Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Ep 374 with Frank Anderson, Behind the Victory: Tennessee Volunteers and the Art of Championship Coaching
What makes a championship-winning team? Join us as we unravel the secrets behind the Tennessee Volunteers' triumphant journey to securing the national championship in college baseball. We sit down with Frank Anderson, Tennessee's legendary pitching coach, who gives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the victory celebrations, the roaring parade, and the camaraderie that brought them to glory. Discover the emotional highs and chaotic hilarity that come with such a monumental win, as Frank shares priceless anecdotes from his storied coaching career.
Ever wondered how modern coaching balances tradition with technology? This episode uncovers the intricate responsibilities of collegiate baseball coaching, from recruiting future stars to engaging with donors and the media. Frank Anderson shares his wisdom on maintaining traditional coaching fundamentals while embracing the rise of analytics and technology. Listen to tales of under-the-radar talents blossoming into major league players, and learn how core baseball principles remain vital in developing champions.
We also take a heartfelt journey through Frank's life, influenced profoundly by family and mentors. From nostalgic stories of high school baseball in East Texas to the complex world of NIL deals, the personal anecdotes highlight the emotional evolution in sports. Hear about the dynamic interplay between athletic talent and coaching, with memorable moments that include legendary figures and spirited family support. This episode is a touching tribute to resilience, mentorship, and the undying spirit of college baseball.
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The pitch Swing and a miss. That's the ball game. How about that? The climb is complete, the Volunteers are the very best in college baseball and the championship flag has been planted on Rocky Top.
Speaker 2:That's one of the best play-by-play calls I've ever heard. College World Series national champions from Knoxville some call it Knox Vegas. But one key member and he doesn't like the attention friend of mine for quite a while and he's known as the pitching whisperer to many, frank Anderson. He spent some time here in where this podcast well, the home base of it, austin, texas and he has coached some of the best talents in college baseball professional. Even his son was one of the best at the time during his career. Frank Anderson, the guest of episode 374. Let's rock. Wake your ass up.
Speaker 5:Take a damn nap, and we're the three best friends that anybody could have it's time.
Speaker 2:I mean, sean, you were twerking, that's going to happen.
Speaker 4:Murph, don't be a dick all your life. This is one of the more fun podcasts I've ever done.
Speaker 3:Hey, I'll tell you what. If you're not talking about sports in the man cave, I bet that's it, that's it.
Speaker 2:And there is the man from an undisclosed location somewhere on the East Coast. We won't reveal it, but this is Frank Anderson, the pitching coach of the Tennessee Vols. Frank, you told me this and you guys are just coming off of this, winning the national championship.
Speaker 4:Sure.
Speaker 2:You celebrated a while. You're already out recruiting the next generation of volunteers. How long did you celebrate?
Speaker 4:You know, we got back. I guess we got done Monday night and had a pretty good celebration that night. And then we left at one in the afternoon from Omaha and found out that we were going to have a parade. When we got back and I'm going yeah, I don't know about all this, so we won Monday, we're having the parade Tuesday, I'm going, this thing, what is there going to be like a thousand people out there and we get there and I don't know what they estimated, but I've heard anywhere from 50 to 80,000 people and it was, it was one of the most impressive things that I've been a part of. And and so, and then.
Speaker 4:So we had that on Tuesday. Wednesday we kind of get together and and kind of, you know, informally at the office, and then Thursday we get together and started all over again and and and it's kind of funny because they're doing some crazy building in our stadium, and so now to go to the bathroom you got to go about 100 yards and to get any water, you know everything shut off in our offices over there and stuff like that. So it's different, but it's also something that you deal with because of the success and what Tony's built this place. You know they're putting a lot of money into it and making it. We sell out, but we need more seats also, so it's a good thing.
Speaker 2:Supply and demand. And if anyone has never been to that part of well, tennessee is a beautiful state. Knoxville is a special place. I've only been one time and I know I keep saying it, but I'm going to have to come up and visit because I do want to. I love, well you know, the SEC being the dominant baseball conference. I definitely want to see all of those stadiums. But where were you? I mean, I will say this, I was hoping. I mean you've been around some dog piles. I know this is a still photo. I thought the kids did their own thing and this is not a criticism. I they they didn't really participate in a full-on dog pile no they didn't I, I didn't.
Speaker 4:I was surprised because I saw it later on in there. I don't know that anybody hit the ground and and and I yeah, the uh, because those things can get kind of dangerous, of course, with the draft coming up here pretty quick, some of those kids may thought about I doubt it, but they might have, you never know. But no, I uh, I actually the strength coach, I was standing by the strength coach and one of our other assistants and a last pitch strikeout. We hug and we're pretty good, and then tony comes in kamikaze and hits me right in the eye and cuts me open right here.
Speaker 4:I think it was I mean he at least caused it and uh and uh, yeah, he hammers me pretty good and but obviously well worth it, but yeah, and so that's kind of the initial thing right there, but no, it was exciting. I mean I don't want any part of jumping in that dog pile because I got to be able to walk out of there when I'm done, but no, that was fun, it was a lot of fun and you know, fun group of guys and obviously everything doesn't go your way in the whole year and the way you want it. But 60 games in a 56-game schedule, you know that and the way you want it. But 60 games in a 56-game schedule, you know that's by far the most anybody's ever won. You know, before you, when I first started, you could schedule unlimited numbers and start in the middle of January and all that kind of stuff, and so it's kind of crazy that we won 60 games, that's insane.
