-12 and won its final 17 games en route to the 2002 College World Series title. The 12-1 victory over Stanford marked the second National Championship in the last three seasons after Morris’ 1999 club claimed the title with a 6-5 win over rival Florida State. Additionally, Morris has been named the National Coach of the Year five times by Baseball America in 1994 and Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1999 and 2001. Including his 12 seasons at Georgia Tech, Morris has a 897-363-2 overall Division I-A record.
MORRIS ENTERS HIS 25TH YEAR AS A HEAD COACH —
Entering the 2002 season several career milestones are in-sight for Jim Morris, a head coach at the collegiate level for 25 seasons. Morris enters 2002 seven wins shy of 400 at Miami. Additionally, Morris is three wins shy of 900 at the division I-A level. Last season, he earned his 1,000th career victory over Northeastern. Morris currently has a 1,028-404-2 record as a head coach. Prior to his nine seasons at UM, Morris went 504-244-1 at Georgia Tech from 1982-1993. In his first stint as a head coach, he guided DeKalb to a 131-41 mark from 1976-79.
MORRIS MAKING HISTORY —
Has guided the Hurricanes to National Championships in 1999 and 2001.Was named National Coach of the Year five times at Miami, by Baseball America in 1994 and by the ABCA and Collegiate Baseball in 1999 and 2001.Is the only coach in NCAA history to take a school to the CWS in each of his first six years at a program. He has now gone to Omaha in seven of eight seasons.Has never posted a losing record as a head coach.Has sent over 137 players to the Pro’s, including Kevin Brown (Los Angeles Dodgers), Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek (Boston Red Sox) and Pat Burrell (Philadelphia Phillies).
MORRIS ENTERS 2002 AS THE FIFTH WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACH —
Entering the 2002 season, Jim Morris stands in fourth-place nationally with a .712 Division I career winning percentage by an active head coach. Entering the 2001 season, Morris had ranked 25th among active coaches with his then-844 D-1 career wins. Among active and non-active coaches, Morris ranked 19th in winning percentage and 39th in victories. Former UM head coach Ron Fraser was 11th in all-time winning percentage (.742) and 6th in victories (1,271).
SHORTSTOPS AND MORRIS —
Jim Morris, who played shortstop during his days at Elon and in the Boston Red Sox organization, has had great success developing shortstops as a head coach. The last three seasons, Morris has been working with UM’s highly-coveted shortstop Javy Rodriguez, who led the nation last season in stolen bases and was an All-American. Prior to Rodriguez, Morris coaches Chicago Cubs draft pick Bobby Hill, a first-team All-American. Before Hill were Alex Cora and Mike Metcalfe, who each saw action with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998. Cora is currently in the starting line-up for the Dodgers. Major League All-Star Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox played for Morris from 1992-93 at Georgia Tech.
MIAMI OPENS 2002 WITH ’01 CWS OPPONENT TENNESSEE —
Miami recently moved past Tennessee in the all-time series, 6-4, with a pair of victories, 12-6 and 21-13, at the 2001 College World Series. Both the Hurricanes and Volunteers were seeded in the same bracket meeting in the opener and in a semifinal. Other than the two games against each other, Miami defeated Southern California (4-3) and Stanford (12-1) in the title game, while the Volunteers defeated Georgia (19-12) and USC (10-2). Prior to the two UM wins at the 2001 CWS, Miami and Tennessee split the previous eight meetings. The two schools have played two three-game series on each other’s field with the home team pulling off the sweep. Tennessee took the last set of games in Knoxville during the 1996 season (3-2, 4-2 and 12-1). Miami swept the Volunteers in Coral Gables during Jim Morris’ first season in 1994 (1-0, 3-1 and 6-0). The first two meetings between UM and UT occurred in Coral Gables during 1989 with each team winning once (5-6 and 4-1).
VS. THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE —
The Hurricanes enter the Tennessee series with an all-time record of 161-114-1. Under Head Coach Jim Morris, Miami is 34-21 vs. the SEC since 1994. Currently, the Hurricanes are riding a seven-game win streak vs. the SEC (all from the 2001 season).
