Perhaps no sport typifies the “It’s not how you start but how you finish” adage more than college baseball.
Ole Miss was swept at home by Tennessee early last season by the combined score of 26-7, went 14-16 in Southeastern Conference play, received the last at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and then won the national championship. Mississippi State claimed the national crown two seasons ago despite getting outscored by Florida and Tennessee 25-3 in the SEC tournament.
There is still time for Tennessee to create special memories this spring after sliding from a No. 2 preseason ranking to the land of the unranked, but the Volunteers need to at least show a pulse.
“There is no more talking. It’s doing,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said Tuesday night following a humbling 12-5 loss to Tennessee Tech inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. “May is the month you want to look forward to as a student-athlete. Ideally, the final exams get behind you somewhere in there early. The weather is nice and the competition is fierce.
“It’s time to do.”