Speaker 2:I joked. I sent a tweet to Greg Swindell I said I don't remember any team winning 60 games since his era in the mid-'80s. Right, any team winning 60 games Maybe.
Speaker 2:I'm wrong but I definitely want to give a shout-out to our sponsor, jim Saxton State Farm. He's a Longhorn legacy and a Westlake OG, so to speak. His dad was a Heisman finalist at UT and I don't know why the box keeps moving like that. But just like his dad his late father he's still in the insurance game. Jim Saxton State Farm been insuring the Austin area for several decades now. We won't say how many decades because Jim doesn't want to admit his true age. That's three years older than me, but he looks like he's 39. We'll say that We'll go with that. There you go, jim Sackler State Farm. You mentioned Coach Vitello and the parade and this is from the Tennessee Vols social media. I thought this was really cool because I really really enjoy his messages. But this is kind of the parade in slow-mo and what Coach Vitello said to the crowd during that parade and looked like downtown Knoxville.
Speaker 1:Really good players became great players because they wanted to help each other out and they competed for each other, and that's how that thing went down. But you know what, when you're all in it for each other, it seems to work out, and it definitely worked out for this group right here.
Speaker 2:So you've been around so many teams for quite a few decades and you haven't aged one day, in my opinion.
Speaker 4:Yeah there you go, appreciate that, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:What is it I mean, you guys have been building since his arrival in 2018, that being Coach Patello. What is it that makes that for you the perfect coaching marriage, so to speak you and Coach Patello and then really making that a place where people want to play baseball in an era in which college athletics in general has changed drastically with NIL and the portal.
Speaker 4:You know, for one, it's fun to go to work every day and he brings energy. You know everybody. You know I was fortunate, I worked with a lot of really good guys and good coaches and there are some similarities. I tell people there are some similarities between him and Coach Garrido in that Augie loved to practice, he loved to bring the energy every day and I always thought when I came to Texas I thought he would be just, you know, hard-nosed, tough on the kids and obviously he was at times and some of that you know the video stuff kind of choreographed right, but at the end of the day he cared about kids. He was really good in the postseason, you know, just make him feel good and and Tony is the same way, he's tough on him, there's some accountability, but you get you kind of peel it back and he's really a really good guy and cares about kids and and and likes the relationships with them and and and. So I think that's you know, people kind of gravitate towards guys like that. I like them.
Speaker 2:I, you know, and then I was hoping and pulling. I'm just going to put this out there. It's my personal opinion. It really doesn't matter Nothing against who has replaced David Pierce atce at texas. I was really pulling for you guys because I love the energy. I love the energy and I'm not saying this that who was hired here is not. It's just, it may be a little, uh, biased toward our relationship, I don't know, but I, I just thought, right, I really thought about that was. But college sports is about relationships, period. But you know what you guys, the dynamic you have, is it okay to call you his right-hand guy?
Speaker 4:Well, I appreciate that, but also I don't want to do a disservice to the other guys. That coach and you know, josh does such a uh, elander, who's from Round Rock, does such a good job with recruiting and stuff like that, and so, uh, that would be a disservice. Now, um, yeah, I, I, you know, uh, in some ways I'm kind of a calming force, you know, cause I'm older, which nobody can believe that, because I've always been the volatile, one kind of and, and so you know, from that standpoint, maybe somewhat, but no, I mean a lot of times, especially since when he first started out. I mean, I'd been a head coach for years and and and also been around a bunch of good coaches. So you know he would ask me every once in a while about different things that you deal with and and people don't.
Speaker 4:So much on the field is about I don't know what percentage of the job, but sometimes a small percentage, because, especially that you mentioned at NIL and stuff like that, you're doing all kinds of donor stuff, you're doing NIL stuff, you're doing scholarship stuff. I mean it's your social media. I mean Omaha was so much different this year than in 0-2. It was, it was crazy, I mean it just was, and the amount of media coverage and different things and and so, yeah, there's a lot of things that go into it. Yeah, I think I helped him a lot. Yeah, but I'm not the only one. I mean, I think it's a group and and I think that's one reason we have success.
Speaker 2:You bring only one. I mean I think it's a group and uh, and I think that's one reason we have success. But you bring up a good point. Uh, elander, phenomenal recruiter, definitely a texas native.
Speaker 2:Um, remember him from round rock and when he played at tcu, a great player, great key part of sloss niggles teams, absolutely at tcu and those were some great teams that went to Omaha a lot right, but about for those watching who just maybe love the game. And you know about Frank Anderson, this is what his boss, or you know, his head coach for Tony Vitello, said about him in an interview early in the season about why any pitcher would not go to Tennessee to be developed by you.
Speaker 3:You know, in this day and age you'd like to think any pitcher in the country would be interested in Tennessee if they look at his resume. But in this day and age most people look at Twitter or they want to see a video or a mechanism or some kind of formula. You know, like a pitching lab where a pitching coach has got a beaker and a I don't know. I went to science class but I don't remember all that stuff creating pitches and I don't think any of that's there. I think at the heart of it is you got a very competitive person that is incredibly intelligent.
