Steve Smith Guys Quotations

I can already sense there's a difference in this group of guys just because of what last year's group did. I think that will show up in timely hitting and execution and being able to play the game without fear.

Part of his strength was people underestimated him. He didn't look athletic, wasn't large in stature and had an unorthodox swing. He hit every ball with a hook but knew where every shot was going. He didn't hit long but kept it in play and he was a good putter. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

It does, but it doesn't. A lot of guys who were here two years ago, that was their first time dealing with it. Everybody has to handle it differently. Absorb it, enjoy it, but at the same time don't let it take too much of a hold on you.

Rodney is a headhunter. He's a free safety. I think he is ... one of those guys who is going to come down and hit the running back in the mouth, knock a tight end out, knock a receiver out. He's one of the guys that, when you are coming across the middle, he's going to hit you, so you have to concentrate.

The opportunities we missed last season and the run we made contributed to all the hard work the guys put in during the off-season.

In the second half, I thought our press bothered them a lot and we got some easy baskets and that made the difference. We got them in some traps where we didn't get them trapped in the first half. When we trap guys -- we have pretty good size for a high school team -- that causes problems.

All we've got to do is keep plugging. Guys got to step it up, and I think they will. We will play it by ear after that.

It's funny how we were thinking maybe outfield, this and that. When they talk about first basemen now, Tex is in the first two guys they're talking about.