Tony Vitello opens up on Tennessee's reception after returning home from College World Series
The 2023 College World Series probably didn’t go exactly as Tony Vitello hoped, with Tennessee being bounced from Omaha after just three games. But a warm reception upon returning to Knoxville was more than enough to have Vitello revitalized and looking forward to another season at Tennessee.
The thicket of Tennessee fans welcoming the Volunteers back home as they arrived back at Lindsey Nelson Stadium was a good reminder that, despite falling short of an ultimate goal of a national championship, this team made plenty of people proud. And as Vitello said, it gets him fired up for another year leading the Vols.
“It just changes your mood, to be honest with you,” Vitello said of the reception on ‘SportsTalk’ with John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara. “It helps kind of put things in — put kind of the weight of your thoughts on how the whole season went and what it means, not just to you but also for a big, big group. And again, it kind of starts to help you turn the page into the positives and reflecting on what a season it was.”
After making his first College World Series during his Tennessee tenure in 2021, Vitello was mildly surprised by the reception.
Two years later, though, it’s already something he looked forward to. And he’s hoping the Volunteers can get a warm reception coming back from Omaha in 2024, but after playing more than three games.
“So, the first time around, it was shock. I didn’t know we were going to get that in ’21. And it helped a ton. And then this time, it was expected and it was cool to see. But again, I think more than anything it helps you turn the page and do it in a positive direction. So it certainly was appreciated,” Vitello said.
In the end, Vitello reflected on the 2023 squad. It might not have been as dominant throughout the regular season as last season’s supernova of talent, but they coalesced and got hot when it mattered most.
“It was a group that, in the end, became very, very fun and found a way to have success. So, grateful for that,” Vitello said. “But really looking forward to next year.”
Vitello wants to be supportive of his players awaiting a MLB Draft call
Players like Maui Ahuna, Jared Dickey, and Andrew Lindsay participated in the MLB Combine directly after the College World Series to showcase their skills. Vitello explained how himself and his staff support their players who are embarking on their professional journeys.
“Yeah we say it all the time to the kids that we can help, and we have helped, and we even used specific examples of former players probably to the point where it sounds like we’re used car salesmen,” Vitello said. “But we kind of made up our mind when we first got to Knoxville, we don’t really want to stand in the way of anyone’s pro career.”