The Michigan Wolverines and their dual
star Zach Putnam have been hoarding most of the national
Big Ten baseball attention this preseason, however another
upstart ballclub with a multi-talented athlete is quietly
gaining attention in the conference as well. The Indiana
Hoosiers’ Head Coach Tracy Smith is in the third year
of a baseball renaissance in Bloomington that could have
them once again challenging the thirty win plateau and beyond
that they regularly achieved in the 80’s and 90’s
under the helm of long time skipper Bob Morgan.
Last
season Smith led an extremely young Hoosier team that featured
19 freshmen and six sophomores to a 19-win season which
included series splits with two of the Big Ten’s top
three teams, Penn State and Minnesota as well as a victory
over CWS participant Louisville in Kentucky. Leading the
Indiana charge was outfielder Andrew Means who not only
led the Hoosier baseball team in batting average (.369),
extra base hits (14), slugging percentage (.467) and stolen
bases (27), but also made 448 catches for 559 yards (second
on the team) as a wide receiver IU football team.
Not surprisingly, Head Hoosier Smith has
nothing but praise for multi-talented star, "Andrew
is one of the most organized and disciplined kids I've ever
coached. If he wasn't, it would be very difficult for him
to compete as a two-sport athlete at IU. The fact that he
excels in both sports is a true testament to his talent,
but more importantly to his work ethic. We have a saying
in our program, 'If it were easy, everybody would do it.'
I certainly tell you Andrew doesn't take the easy path.
Ping! was able to get in touch with Means
when he wasn’t catching a pigskin or hitting horsehide
to answer a few quick questions for the latest installment
of Ping!’s Spotlight Interview:
PING!: So
are you an outfielder who can also player wide receiver
or a wide
receiver who can play outfield?
Means: Honestly, I believe
that there is no right way to answer that question. I say
this because they both are pretty similar in what the job
description is. A receiver's job is to run precise and crisp
routes, catch all balls, and block in the run game. Being
a centerfielder, you have to take control of the outfield
the same way you do being a receiver in that you have to
go up and get the ball in traffic. If I had to answer that
question I would say I am a wide receiver playing outfield
because there is nothing like making a spectacular catch
on the football field, but at the same time it is an awesome
feeling to make the spectacular catch on the diamond. It
all translates from one sport to the other because it's
basically that same concept.
PING!: They
say the hardest thing to do in sports is hit a baseball.
However, what's harder to do? Facing Penn State's Drew O'Neil
in the bottom of the ninth or breaking free to pull in a
catch against the Buckeyes in the red zone at The Horseshoe?
Means: I agree that the
hardest thing in sports is to hit a baseball. I would say
they are both high on the "hardness" level, but
at the same time you have to have the confidence in yourself
that you will get that game winning hit or you will get
that first down catch to move the chains. That's why I love
to go against some of the best competition in the world,
because when you do beat your competitor one-on-one, you
know that you just beat one of the best, and it helps your
team accomplish the goals they are shooting for at the same
time. But, there is nothing like making that first down
catch in the red zone and listening to 100,000 screaming
fans suddenly go silent.
PING!: How
has your time on the football field positively impacted
your game on the diamond?
Means: I would say the
main thing is competing against some of the best competition
year round is something that helps me in both sports. Catching
balls all year in football obviously helps my hand eye coordination
when it's not baseball season. I go about 6 months without
touching a baseball or a baseball bat. So it is tough to
get back into baseball mode right after football season,
but it helps being active in football. Using my god-given
strengths, such as speed and strength, helps on the football
field, but it carries over when I get to baseball and I
am on the base paths or in the outfield.
PING!: You
entered the IU baseball program at the same time as your
head coach, Coach Smith. How has he helped you develop into
the player you are today?
Means: Coach Smith is
someone who has been there my whole career. I have had three
different hitting coaches, and Skip has always been there
for me when I get done with football. He is always there
for me if I need something and it helps that I am very close
with his family. He is a great coach and a great person
at the same time. He wants what is best for us in life but
also he will do whatever he has to do for us to achieve
our goals. He is very understanding of me when I first get
back to baseball from football - that I am not going to
be the player I will be once the season starts up. He takes
it slow with me, and for someone like me in my situation
that means a lot. I am glad Coach Smith is here as the Coach
of IU Baseball and he will do big things for this team.
PING!: Despite
returning six starters and several pitchers, the '08 Hoosiers
are still a relatively young team. As a junior and the leading
offensive producer from last year's squad do you anticipate
taking on more of a leadership role this season?
Means: When I was over
at football all fall, Coach Smith called me and told me
the team voted for captains that day and that I was selected
to be one of the team's captains. It was a great tribute
to my hard work on and off the field but also knowing that
the team trusts you to be their leader is something special.
I am going to lead this team with the way I play and perform
on the field, but also I am going to mentor the younger
guys to be the best they can be when they are my age and
contributing to the team. That is something that I like
to do because it is great helping others and seeing them
grow into the player that they become as they get older.
PING!: Indiana's
top two starters from last year, Tyler Tufts and Matt Bashore,
will be back to pitch this upcoming season after putting
up some good personal numbers last season. With their return,
along with Chris Squires, Joe Vicini and Chris McCombs,
how fortunate do you feel that you won't have to face the
Hoosier pitchers this season?
Means: Very fortunate,
and it's good that IU baseball is starting to get some recognition
with these great pitchers. It is great to have them on my
side but at the same time I have to face them during the
week at practice, and it is great preparation getting ready
for the games. We have a great pitching staff this year
and I am excited to play defense behind them. It was hard
my freshman and sophomore years because a lot of those guys
were young and still going through the maturation process
and now they have grown into solid Big Ten pitchers and
it is great to see them accomplishing big things.
PING!: You
and Evan Crawford and give IU a dangerous tandem of base
thieves. Which of you would win in a race around the bases?
Means: Evan Crawford is
a great baseball player with a lot of talent still to come.
He is young and maturing and I think this year he will grow
into himself and become one of the top shortstops in the
league. It has been exciting watching Evan mature and grow
into himself and he is someone to watch for in the near
future. Now that I gave him all the props, I am going to
have to say that I would win in a race around the bases.
We always race in the 60-yard dash together, and he has
yet to beat me. I am grateful to have been given the gift
of speed and using it as a tool in the game of baseball
is something I'm always going to be able to do.
PING!: Any
games or road trips you'll especially looking forward to
playing this season? Your opener in Baton Rouge should be
a doozy of start.
Means: I can't wait to
get this season started and I am looking forward to going
to LSU. My mind is set on the first series with LSU along
with the rest of the IU baseball team. We are excited to
get this season going and can't wait to show the nation
the new and improved Hoosiers.
PREVIOUS PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
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PREVIOUS COACH SPOTLIGHTS
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