Speaker 2:I mean, again, I know you're not that type of guy, you don't like stuff like that, because you're not a that likes to talk about stuff. But again, when you have that synergy and when you're out recruiting, does that with him or by yourself, like you are right now. These kids are smarter, in my opinion, as you were recruiting, because they're more well-informed about how the recruiting goes. What, what is it now? How has the response been in this shorter period of time and it's since you've been at Tennessee and even when you were at Texas, pitchers knew that they were going to be developed by the best and just from you know the feedback I received in our conversations too.
Speaker 4:Well it's, it's a lot of fun and I and I appreciate those words that he said. I, you know, I've been fortunate. I, I, uh, when I was younger I was a pretty good recruiter, so that that helps a lot to make you a better coach, right, um, you know, uh, you know chicken salad deal, right. So, um, uh, so I had good players and I did, I worked hard at the recruiting side of it. But then you know, I'm proud I haven't had a bunch of like Cy Young guys and different things like that. I've had good pitchers and all-star pitchers in the big leagues, stuff like that. But I've had guys that you know, a lot of non-drafted guys that made it to the major leagues and those are the ones that you know.
Speaker 4:I'm really proud of that kind of came. I mean even Street. I don't even think Street made first team all district in high school in baseball. I think he didn't football. I think he might have even made all state in football, but in baseball, you know, that was kind of his secondary sport and I can remember I'm probably lying and I'm sure I'll get a text or something, but he probably did. But I want to say I don't even think he made first team in all districts, right, and so those deals are really neat to see when those things happen like that. And, like I said, I've been very fortunate. I, you know, I've had 40 something guys pitch for me that pissed in the big leagues and and I always include my son in that number, even though he didn't play for me. So if anybody, if they want to say I'm lying, I am because I count him too right and but no, it's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 4:I think I've evolved over the years, but the one thing that kind of stayed the same is whether you can throw hard or not or you're whatever. You got to throw it over the plate, you got to throw it over the plate. You've got to throw strikes and you've got to like to compete and I think those things play 50 years ago and I think they'll play 50 years from now, and so, no, there is a lot of different things. You know, I always tell people we have numbers to quantify different pitches and how good they are. Now.
Speaker 4:Well, let me tell you, when I first saw Roger Clemens, my first year of coaching in college, his fastball took off and his metrics were probably off the chart nowadays, but you didn't have to have a number to tell me that thing was going to be hard to hit Right. And so, uh, there are some different things that, uh, that go into it, that into it that allow you to have some success. And I think a lot of it is just getting kids that want to work and have some talent and then will compete, and that plays a lot of different places.
Speaker 2:That's absolutely right, I think we all. I mean analytics, numbers, data helps. But to your point, I think we get caught too caught up in technology, in a lot of sports.
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely. And you know I got myself a little bit in trouble. Well, I didn't get in trouble, but I was fortunate a couple of years ago to win the Pitching Coach of the Year Award right in the NCAA level. And they said, well, you have to speak. And I go, no, I don't want to give a ton of talk. And they go no, please, we're going to hand you the trophy. We'd like you to say something. So, all right, man, I don't know that you want to hear what I got to say, probably, and I got a bad voice. I sound like one of the Bee Gees, right, and people probably don't even know who they are anymore.
Speaker 4:So, anyway, I get up there and I said, okay, how many of you guys? This is at our coaches convention in Nashville. I said, how many of you guys went to the exhibits? And it's like a kid in a candy store for a guy like me. I love all the new stuff and the new technology and the new things that you can use, and everybody's excited to go down and see that stuff and the new things that you can use, and everybody's excited to go down and see that stuff.
Speaker 4:And so I went down there and saw all the new technology, new analytics and all that, and you know they all raised their hand, fired up, and I said, hey, I did too. In fact, you know I went around that exhibit hall twice and I still couldn't find that piece of analytics machinery where you could hook it to somebody's balls and see if they had any sack or not, machinery where you could hook it to somebody's balls and see if they had any sack or not. And and and and. The guy that gave me that award I thought was going to take it back, Right, because, but but but people in the crowd at first kind of looked at me like did he really say that? And then they go.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, you're right, and even though you know, probably crew and I probably shouldn't have said that, but but there's some truth to that too. Hey, three, two count bases loaded and winning run at third. There's no analytics can measure what you got, other than in your heart, right there that's.
Speaker 2:I want to get some people an example who you've developed here just this season, because we could go on for two hours about your career, but this is from this season right here and this is against North Carolina and Omaha.
Speaker 3:On the edge at 96. Counter for Carolina Swing and a miss 0-2. And D'Onofrio lifts it to center.
Speaker 1:Hunter Ensley bolts back on the move, somehow hung on that's to your point.
Speaker 2:Oh man, those guys have got a sack.
Speaker 4:Oh golly, how about that? Catch that. Hey, you leave, you leave the eye black and we Tony, this is so this. This will give you Tony in a nutshell. We talked about him and, and what a good coach he is team guy, players, coach, whatever you want to call it and we've talked about, or he has talked about putting it.
