Interview with University of Texas at Austin baseball head coach David Pierce
AUSTIN, Texas - "It's devastating how this virus can actually shut the entire nation down and the entire world so I think we've had to grow day-to-day to understand the significance of it," says University of Texas at Austin head baseball coach David Pierce.
Pierce, like many of us, is trying to balance staying safe and responsible during the COVID-19 pandemic while also trying to do his job.
UT's head baseball coach talked about what he considers a "victory for college baseball" which is returning seniors. The NCAA recently granted an extra year of eligibility to spring sport athletes.
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"I think it's unfortunate that a senior has to miss that, or any player, but I also think about high school seniors and what they're going to miss but it's a victory for college baseball and spring sports for sure," Pierce says.
Pierce adds, "It's gonna be challenging but it's a challenging time. Whatever we decide is gonna be the best thing for putting our program, or our team, back in the best situation for competition."
So what does Pierce think about the seniors on the team? He expects DonnyDiaz to move but believes Austin Todd, Duke Ellis and DJ Petrinsky could return.
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Pierce says that'll all be sorted out after the Major League Baseball Draft.
As for what the team is doing now, Pierce says players are getting very creative in their workouts and giving a whole new meaning to homework.
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"We're getting video back from (them). A lot of communication but we're still missing that piece, that team, that we've all been a part of every single year, what we work so hard for...to go out and see who we are," Pierce says.
"To go out and grow and develop in the game and becoming better men and just watching their growth and now it's taken away from you so it's definitely weird," Pierce says.