MIAMI/TENNESSEE CONNECTION —
Four players on Tennessee’s roster hail from the Miami, including Javi Herrara and Dennis Gomez (Gulliver Prep), Matt Sternberg (Killian) and Walter Sevilla (Coral Gables). Herrara and Gomez both played at the same school as Hurricanes Javy Rodriguez and Danny and Paco Figueroa. UT also has three more players from Florida with Jeremy Kemp (Palm Harbor), Justin Reed (Punta Gorda) and Chad LeGate (Longwood). UM’s Greg Dini is also from Longwood.
TEAM USA AT THE LIGHT–
Both Kiki Bengochea and Kevin Howard played this past summer for Team USA along with Tennessee catcher Javi Herrara.
MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS —
Miami holds a 37-21 overall record in season opening games. The Hurricanes defeated FAU, 9-3, in the 2001 season-opener. The last loss in a season-opener for the Hurricanes was Jan. 16, 1997, a 3-2 loss at Hawaii. UM has not lost a season-opener at home since a 9-7 defeat to Florida on Feb. 3, 1984 (14 games).
SEVERAL HURRICANES GARNER PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS —
A total of five Hurricanes received preseason All-American honors, including Javy Rodriguez, Kiki Bengochea, George Huguet, Luke DeBold and Danny Matienzo.
2002 HURRICANES DEFEAT ALUMNI TEAM 20-3 —
Forty-five former Hurricanes spanning seven decades returned to Mark Light Stadium on Jan. 26 to take part in the annual alumni game against the 2002 squad. The current Hurricanes were able to use efficient pitching and defense plus effective power to cruise to the 20-3 victory over the former Hurricanes that included, Orlando Palmeiro (1990), J.D. Arteaga (1994-97), Danny Buxbaum (1994-95), Tom Farmer (1998-01), David Gil (1997-00), Joe Grahe (1987-89), Charlton Jimerson (1998-01), Ross Jones (1979-80), Mike Rodriguez (1999-01), Alex Santos (1997-99) and Jose Trujillo (1986-89).
HURRICANES HAVE TOUGH 2002 SCHEDULE–
The Hurricanes 2002 schedule features 39 games against opponents who qualified for the 2002 postseason. Additionally, five opponents played in the Super Regionals and three in the College World Series. Of the four polls combined, Miami has 11 opponents nationally ranked and play a total of 30 games against these teams.
BASEBALL AMERICA’S COLLEGE PREVIEW RECOGNIZES MIAMI —
Baseball America’s Allen Simpson rated junior RHP Kiki Bengochea No. 6 of 12 top college prospects for the 2002 draft. Among the 12 players listed, UM potentially face six of the prospects (#1 Bobby Brownlie, Rutgers, #4 Russ Adams, UNC, #5 Anthony Reyes, USC, #8 Bryan Bullington, Ball State, #10 Luke Hagley, Ball State, #11 Tyler Parker, Georgia Tech). Baseball America listed the top 50 players by class, which consisted of seven Hurricanes in each of the four classes. Danny Figueroa (#32), Ryan Dixon (#34) and Rich Giannotti (#43) were among the freshmen listed. T.J. Prunty (#30) was the lone UM sophomore listed and was rated the No. 2 draft eligible sophomore. Kiki Bengochea (#6) and Kevin Howard (#22) were among the juniors and Javy Rodriguez (#6) was listed among seniors.
Miami was selected the top independent school heading into 2002, while Bengochea, Howard, Rodriguez, Prunty and Troy Roberson were the top five independent prospects. Figueroa, Dixon and Brandon Camardese were the top three independent newcomers.
MIAMI EARNS THE CHANCE TO FACE BIG LEAGUE COMPETITION —
What has become nearly an annual affair, the Florida Marlins will come to Mark Light Stadium for an exhibition game against Miami tentatively scheduled for March 31. The Hurricanes earned the right to play Florida in exhibition play, due to finishing the 2001 season as the top-ranked team in the state of Florida. The Marlins will play one exhibition game per spring training season against the state’s highest-ranked college program the previous season. Florida did not play any school in the 1994 strike season, while meeting the Hurricanes every year other than 2000. That season FSU played the Marlins. UM has played a total of 21 exhibition games vs. Major League Baseball clubs (not including minor league teams). Miami is 1-20 against the “Big Leagues”, having defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-6, in 1982.