Speaker 4:Well, he left eye black on the centerfield wall when he hit the wall with his face and and it was, it was out there throughout throughout the world series and which was great symbol, you know, of um, you know our kids playing hard and doing that. Well, he's talked about doing something like that at our field, you know, and letting it stay there for like the year, or something like that. You know some type of uh little deal about how this is how we go about it, you know, or something like that. You know some type of little deal about how this is how we go about it, you know, or something like that. And I thought you know that would be great to do something like that, because kids love that kind of stuff. I mean, I love that kind of stuff because of the effort.
Speaker 4:I mean he hammered himself. In fact he didn't get to start we DH the next game because he messed up his hamstring pretty good going in that wall and so no, and then you got Drew Beam that's you know out there competing his tail off and throwing. I mean, you know, it's a kid that's got a pretty good chance to pitch in the big leagues and was kind of more of a quarterback recruit coming out of high school and in fact you know his nickname is QB1, and he's kind of had that. I can't remember the record with him on the mound, but it's something close to 40 wins and eight losses in his three years whenever he starts a game. And so no, it's kind of a neat. Those two guys obviously kind of epitomize what we're all about.
Speaker 2:It's kind of like a blue-collar team, I mean blue-collar roster. They play hard. Now I've got to ask you, kirby Connell, best mustache you've ever coached.
Speaker 4:You know, yeah, because I don't. There wasn't a whole lot of mustaches up until here lately and then I've got to hand it to him. You know, I think he started that thing off because he was kind of like Brett. You know, because I remember when Brett started growing facial hair and I thought it looked terrible.
Speaker 4:But they look so young, you know, when they first started college or pro ball and you try to look older and this and that and and and then Kirby, that thing kind of stuck and it just had a kind of a life of its own and uh, hey, I just laughed because we have, we have a couple of kids that would throw I mean they might throw six shutout innings and Kirby comes in and gets two outs and the place goes berserk.
Speaker 4:And the other guy gets a nice little, you know, you know clap, but uh nothing like that, and and he gets two outs, probably big outs, but he gets two outs and comes off and the whole place goes berserk. And now it's kind of neat. I like that part of the fact, the NIL stuff, where I mean I think he did pretty good but he kind of I worked out in the mornings and he's on, you know different commercials in the morning I see and does all kinds of different stuff and I'm going. It's kind of neat to see how he's kind of used that as a form of making NIL deals and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:I love it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and I tell you what he looks different when he doesn't have that thing all waxed up and polished up and ready for game time.
Speaker 2:What did you say? I think he gives the you know, raleigh Fingers a run for his money.
Speaker 4:Right, yeah, they call him Bally Fingers for volunteer. Yeah, bally Fingers. So yeah, it's pretty good. Like I said, they got a pretty good deal Going with that thing.
Speaker 2:I love it and I'll be honest, I think to your point earlier I thought, listen, I love. I've only been to two college world Series back when they were at Rosenblatt in the last two years. Loved it and I think this year had the best coverage, the best storylines. They just do a great job. But let's switch gears. To you, I mean how it all started for you and your family. I mean this is kind of your path Grant Nebraska to Emporia State in Kansas.
Speaker 2:You and I, I believe an All-American at Mid-Plains College to coaching at Howard, which has been a lot of sports Right Pitching coach at Tech here in Austin, head coach at OSU. That's how we met. When you were in East Texas, we stopped by in East Texas to work with you yeah, where was that?
Speaker 4:At Lufkin.
Speaker 2:Lufkin and Hudson High School. I think Hudson High School home of Brandon Belt Wesley Music. That's a great baseball player, sure, absolutely.
Speaker 4:I think and I'm quoting somebody that told me, this is it the only 3A school that doesn't have football. You're correct. How about that? We talked about trivia and stuff that. You know that, like I said, I can't remember my name sometimes, but I can remember stuff like that. That's you and I the trivia like that that's insane Now in the modern day.
Speaker 2:Since they added 6A, they're now 4A. Okay, okay, there you go, and there's so many people moving out to Hudson, I don't know. I mean, surely there's a UIL qualification. If you're 5A, you've got to have football.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, In Texas, Come yeah in.
Speaker 2:Texas. Come on, absolutely. They'll probably figure out how to stay 4A. Yeah, so you look at all this and you look back and there's no regrets anywhere. But what is it for you, your family, how it all started for you? What's the one thing that remained constant about you and your career? I mean, I thought when you were at a proud program as a head coach at Oklahoma State. Looking back now through all of your experiences from being a great player as well, what is it that has really made you and really helped you build the family and continue this career as long as you have?
Speaker 4:You know, like I said, I was fortunate to be around some really good head coaches and and so, yeah, larry Hayes at Texas Tech, that was a tremendous influence on me. I mean, christian guy lived it to the T family guy I got to see. You know, I started having kids Brett was like two when we went to Texas Tech and I got to see how he could intertwine the two and I was very fortunate. I think you met my wife and she was a really good athlete. She's obviously better than me and I tell people and I'd be lying if I didn't when I saw her and we started dating that what our level of athlete could be if I married this gal and if I didn't say that I'd be lying.
Speaker 4:And because, also, as a coach, you'd love for your kids to be, to want to be athletes or be around the field or this or that, and and I always say you want to one of two ways you want them to be the best one or the worst one If they're in between, and you got to try to play your own kids, especially in high school or something. There was always trouble with that. So, uh, but Sandra was a really good player and so that's, you know obviously Brett's six, four and two something and and obviously that kind of thing, but so but she came from an athletic background and understood the time that you have to put into it and so I think that was huge because Larry was a family guy but he also understood the time frame that you need to have there for your family and I think that was huge for me.
