Tony Vitello shares what he learned from recent Tennessee success, failure

The 2023 Tennessee baseball team took a bit of a winding and challenging road to the College World Series, but nonetheless, this group is doing what that dominant 2022 squad never could: play ball in Omaha. At his press conference ahead of the CWS trip, Volunteer head coach Tony Vitello admitted that this group has taught him the most out of the last few teams he’s had.

“Oh, taught the most. This one, hands-down,” Vitello answered when asked whether the ’21, ’22 or ’23 taught him the most as a head coach. “It’s been interesting. You would have liked to keep climbing, keep climbing. Eventually, you get to a point where you can’t say we’re better this year than we were last year. It’s kind of trying to create a standard and uphold it.”

This year’s Vols squad didn’t have it easy. They faced adversity and setbacks that perhaps some of the previous Tennessee teams did not, but those challenges only made them stronger come postseason time.

“This year, to follow last year’s act and all the stuff that came with it, and just a lot of other mini-stories along the way, it’s been a ton,” said Tony Vitello. I have repeatedly said it to where anyone listening probably thinks we’re whining.”

Vitello wants to be clear, though: this team is still loaded with excellent players and coaches.

“We got an unbelievable coaching staff that has stuck together and been loyal. We’re blessed with talent. There’s multiple guys that throw 100. It’s not like we don’t have the ability to get to a place like this, but the journey we took was about as zig-zaggy or curvy or windy as it can get.”

Vitello continued, using a popular Mexican fast food item to analogize with the 2023 baseball season.

“Just for our program’s sake, our fans’ sake, the construction with the stadium, how many kind of different little adversity stories I could tell you about this year, there’s been a lot wrapped into one. It’s a big old Chipotle burrito of stuff that’s gone on this year. Been beneficial, though, in the long run.”

Despite all the craziness that’s happened this season, perhaps Tennessee is better for it. At least they’re battle-tested!

“Maybe it’s helped us in the long run because I don’t feel like we’ve reached our full potential,” Vitello added. “Now, if that’s the case, you better find in a hurry because there’s only so many days left, even for the national champion.“