Kevin O'Sullivan and his family have a new appreciation for trip to Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. — The other kids at school might have thought it was weird that their friends were taking yearly trips to the middle of the country every summer. As a first-time head coach for the Florida Gators, Kevin O’Sullivan quickly made Omaha, Nebraska a year trip. It was one that he would enjoy with his daughter, Payton, and son Finn.
The kids grew up running around at McKethan Field and then TD Ameritrade Park.
“My kids thought that this was vacation every year,” O’Sullivan said on Thursday at the College World Series. “And there’s a three- or four-year layoff, and you start realizing how difficult it is.”
O’Sullivan guided his ballclub to the College World Series in 2010, 2011, and 2012 — three of his first five years as the manager of the Gators. Florida missed out in 2013 and 2014 but made the College World Series in the next four years from 2015-2018. Florida hadn’t been back to Omaha since that 2018 season.
“I think it’s human nature. Even I can admit it myself. I took it for granted that this was expected every year,” O’Sullivan said. “All of a sudden that’s taken away from you for three or four years or whatever, and then you kind of appreciate it a little bit more.”
How Kevin O’Sullivan guided this team to Omaha
Florida was a preseason top-five team. The Gators had the arms, they had bats, and a healthy mix of veteran leadership to mesh with young talent. The biggest difference in this team was their clubhouse culture. Florida doesn’t have cliques or egos in the Florida baseball program in 2023.
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There was a lot of competition. Six infielders trying to crack a lineup with just three available spots. There were more arms in the bullpen than innings available. As roles were established and playing time decreased, the team avoided jealousy and bitterness. They stayed together.
“You have to have the right culture to do this thing over and over. It’s not easy. I think from my perspective, it’s good to have the program back and have this opportunity, but it’s — you kind of get spoiled,” O’Sullivan said.
“The coaches do a tremendous job of creating that culture, that winning culture, and having that mentality to really wrap yourself in the team,” shortstop Josh Rivera said. “That’s kind of just been the biggest thing. No matter what the internal changes have been, we’ve always just reiterated that point of emphasis, and that’s just to wrap yourself around the team and play for each other because, you know, it’s funny they say this. You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make them drink it. They give us all the tools that they need to be successful, but it’s really up to us to play for each other and really mold that mindset of winning and playing together on a daily basis in order to make it back to here.”
The Gators are back. They’ll be one of the betting favorites to win the whole thing. More than the talent they possess, it’s the attitude and culture that have driven them here and what would be the difference in winning the last game of the season.