Speaker 2:And then you're with a guy who's so charismatic, and then, of course, working with Augie. Oh yeah, wow.
Speaker 5:Wow, and all those characters that you guys had with.
Speaker 2:Augie, oh, yeah, wow, wow, and all those characters that you guys had on those teams.
Speaker 4:Oh, it's unbelievable. And you know, I'd love to tell you some of the stories but I'm not going to. But I will say this With Augie, I always tell people hey, you really only got after me one time. And I say he got after me, he was kind of disappointed and he goes. Hey, man, sometimes when I'm in meetings it feels like you're not paying attention. And I said, well, you want me to tell you why? And he goes. Well, yeah, obviously. And I said hey, because sometimes, oh, what the hell you're talking about? I said hey, because sometimes, oh, what the hell you're talking about?
Speaker 4:And you know how he was, so you know mental, and he would get so deep on subjects and stuff like that. And it was true, I mean he'd get going. I'm going, hey, man, I know I'm not that smart, but I'm not sure where he's going with this stuff or what he's talking about. And uh, and so he, he goes. Okay, you know, and he would.
Speaker 4:We kind of had a deal where, if you know, he might look at me or something and you know he might reel it back in, where you know us normal people could understand what he was talking about. But he did that too, not just I felt better because we had a deal one time in Omaha where you had those meetings in the mornings for the games with the media people, and Harold Reynolds did the same thing. He goes oh, that was beautiful. I don't know what you just said, but it was beautiful and and that's kind of way I was at times hey, it's good to be deep and prophetic, so man you know, it's like speaking in tongues, you know, oh yeah, but he was.
Speaker 4:he was so eloquent and and if you you know what I I it's unbelievable how much I appreciate he came and spoke at our banquet our first year at tennessee and, uh, awesome. And tony asked me if he would do it and I called him and and he was, he was awesome. He came and spoke and spoke and he was really good and he said hey, let me tell you, the next 10 years are going to be the decade of the Vols and we actually have in our batting cage a quote that Tony got put together. It says decade of the Vols and has his name put to it. That's pretty cool and kind of prophetic in a way. It's pretty neat. That's all I'll. Kind of prophetic in a way, it's pretty neat.
Speaker 2:That's Augie to a T.
Speaker 4:Oh absolutely.
Speaker 2:I felt like any room or conversation, especially when he is the keynote guy. I felt like everyone was better off because of it. It's unbelievable.
Speaker 4:I've not met anyone else like that. Another example of Augie on that deal oh man, it's unbelievable.
Speaker 4:I've not met anyone else like that, no. And another example of all gone that deal was when I came down there and he offered me a job and I kind of came down to see you know whether I was going to do it or not. He gets lost from the airport going to college and I'm going, and this is unbelievable and I go. You know, he's only been here a couple of years and we get lost on the way back. Now maybe traffic was bad, he's going to take a shortcut or something, but you know we didn't have any GPS back then.
Speaker 2:That's so funny. I did not know about that. Oh yeah, it's crazy. We rely too much on GPS. I'm one of them.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, much on GPS, I'm one of them.
Speaker 2:I don't use common sense. Hey, we have a new segment that we started. It involves pictures. Alright, so we all love photos. This is one. I picked out three specifically for you. And, speaking of Augie, this is when you were a head coach at Oklahoma State. Caption. This one, oh.
Speaker 4:Hey, I know we're probably going over. I can't even tell exactly where that's at, but I'm sure they're going over the ground rules and and, and he's probably going over the ground rules and and I'm probably saying something about oh, did you forget? I was there for four years. I probably have a pretty good handle on what the ground rules were at this show, but I don't even know if that's where it's at, so I shouldn't say that, but that's kind of what comes to mind. Come on, hey, have you already forgot me? You know I haven't been gone that long. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:That's funny, oh my God. I remember I wish I could have been there for all of his home plate discussions. I always saw the umpires, always usually laughing. So the next two involved two people we've already mentioned. This one happens to be your son, brett. What's going on here? What would you caption that one as?
Speaker 4:You know, I'm not sure who that is, but it's probably. He probably got a blister. I mean sweating pretty good. He might have a blister on his hand or or something's going on right there, but I'm not. I'm not sure. Hey, I don't even know exactly who that is right there, but kind of looks like one of the trainers, sports staff or something.
Speaker 4:So yeah, I'm not sure, yeah, for the dodgers that was a uh, he had a good year man. That was a fun time right there. It was a little out of control in the fact that, well, LA man, it's kind of a crazy place.
Speaker 2:Yeah, expensive let's put it that way. That's mildly stating it. Yeah, last but not least, you mentioned Houston, and you mentioned that obviously he was a good football player too, but this is one moment that deserves a lot of captions oh, wow.
Speaker 4:Is that Cedric Benson? It is, oh man, I think 17 tackles, I think 17 tackles, I think 17 tackles and probably in this day and age would be out for concussion protocol, but never stopped hitting that guy. And, oh man, how about that? So that's him right there, huh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, in the state championship game at TKR.
