The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Meet The Media At ASWA Media Day
2/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB head baseball coach Brian Shoop, along with senior first baseman Ryan Keedy and senior right-handed pitcher Brandon Wallace, met with members of the media Monday morning at the Alabama Sportswriters Baseball Media Day at Regions Park.
Teams all around America will open the 2008 season this weekend with the Blazers set to host Ball State for a four-game series that begins Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
Press Conference Quotes
Brandon Wallace Sr., RHP
On what his role will be this season: "At this point, my hopes are to move into the (starting) rotation, but I finished the season in the closer's role last year and I was happy with that. I pitched a bunch of innings and was able to get in the game at crunch time and if that's what I'm called on to do again then I'll be happy with that."
On this year's team: "It's more of a team atmosphere this year and I honestly believe that we could be a Regional team this year and once you get to a Regional then anything can happen."
On the strength of the team: "I think the offense to be honest. I know that's hard to say coming from a pitcher but I think coach Shoop, coach Roth and coach Walker have done a great job with the offense. The plate discipline through the fall and spring has been amazing. We're going to have nine tough outs in the lineup every single day."
On Coach Shoop: "Everything that coach Shoop has brought in here has been great. His system works, he wins and has proven that he's a winner and I think it's just a matter of time before he really turns this program around. I think we could surprise the teams in our conference as well as in the nation."
Ryan Keedy Sr., 1B
On the Blazer offense: "We have some guys returning from last year and some new guys who are going to fill in some spots. That's one of the things I thought initially in the fall was that we will be a really good offensive team."
On offseason preparations: "A number of things as far as physical and mental preparations. It's my last year and I want to make the best of it and I've put in some extra work here and there."
On the makeup of the team: "We have a lot of new guys but it seems as though they have really bought in to our team philosophy. It's a real team atmosphere this year in all aspects of the game."
On expectations: "I think we could have a better year than last year. I think a lot of new guys have brought in some great talent."
On the strength of the team: "I think we've improved in all areas. I think we're going to be a pretty good hitting team, but like I said, in pitching and in defense we've really improved as well."
On Coach Shoop: "Last year, I think we got to a point halfway through the year where we all really started to click. It's been a really good transition and I'm really enjoying it."
Head Coach Brian Shoop
On Conference USA: "I coached seven years in the SEC and that's a great league and I loved being a part of it. But, having coached in both the SEC and Conference USA, I'm not sure there is much of a difference between playing at Georgia or Rice or going to Ole Miss or Tulane."
