Link Jarrett on emotions of first game since Florida State shooting: 'This was far more than a baseball game'

Florida State baseball coach Link Jarrett knew Tuesday’s win over Stetson was more than just a baseball game. It was the Seminoles’ first competition since the on-campus shooting earlier this month.

The three-game series with Virginia in Tallahassee, scheduled for April 17-19, was canceled after the shooting. But when Jarrett and company returned to the diamond on April 22, it was something special.

They beat Stetson 11-6, and after going 1-2 against Louisville afterwards, are now 31-9 on the season. Still, Jarrett said playing was important but far more important to honor those tragically lost, injured and affected by the shooting at Florida State.

“This was far more than a baseball game today,” Jarrett said. “The healing opportunity that was provided here was evident to all that were here and hopefully people caught the telecast. I wanted to open the place up like we are a family. This is the Florida State University family. This campus, the athletic facilities, we’re tight here. And we wanted this moment pregame. That was probably 30 minutes, I wanted any student, staff, faculty, all of them, to walk onto that field.

“And you don’t get opportunities to walk on the field. And I think about the kids, and some of those kids were seniors, so you know, this is the back end of their senior semester, in some cases, and I wanted to provide a positive moment for them.” 

Jarrett also tipped his cap to the first responders who acted during the shooting. There was no hesitation.

“The chiefs, I can’t say enough about what they bring to the table for Florida State and college athletics and for David Black to rally and get a group together to stand there and play more than the anthem,” Jarrett said. “The first responders, their response from the crowd’s response to them, and how that felt to us, like I felt it, and I hope they felt it. 

“Because. when you’re running into a situation like that. You know what you’re running into, and it takes courage and guts, and that’s who you’re going to call. And they answered. So I thought the response was as appropriate as it can be. The people that were packed in here did right for the first responders, and the people that were in the emergency room that afternoon. So, I hope what I felt is what other people felt and I wish, and I will, I wish I could see what it looked like out there.”