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely Absolutely. I remember. I remember that well, and now I didn't, that's what I'm saying. I didn't know what his football number was or anything like that, but I 17, I believe it's 17 tackles and and, uh, what a game man. And kept kept hitting him, kept going. And and what a game man, he kept hitting and kept going, and yeah, and then you know it's kind of crazy, because Cedric, you know, cedric signed a professional contract right after this deal with the Dodgers. I believe I completely forgot about that.
Speaker 4:Yeah, because he would come out and take fly balls in the spring and then go play a little bit of short-season baseball. Because him and Ricky both did take fly balls in the spring and then go play a little bit of short season baseball. And because him and ricky both did. And uh, right, yeah, people forget that that they would. You know he's a baseball guy also. And uh, yeah, how about that one man? Yeah, street, um, yeah, we have hey hey street and I had some fun times and and uh, hey, one one time he almost swung at me in the dugout one time because we were playing Texas State and I said hey, man, you're just going through the motions. Today, you know we were ahead and it was the first one of the few times Augie ever said hey, you need to get Houston. Augie really wouldn't mess with me with the pitching and we were really good and Houston hadn't pitched for a while. We didn't need him and he goes. I think you need him to get some work and we're playing.
Speaker 4:We had a pretty big lead and he got hit around a little bit and I go hey, you're just going through the motions. And I mean, you'd have thought I stabbed him and I thought he was gonna take it. Don't ever say that about you know, hey, I'm, I can't make exactly what he said, but hey, I, I, you know it hurt him a little bit. And uh and uh, yeah, that was pretty crazy, but and I've had a few of those with players over the years but, but, uh, but yeah now, hey, what a warrior man.
Speaker 4:And uh, I always tell people, hey, late in the game, always I was told when, when you were scared, he wasn't, at least he didn't. He didn't. You know, he portrayed that image and he had that image that he wasn't scared and and had that that look about him. And I always said, man, it was such a neat deal what he did as a freshman. I think of a guy closing out four games in Omaha. If we'd have played, you know, had him the other day and yeah, because I even he texted me something during the series I said, yeah, man, wish you were here closing out games right here. Make the, you know, decisions a little bit easier right here.
Speaker 2:It's, he was one of the toughest-minded pitchers. It's the athletes. I mean this picture right here. I mean when you have a safety making 17 tackles, that means your front seven is not doing their job.
Speaker 4:Well, a pretty good club, and then obviously this guy he's tackling is pretty good. The thing that impressed me with that deal is I played football, hey you know what. Um, after about six or seven or eight licks like that, you might you see guys back off a little bit, but he kept sticking his nose in there and oh my lands.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pretty impressive he did and that was impressive in itself. Um A tradition for guests. As we close out the first segment, a man cave story. Now you can use the edit feature on this, meaning anything with Brett or your family or any baseball memory that maybe you feel comfortable telling.
Speaker 4:Oh, I'll tell you, and this is. I've already told you about my wife and you know I love her to death and she's the backbone of our family. But, right, you want me to go ahead and tell you? Oh, yeah, ok, okay. So here's the story I'm coaching and I'm at oklahoma state and and uh and uh, she, I'm taking a shower, right, and she and I'm not going to use the word she used but she knocks on the door and she asked me if I was having sex with one of my players, mothers, whoa. And I go. Well, you know I'm not. I started laughing, but I knew exactly where this was going and I just started cackling and she and she go, I go, no, and she goes. Well, why in the hell is that kid starting then? And hey, so I mean, she's obviously, you know, really knows the game well, and stuff like that, and I thought that was. That's a pretty good one, right there.
Speaker 2:That's one of my favorites by far and you tell her, you give her a hug from me and tell her that was well done.
Speaker 4:We need the matriarch of the Anderson family on this podcast sometimes to tell man-made stories, you know.
Speaker 2:by the way, before we take a quick break, you know I remember toward the end there you had I mean you had good pitchers at oklahoma state, um, but haney wow oh yeah, he's still still producing. Um is oliver still pitching?
Speaker 4:no, he, no, he.
Speaker 4:He pitched and made some big leagues and then he works for scott boris group and uh at the professional, professional major league level with those guys and you know, and Andrew won a World Series last year and he still lets me know. Yeah, still the highest drafted first rounder I've ever had I think he was sixth or seventh pick in the first round and been really neat. We still keep in touch. He texts me after we won because their analytics guy worked for us at Oakland or at Tennessee and so and he got to know him and and they're really good friends and and they were, they were watching the series and stuff like that. So now I I follow it.
Speaker 4:It's fun to. It's fun to turn on a major league baseball. I don't watch as much anymore because of Brett not playing, but if I do it's because I've got. I had Andrew Heaney, a kid named Garrett Crochet who's leading the American League in strikeouts. He played for us at Tennessee, last guy to go straight to the big leagues without throwing a minor league pitch and a bunch of other guys playing on the same night and I thought that's such a cool deal. You know, then you can kind of move around and see different guys and stuff like that. But yeah.
Speaker 2:No, just kind of give people insight, man, those coach-player relationships, it's a lifetime, it really is. Sure, absolutely. We'll take a quick break and I can't wait to get your opinion on. The SEC is going to be changing a little bit next baseball season and then today there's a big celebration here in Austin and in Norman, Oklahoma. But first a quick message from our guys at Hargrove Roofing.
