2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 18, 2021

Evan Russell

Tennessee Volunteers

Postgame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Evan Russell. Evan, give us a quick opening statement about what it means to be in Omaha and we'll get to questions.

EVAN RUSSELL: It's been quite a while since the University of Tennessee has came to Omaha. I think everyone in our dugout is really excited to be here. We want to thank everyone for being very respectful and being very welcoming. I think our fan base is excited to be able to come out to Nebraska and get to watch us play some baseball.

I was thinking out in the outfield there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Coach V and the staff, they've worked hard for us to be here. And I think we're going to continue to try to give our fan base a good show. And I think we're just ready to play some ball.

Q. A lot has been made about the size of the ballpark and Omaha and maybe your inability to hit home runs. How beneficial has it been for you all to score in a lot of different varieties, not necessarily be, I guess, reliant on that home run ball, but also being able to play some small ball and some of that stuff in that regard?

EVAN RUSSELL: You know, it is a big ballpark. We just got done practicing on it. We saw the gaps were -- there's some big gaps. The outfielders will have a lot to cover. But the bigger the ballpark, the more fans we get in the stadium.

I think we can beat you in a lot of ways. I think our lineup is pretty balanced. I think we have a lot of speed especially at the top of our lineup. I don't think anyone in our dugout is worried about the size of the ballpark, because I think we have some pretty physical guys.

So I actually think that it helps our pitching staff a little bit. I think Blake did well. Chad Dallas, Will Heflin, Sean Hunley, I think they're going to have a bit more confidence. And our guys throw strikes. If it's going to be hard to leave the yard that day, I think that plays to our advantage.

Q. You mentioned a minute ago that it's been a long time since Tennessee has been here. I know everybody is good this time of year, but you look on your side of the bracket -- Virginia, Mississippi State, Texas -- no strangers to Omaha. Is that something that you revel in, the opportunity to play against the storied programs and kind of continue to build your program's brand?

EVAN RUSSELL: I think it's awesome. I grew up watching Texas, Virginia and Mississippi State going to Omaha pretty consistently. I think it's pretty awesome to see that we've kind of slid in and made a mark this season, and we're surrounded by teams that have been here consistently. So, I think we're ready to take that challenge.

But the beauty about it is not many people on the other teams have been to Omaha themselves. There's a few on Mississippi State. But with the COVID year, it's hard to really rely on being here.

I think this is kind of a new atmosphere to a lot of people. And I think it's going to come down to who competes more and who can relax at the plate and on the mound. So I think we're ready to go.

Q. Baseball is such a sport where you need so many repetitions, and it's not often that you go a week without playing baseball. Just how have you prepared with so much time in between games? And even looking ahead to the week just a day off in between games, is there anything different to preparation or has it kind of been the same for you all?

EVAN RUSSELL: I think this week was much needed for one person named Sean Hunley. I think it kind of helps our arms take a deep breath and be ready to go for a gauntlet.

I think that -- I don't think anybody in our dugout are going to be concerned about people having some sore arms. I think we're ready for our big dogs to throw and throw a lot.

So I think us taking a reset and getting our bodies under us, and with the help of our strength coach, Coach Q, and our trainer, Woody, I think we have some guys that can help us get our legs back under us and get our bodies fresh.

So I think it does help. But we're about to enter, you know, hopefully a couple days of hard grinding and a lot of high emotions. So I think we're prepared. So I think we just need to go out and play.

Q. How do you balance the excitement and taking in and appreciating you guys getting to this moment, getting to the College World Series but also getting your minds right for game day? How do you balance that?

EVAN RUSSELL: You know, there are a lot of extra things that can get your mind focused on outside things that doesn't take place on the field. So I think that's the beauty of us coming in early in the week to go and get it all out of the way. I think everyone's kind of settled in and looked around and taking a deep breath, like, hey, we're finally here. This is an awesome place to be.

But once Sunday hits or even Saturday, I think we finally need to start getting back to playing our game and focusing on the real reason why we're here, because we're not here just to be here. I think we kind of want to make a statement and see how far we can go.

Q. You might be the perfect guy to ask this considering you have two home runs against Jack Leiter, but does it make it any easier going against a guy like Andrew Abbott considering the pitchers you guys have faced like Leiter, Rocker, Marceaux and all those guys?

EVAN RUSSELL: We faced the best of the best. There hasn't been a look we haven't seen on the mound. Like you said, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, we've faced some guys that it's going to be hard to be better than them. But the guy that we're facing Friday night or potentially, he's got some good stuff. It's real. His numbers, they don't lie. They speak for themselves.

I do think it gives us confidence to know that we've played against the best and we've competed. And we haven't shied away from the spotlight. I'm ready to see it happen. I'm ready to see his matchup with whoever we throw. And I'm ready to see what our lineup can do.

Q. How cool was it to share the moment with the team and Coach Vitello when you he heard he won coach of the year? And why is he so deserving of coach of the year?

EVAN RUSSELL: It's no surprise to anyone, especially in that locker room. The man has worked -- I don't know if I've ever seen him not at the field. There were times early in my career where I would go to the field at 10:00 at night because I was bored and I wanted to improve. And he was there. He was there making the schedule for the next day. He's recruiting.

I think there's not a person in the entire country more deserving of an award. And the beauty about it is he, whenever he was talking about it, after he received it, the only thing he could talk about were his assistant coaches.

And I think that shows the character of a man that doesn't really care about individual awards. And I think he's built a staff around him that can keep this program where it's at. And I think he's going to have a lot more success in the future. And I can't wait to see how it happens.

Q. Sure it isn't at the forefront of your mind but I believe with the NCAA COVID rule you could come back and play another season next year. Is that something you've given any thought to?

EVAN RUSSELL: Looking before this week, I was like, I was pretty certain it's hard to beat this year. So I would probably want to go back and play, or go ahead and play pro ball, see what I could do. But it's hard to beat this. Omaha, Nebraska, I stepped out in the outfield and just looked around. I don't think you can get that in pro ball unless you make it to the World Series. But I think the feeling of being here is unmatched. It's definitely crossed my mind already, man, it would be nice to come back here again and try for the second time.

But I think we're focused on right now and after the season. After this couple of weeks are over, I think I'll be able to make a decision, but it's going to be hard to beat Omaha. And it's just a lot of information I'm going to have to decide on.

Q. What makes you all think that -- every moment you've gone through this year and you said that people said would this be too big for Tennessee. Are these guys ready for this moment. All season you all proved that you were ready for the moment. What makes you think, you know, you'll be able to do the same thing on this stage this next couple of weeks?

EVAN RUSSELL: Our team is led by guys like Luc Lipcius and Chad Dallas and Will Heflin and Sean Hunley. It's hard to really get tense and take everything serious whenever you have guys that can go out there play and not worry about anything.

There's no one in our locker room that makes this life or death. And I think that kind of helps us on the mental side, because it is still a game, and I think that everyone in our dugout thinks that we're talented enough to win every game that we're in. So I don't think we need to force anything. And I think we should take that same mentality to this coming up game and treat it like a regular game at Lindsey Nelson.