Florida players explain what this year's run will do for the future of Gators' program

Florida‘s run at the 2023 College World Series came up short of a national title, with LSU claiming the crown on Monday evening in a blowout performance.

But despite the frustration of the loss, Florida players think this year’s run in Omaha can continue to produce positives for the program.

“This is definitely going to inspire the next team to work harder than we did and especially just try to get back here next year,” shortstop Josh Rivera said. “I have no doubt in my mind, (coach Kevin O’Sullivan) and the rest of the coaching staff are going to bring in a good group of guys.

“They’re going to be just as talented, if not more talented than we were this year. It’s just a testimony to how hard they work, how hard we worked this year with our strength coach and all the coaches all around. And how we took it upon ourselves individually to come in day in and day out and give it our all.”

Florida made a remarkable run.

The Gators reached the College World Series final for the fourth time in school history, and they certainly made it a series. A heart-breaking 4-3 loss in Game 1 in a game that went 11 innings was the difference, as Florida and LSU traded major blowout wins in Games 2 and 3.

This group of Florida players, in a way, helped re-establish the standards in the program. It was the team’s first trip to the Super Regionals since 2018.

“Anybody else that comes into this program now, I think they’re going to have a pretty good understanding of what they need to play for the they want to wear the ‘F’ on the chest,” catcher BT Riopelle said.

The loss just serves to fuel the fire even further. Everyone knows how close they were. And Florida players also know how much hard work it took to get there.

“They’ll learn a lot from that, especially the guys coming back,” Rivera said. “Those guys will push the freshmen and all the other younger guys to be right back in this position next year.”

For Riopelle, the point about re-establishing the standard is the one he wants to see take root the most. There needs to be a sense of permanence from Florida’s run.

That only happens if the next group of Florida players buy into the same principles, though.

“This program’s really in the players’ hands,” Riopelle said. “And when you move on 10 years, you come back, it’s like, do you want to see the players play as hard as you did and play the game the right way and play for the right reasons and with the right people? So when you talk about getting a program back on track, I know when I first got here, the program wasn’t talked about very highly. It was in a bad place.

“And I think one of the things I’m most proud about is I think this program is back to where it needs to be, not only competing for championships, but it’s made up of great people. It’s made up of family men. It’s made up of people that truly care about each other and play for something bigger than themselves.”

Added Wyatt Langford, one of this year’s superstars who almost certainly won’t be around in 2024 as a likely top-five MLB Draft pick:

“BT hit the nail on the head. I think the older guys have left a good foundation for the younger guys. And just having the experience for those guys and knowing what to expect whenever a lot of us are gone.”