Speaker 5:Here at Hargrove Roofing we try to think outside the box, to kind of get the creative juices flowing. So I brought in my friend Stevie Lee, former defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns. He's going to help the team strategize, really motivate them. Light a fire.
Speaker 3:This guy's going to block down. This guy's going to block down. You put your butt into the guard and that way my Mike linebacker gets free to do what.
Speaker 5:Not only are they going to learn a thing or two, but they're going to also leave with a great attitude and a bunch of smiles on their faces.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry. What does this have to do with roofing exactly?
Speaker 1:Get out.
Speaker 4:Right now.
Speaker 3:I said get out.
Speaker 5:For me, that's what it's all about. It's just having fun, making our employees have a great time. Hargrove Roofing know who's on your roof.
Speaker 2:Frank Anderson, I know you're a pitching coach, baseball coach, you know a lot about baseball and athletic, accomplished family, but you love all sports. College sports is changing and I still, today, I'm still trying to accept this as fact. So big celebration on the UT campus today, all day, sec networks there as well as Norman Oklahoma, and I don't know, I don't know how to keep up with it all. Today's the official day to really absorb it all, but Texas OU entering the SEC Right as a sports fan. Are you feeling the same way as me? Or what's your as a sports fan? Is it? Are you feeling the same way as me? Or what's your thoughts on all that? Well, I mean.
Speaker 4:I have to be right. I mean it's not the way this thing is going and so I mean I'm going to embrace it. I mean, and and again, I'm a dinosaur. I mean I started in the Southwest Conference and, and, and then, you know, arkansas was still in it and at that time and, and and and I really like those regional games and regional. I mean we had such good teams in that thing. And then, and then, you know, and then we went to the Big 12 and at Texas Tech.
Speaker 4:At the time, you know I can remember being worried that I mean we might get left out of the Big 12. And at Texas Tech at the time, you know I can remember being worried that I mean we might get left out of the Big 12. You know we might not be, you know, part of the group that goes to the Big 12. And then, fortunately, we were that. And then, you know, now I had a guy tell me about 10 years ago, maybe more than that, probably more than that, I guess that you know the thing's going to end up as four super conferences and I was going no way, you know that's not going to happen, and you know what.
Speaker 3:I'm pretty spot on.
Speaker 4:It happened and I just didn't see any of that happen. I mean, if you had told me that USC and UCLA were going to be going to Rutgers and playing sports, you know that just never even entered the thought process, right? It's kind of crazy. No, it's wild.
Speaker 2:So you get to see faces. You're familiar. Now I mean you've coached against Jim Schlossnager at A&M. He moved to Texas. Skip Johnson at Oklahoma gets an extension. I mean, what do fans? I mean all of you are coaches. None of this really matters, it's just more exciting. But I think people who just love college baseball, the SEC, everyone's excited, Every sport's exciting, but college baseball at SEC is just different. What do you tell the fans of both OU and Texas of what to expect?
Speaker 4:You know it is. I mean in the fact that I mean every weekend is it's tough, I mean it's a grind and there's sold out stadiums and you know, tens of thousands of people at, you know, friday, saturday, sunday games, and so it's just, I mean it is. It's a. It's a different, different deal.
Speaker 4:I mean we, we, two years ago, we, we went to Missouri and started at 0-3 and and we're I think we were 5-10 at one time and end up, you know, going on a roll and and going to Omaha and, and you look at Florida, florida, at one point we weren't sure that. You know they got well, they got swept at Missouri and you thought they might not even make the SEC tournament and they make it into what, the Final Four or whatever at the College World Series. And so, yeah, I mean that deal right, there is it's. That just shows you, and I don't think I saw a graphic. You know there wasn't an SEC team that had won the World Series until not that long ago. And then now you know there wasn't an SEC team that had won the World Series until not that long ago, and then now you know it's been fairly dominant. Obviously I'm still.
Speaker 2:I mean, lsu has been often, florida has been in the past, south Carolina. What they did, I think back and back, vanderbilt, of course, sure, well, what do you think? I mean that's a good point. What is it? It's just, obviously you guys have an attractive brand of baseball and Tennessee, since I don't know what it was like before Vitello, they did make the College World Series, I think twice. Yeah, what is it about it that the kids, now that you recruit nationwide, what is it about that? Do they say anything? That why they love the sec?
Speaker 4:I mean, everyone wants to play for winners, of course sure, well, I mean, uh and the, as so many of the west coast kids are coming, you know, back and playing in the sec and coming back this direction and and I think, because it's so visual on TV all the time now and that's the games they get and they see the crowds and and, uh, you know, in in Los Angeles you got the Dodgers, you got the Angels, you got all these other sports franchises, and most of the SEC schools are in towns that are, you know, smaller that they don't have to compete against that and everybody.
Speaker 4:I mean it's a big deal to be a part of that alumni base of whatever school you went to, and so I think it means a lot and they put a lot into those programs and so it's a lot of, I mean, you know't. I don't know exact seating, but we say we see 22, 24 000 for basketball and uh and um, you know, I watched the deal when we're in omaha on pat summit and it was just, it was unreal. You know, uh, you know what she did and how. You know how they grew the sport and all that kind of stuff. It's pretty crazy.