HURRICANES HARD TO NO-HIT —
Entering the 2002 season Miami has not been no-hit in 2,243 games. The last time the Hurricanes were no-hit was by Ken Huebner of Florida Southern on April 18, 1964 in Lakeland.
HAROLD REYNOLDS HIGHLIGHTS PRESEASON “FIRST PITCH” BANQUET —
ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst and College World Series broadcaster Harold Reynolds served as the keynote speaker at the annual “First Pitch” Banquet at the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables. The switch-hitting second baseman played a total 14 seasons in the Major Leagues with Seattle, Anaheim and Baltimore. He was selected three times (1988-1990) as the American League Gold Glove winner while he playing for Seattle.
CHARLES JOHNSON INDUCTED INTO THE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME —
At the annual Hall of Fame Banquet held on March 14 at the Downtown Miami Hyatt Regency, former Hurricane catcher Charles Johnson (1990-92) will be among eight 2002 inductees into the University of Miami Athletics Hall of Fame. Johnson joins Horace Copeland (track and football), Carlos Huerta (football), George Mira, Jr. (football), Art Kehoe (football), Isabella Hutchinson (women’s athletics), Frances Savage (women’s basketball) and Al Besselink (men’s golf).
50-40-30 PLATEAU —
Miami has won at least 50 games in five of the past six seasons under Head Coach Jim Morris. UM has won at least 40 games for eight straight years, 13 of the last 14 years and 27 of the last 29 years. Miami has won 30 or more games for 31 consecutive years. The last time UM failed to win 30 games was 1970 when the Hurricanes finished 28-15-1. Morris’ lowest single-season total at Miami was 41 in 2000.
THE JIM MORRIS SHOW —
The 2002 season marks the sixth season of the Jim Morris Show, a weekly half-hour television program featuring the head coach of the Hurricanes. The show airs on WPLG-Channel 10 and on Fox Sports Net Florida. Hosted by WPLG-Channel 10 Sportscaster Frank Forte, the show features Hurricane players, coaches and special guests.
VISIT THE MIAMI BASEBALL HOMEPAGE AT HURRICANESPORTS.COM —
The University of Miami Athletics has teamed with FansOnly for a comprehensive website dedicated to Hurricane sports. Current baseball news, stats and information can be found year-round at www.hurricanesports.com.
STUDENT RADIO WVUM 90.5 FM CARRIES EVERY GAME — ON THE INTERNET —
The student station of the Miami Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, will continue its voice into the 2002 season with coverage of all Miami’s games in Coral Gables Regional, as well as road games. Additionally, WVUM broadcasted games can be listened to at the WVUM website, which can be linked through the UM athletics homepage at www.hurricanesports.com.
15 GAMES AIR ON FOX SPORTS NET FLORIDA, MIAMI APPEARS ON TV 20 TIMES IN 2002 —
Fox Sports Net Florida will carry 15 regular season Hurricane baseball games in 2002. WPLG-Channel 10 Sportscaster Frank Forte will be joined in the booth by Fox Sports Net Florida and WQAM personality Joe Zagacki. Former Hurricane Luis “Wicho” Hernandez (1991-94) will enter his second season as a color analyst.
Miami will also appear on Fox Sports Net South in two of the three games at Georgia Tech and on the Sunshine Network for all three games at Florida State.
HURRICANE BROADCASTED ON SPORTSRADIO 560 WQAM — S
ports Radio 560 WQAM will continue its coverage of the Miami Hurricanes into the 2002 season. The Hurricanes have 13 regular season baseball games broadcast live by WQAM in 2002, along with coverage in the postseason. WQAM is in its third season as the flagship station for University of Miami Athletics, serving the football, men’s basketball and baseball radio broadcasts. Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play) and Joe Zagacki (analysis) serve as UM’s WQAM broadcast team.
UM’S SPANISH RADIO BROADCAST ON WACC 830 AM RADIO PAZ–
WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will once again serve as the Hurricanes’ Spanish-designated AM station for 12 regular season broadcasts, as well as the 2002 postseason. Jerry del Castillo, Pepe Campos and Joe Martinez comprise UM’s Spanish broadcasting team. In 1999, the UM Spanish radio broadcast was the first-ever to broadcast from a College World Series game.
