Boston College's Mike Gambino offers effusive praise of legendary Clemson coach Jack Leggett

Boston College baseball coach Mike Gambino took time out of his in-game interview with the ACC Network on Friday to praise Clemson staff member Jack Leggett.

Gambino was in the process of answering a question when he paused to take a moment to speak highly of the legendary college baseball coach.

Leggett was the head coach at Clemson from 1994-2015, before being let go. He returned to Clemson for this season to work under Erik Bakich. Bakich was on staff under Leggett in 2002. Now Leggett is on staff under him in a program development role.

“One other quick note before we go… how unbelievable is it that we get one of the all-time greats, Jack Leggett, in the dugout and at the ballpark today,” Gambino said.

Gambino has been at Boston College since 2011 and was welcomed into the league by Leggett. The two competed against each other often and there is a solid mutual respect there.

Leggett led Clemson to the NCAA Tournament in 21 of 22 seasons, and the Tigers made the College World Series six times under Leggett.

“You talk about college baseball, he’s on the Mount Rushmore, both of coaches and people,” Gambino said. “And when we get to come to the park and be around people like that all the time, it’s pretty special.”

Clemson went on to defeat Boston College 4-1 to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. The Eagles will now await their postseason fate. Clemson is expected to be a top 8 national seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Clemson’s Erik Bakich raves about Caden Grice’s ‘God-given ability’ as two-way player

Clemson is arguably the hottest team in college baseball right now, and two-way star Caden Grice is a big reason why.

Grice has been getting the job done on the mound and at the plate for the Tigers for most of the season. He entered Friday’s ACC Tournament matchup with Boston College with a 7-1 record and 3.18 ERA. At the plate, Grice is batting .300 with a team-high 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.

“He’s a special player. I mean his God-given ability is better than most,” Clemson coach Erik Bakich told the ACC Network during Friday’s game. “That’s how you draw up a baseball player right there — 6-6, 250 that’s fast and explosive and can do both ways.”

Grice is draft-eligible and is likely to be a high pick in this year’s MLB draft.

Bakich believes he can continue to have success on the mound and at the plate at the professional level.

“I don’t know if he’ll have to pick,” Bakich said. “I think he can do both at the highest level. He’s a very special player.”