Clemson coach plays victim card after loss to Florida Baseball during Super Regionals
![Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan celebrates the win of the NCAA Regionals game against Texas Tech, Monday, June 5, 2023, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. Florida beat Texas Tech 6-0 and advances to Super Regionals. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2023](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2454,h_1380,x_0,y_184/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F213%2F01j08njhxe6c4b3wm00d.jpg "Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan celebrates the win of the NCAA Regionals game against Texas Tech, Monday, June 5, 2023, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. Florida beat Texas Tech 6-0 and advances to Super Regionals. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2023")
Game 2 of the Super Regional between Florida Baseball and Clemson was considered one of the greatest college baseball games ever. The five-hour contest eventually saw the Gators prevail in 13 innings and punch their ticket to Omaha.
Clemson head coach Erik Bakich was ejected during the game and per NCAA rules couldn't give a press conference after the game. He met with local Clemson reporters yesterday and had a couple statements aimed at Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
Florida Baseball: Bye Bye Bye
For the record, we here at Hail Florida Hail thought in real time the ejections of Bakich and Jack Crighton were both dumb and do nothing to benefit the game of college baseball. If you don't believe us, check our X feed from Sunday.
And for Bakich's credit, he told reporters on Wednesday "We’re not a victim. We could’ve won those two games (vs Florida) by playing better.”
But then he was asked about a situation in the 10th inning where O'Sullivan asked umpires to check Clemson pitcher Austin Gordon for a potentially illegal substance after due to a black spot on Gordon's hat he kept touching.
In a video posted from Chapel Fowler of The State, this is where Bakich begins to sound a little bit like he is in fact trying to play the victim card.
"That was stupid. Florida initiated it. It was dumb. It’s dirt. (Gordon) licks his fingers, he touches his dirt, he touches his hat. Austin Gordon doesn’t use any sticky stuff, and he doesn’t need any. He’s nasty. That was dumb.
- Erik Bakich
Little bit (disappointing from O'Sullivan). Whatever."
Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich on the umps checking pitcher Austin Gordon for sticky stuff: “That was stupid. He uses dirt.” Disappointing to see Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan, a former coworker, initiate that?
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) June 12, 2024
“A little bit. It’s whatever” pic.twitter.com/nQLdWNfHEy
In the end it was dirt and that's fine, but don't pretend that O'Sullivan is out of his lane for asking for the check. The spot of Gordon's hat was so obvious that even Angel Hernandez could have seen it.
And, even if you want to chalk it up to gamesmanship, don't be mad O'Sullivan is playing chess while you are playing checkers. There is a reason why O'Sullivan is off to his 8th College World Series, while Clemson was just happy to make their first Super Regional since 2010.
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