Up Next –
Florida International Golden Panthers
Feb. 6, 7 p.m., University Park (FIU Campus)
MID-WEEK MEETING WITH FIU, ONE OF THREE ON THE YEAR —
The Hurricanes will face FIU three times during the 2002 regular season with Wednesday, Feb. 6 at University Park starting it off. The two teams will open up the Homestead Challenge on Feb. 2, followed by a game at Mark Light Stadium on May 2. Miami leads the all-time series with FIU, 81-18, dating back to the 1973 season. The series is the third-longest on-going rivalry on the UM baseball schedule behind Florida (1940) and Florida State (1951).
Miami has won 12 of the past 16 meetings with FIU, including five of the past six. Last season, Miami took three of four meetings. Head Coach Jim Morris is 20-8 vs. FIU since coming to Miami in 1994, including a 8-4 mark away from Mark Light Stadium. At University Park, Miami has forged a 27-7 record and won last season’s meeting 4-3.
2002 HURRICANES DEFEAT ALUMNI TEAM 20-3 —
Forty-five former Hurricanes spanning seven decades returned to Mark Light Stadium on Jan. 26 to take part in the annual alumni game against the 2002 squad. The current Hurricanes were able to use efficient pitching and defense plus effective power to cruise to the 20-3 victory over the former Hurricanes that included, Orlando Palmeiro (1990), J.D. Arteaga (1994-97), Danny Buxbaum (1994-95), Tom Farmer (1998-01), David Gil (1997-00), Joe Grahe (1987-89), Charlton Jimerson (1998-01), Ross Jones (1979-80), Mike Rodriguez (1999-01), Alex Santos (1997-99) and Jose Trujillo (1986-89).
HURRICANES HAVE TOUGH 2002 SCHEDULE–
The Hurricanes 2002 schedule features 39 games against opponents who qualified for the 2002 postseason. Additionally, five opponents played in the Super Regionals and three in the College World Series.
Of the four polls combined, Miami has 11 opponents nationally ranked and play a total of 30 games against these teams.
BASEBALL AMERICA’S COLLEGE PREVIEW RECOGNIZES MIAMI —
Baseball America’s Allen Simpson rated junior RHP Kiki Bengochea No. 6 of 12 top college prospects for the 2002 draft. Among the 12 players listed, UM potentially face six of the prospects (#1 Bobby Brownlie, Rutgers, #4 Russ Adams, UNC, #5 Anthony Reyes, USC, #8 Bryan Bullington, Ball State, #10 Luke Hagley, Ball State, #11 Tyler Parker, Georgia Tech). Baseball America listed the top 50 players by class, which consisted of seven Hurricanes in each of the four classes. Danny Figueroa (#32), Ryan Dixon (#34) and Rich Giannotti (#43) were among the freshmen listed. T.J. Prunty (#30) was the lone UM sophomore listed and was rated the No. 2 draft eligible sophomore. Kiki Bengochea (#6) and Kevin Howard (#22) were among the juniors and Javy Rodriguez (#6) was listed among seniors.
Miami was selected the top independent school heading into 2002, while Bengochea, Howard, Rodriguez, Prunty and Troy Roberson were the top five independent prospects. Figueroa, Dixon and Brandon Camardese were the top three independent newcomers.
MIAMI EARNS THE CHANCE TO FACE BIG LEAGUE COMPETITION —
What has become nearly an annual affair, the Florida Marlins will come to Mark Light Stadium for an exhibition game against Miami tentatively scheduled for March 31. The Hurricanes earned the right to play Florida in exhibition play, due to finishing the 2001 season as the top-ranked team in the state of Florida. The Marlins will play one exhibition game per spring training season against the state’s highest-ranked college program the previous season. Florida did not play any school in the 1994 strike season, while meeting the Hurricanes every year other than 2000. That season FSU played the Marlins.
UM has played a total of 21 exhibition games vs. Major League Baseball clubs (not including minor league teams). Miami is 1-20 against the “Big Leagues”, having defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-6, in 1982.
HURRICANES HARD TO NO-HIT —
Entering the 2002 season Miami has not been no-hit in 2,243 games. The last time the Hurricanes were no-hit was by Ken Huebner of Florida Southern on April 18, 1964 in Lakeland.
HAROLD REYNOLDS HIGHLIGHTS PRESEASON “FIRST PITCH” BANQUET —
ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst and College World Series broadcaster Harold Reynolds served as the keynote speaker at the annual “First Pitch” Banquet at the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables. The switch-hitting second baseman played a total 14 seasons in the Major Leagues with Seattle, Anaheim and Baltimore. He was selected three times (1988-1990) as the American League Gold Glove winner while he playing for Seattle.
CHARLES JOHNSON INDUCTED INTO THE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME —
At the annual Hall of Fame Banquet held on March 14 at the Downtown Miami Hyatt Regency, former Hurricane catcher Charles Johnson (1990-92) will be among eight 2002 inductees into the University of Miami Athletics Hall of Fame. Johnson joins Horace Copeland (track and football), Carlos Huerta (football), George Mira, Jr. (football), Art Kehoe (football), Isabella Hutchinson (women’s athletics), Frances Savage (women’s basketball) and Al Besselink (men’s golf).
50-40-30 PLATEAU —
Miami has won at least 50 games in five of the past six seasons under Head Coach Jim Morris. UM has won at least 40 games for eight straight years, 13 of the last 14 years and 27 of the last 29 years. Miami has won 30 or more games for 31 consecutive years. The last time UM failed to win 30 games was 1970 when the Hurricanes finished 28-15-1. Morris’ lowest single-season total at Miami was 41 in 2000.
THE JIM MORRIS SHOW —
The 2002 season marks the sixth season of the Jim Morris Show, a weekly half-hour television program featuring the head coach of the Hurricanes. The show airs on WPLG-Channel 10 and on Fox Sports Net Florida. Hosted by WPLG-Channel 10 Sportscaster Frank Forte, the show features Hurricane players, coaches and special guests.
VISIT THE MIAMI BASEBALL HOMEPAGE AT HURRICANESPORTS.COM —
The University of Miami Athletics has teamed with FansOnly for a comprehensive website dedicated to Hurricane sports. Current baseball news, stats and information can be found year-round at www.hurricanesports.com.
STUDENT RADIO WVUM 90.5 FM CARRIES EVERY GAME — ON THE INTERNET —
The student station of the Miami Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM, will continue its voice into the 2002 season with coverage of all Miami’s games in Coral Gables Regional, as well as road games. Additionally, WVUM broadcasted games can be listened to at the WVUM website, which can be linked through the UM athletics homepage at www.hurricanesports.com.
15 GAMES AIR ON FOX SPORTS NET FLORIDA, MIAMI APPEARS ON TV 20 TIMES IN 2002 —
Fox Sports Net Florida will carry 15 regular season Hurricane baseball games in 2002. WPLG-Channel 10 Sportscaster Frank Forte will be joined in the booth by Fox Sports Net Florida and WQAM personality Joe Zagacki. Former Hurricane Luis “Wicho” Hernandez (1991-94) will enter his second season as a color analyst.
Miami will also appear on Fox Sports Net South in two of the three games at Georgia Tech and on the Sunshine Network for all three games at Florida State.
HURRICANE BROADCASTED ON SPORTSRADIO 560 WQAM —
Sports Radio 560 WQAM will continue its coverage of the Miami Hurricanes into the 2002 season. The Hurricanes have 13 regular season baseball games broadcast live by WQAM in 2002, along with coverage in the postseason. WQAM is in its third season as the flagship station for University of Miami Athletics, serving the football, men’s basketball and baseball radio broadcasts. Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play) and Joe Zagacki (analysis) serve as UM’s WQAM broadcast team.
UM’S SPANISH RADIO BROADCAST ON WACC 830 AM RADIO PAZ–
WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will once again serve as the Hurricanes’ Spanish-designated AM station for 12 regular season broadcasts, as well as the 2002 postseason. Jerry del Castillo, Pepe Campos and Joe Martinez comprise UM’s Spanish broadcasting team. In 1999, the UM Spanish radio broadcast was the first-ever to broadcast from a College World Series game.