Speaker 2:So in my age it honestly seems like yesterday, when she had that program rolling. I mean. I mean she surpassed Jody Conrad and a lot of tech when they were winning but, would you say, because of how SEC baseball is, you may be having the best time of your life as far as your coaching career.
Speaker 4:You know, I've always that was one thing, or that's one of the biggest things that I didn't like as a head coach, and Tony does probably as good a job as anybody, but there is a little bit of facade between you and the kids because you're the one making out the lineup, and so now it's gone back where, like I said, with the streets and, and you know those guys that I coached at Texas and at Texas Tech when I was assistant, I'm probably closer to those guys because of the relationships. One, I recruited a lot of them and then, two, you just get closer to them and you can, you can say things that you can't say when you're the head coach and you know stuff and and we all as assistants try to try to, you know, try to buffer you know the kid and the head coach a lot of times and take on some of that stuff and so, cause, most of those guys have enough on their plate that I mean you get pretty close with these kids and so, yeah, am I closer? I don't know. I do know I enjoy it probably more now than I did, because I'm not looking for my next job, I'm not looking for a giant pay raise, I'm not looking for this, I'm not looking for that.
Speaker 4:I kind of do it on a day-to-day basis and the Lord's put me in a neat spot where I can, uh, I can, enjoy these guys and, uh, and I don't, you know, for the most part, uh, you know it's, it's a really neat give and take relationship and and, uh, you know, uh, the days of, you know, do it my way and I wear gone, you, I, I wear, are gone. I mean, you have to have relationships with the kids and it's got to be both ways. So, no, I think from that standpoint I probably like it as much or more, but I've always, as an assistant, enjoyed the guys that I've been with. Now I'm doing it a little bit different way, obviously.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Random question Minus two hours. What's the longest phone conversation you've had with David Lowery? Oh my.
Speaker 4:God.
Speaker 4:Hey you know that's kind of like. I mean he's old but that's kind of like one of my adopted kids right there. And you know what? I really didn't know him. I mean I knew who he was because I coached against him when he was in junior college, played at Texas, and then I got to really know him when he played for the Lubbock crickets independent ball.
Speaker 4:And you talk about a guy that played hard. I mean you know independent ball is. I mean you wouldn't think a guy would play as hard as what David did, and but he was. He's such a stat rat that he would. I mean he even in in independent ball he knew what, how many stolen bases he had and he hit you know all that kind of stuff. But it kind of fueled him Right. And so I got to know him there and now he's become a really good friend and and uh, you know late night guy, that when I've been on the road a lot of times recruiting he's kept me awake and you know, talk to me and you know, hey, man, I got, I got 35, 40 miles, I need your help to get me back to the house, and uh, and, and then I get in my driveway and I have to shut him off. Hey man, I'm good I got to go to bed. It's 1.32 in the morning, right, but no good person.
Speaker 4:And yeah no, I've had some pretty long conversations. Yeah, he knows a little bit about a lot. I say that All my lands.
Speaker 2:yeah, Mark does.
Speaker 4:Oh no, yeah, but I also I mean it's evolved. Oh no, yeah, but I also I mean it's evolved. I mean you know that cell phone use right there. I mean, I didn't. You know, when I first started, there were no cell phones and there wasn't any GPS.
Speaker 2:Your whole briefcase was full of atlases, city maps, you know stopped at a lot of 7-Elevens asked for directions and stuff like that. So it's a lot different now. You've been, you've been exposed to some really good baseball announcers there at Tennessee and even here at Texas when you were here, and everywhere you've been. But have you ever given thought, maybe, to Snoop Dogg and this is our tick talking of the week Snoop Dogg is a baseball announcer.
Speaker 1:I came in with a player's coming in there because I'm a player, get up in there. Oh, he's safe. He can't throw that. He ain't got no arm like that?
Speaker 3:No, he don't.
Speaker 1:No, he don't. Who is that with that rocket?
Speaker 3:Oh lord, he got a rocket in his pocket. Oh, he made that.
Speaker 4:Sign him up. You know what he was doing some of the olympic track coverage my wife and I was watching the other day, I think in omaha, and uh, well, I know it was. And uh, yeah, because I think he's going to be in paris doing some of the I hope so. Hey, you know what, If you're enthusiastic, which he is, and he loves sports and no, that's pretty funny, that's good.
Speaker 2:We need more Snoop Dogg Sure. Hey, man, tell me something good. That's the voice of. Mike Hart's son which now that voice has changed because he's reached that stage of his life. Frank, I appreciate you doing this, but is there anything positive or maybe inspiring that maybe you learned from this year's national championship run at Tennessee that maybe everyone else could benefit?
Speaker 4:from. You know it's funny because, and Tony kind of hit on it and he, you know, like you said, he throws that stuff out there. But it, hey, man, it's, if you're willing to give, you're going to get double in return. I mean, it's crazy how that works and the better teammate that you are, uh, to the other guys around you, it's amazing how that thing turns around and it's, you know it sounds cliche and it is, it is a whatever. But uh, uh, you know, as a society we've kind of got away from some of that man, just, hey, just treat people right, treat them the way you want to be, you'd want to be treated. And there's, you know, that's, that's kind of what you know it is in a nutshell. And so I've really, I said it's kind of funny since COVID, I've really we start games and I'm going amen, lord, help me to be there for these guys. Hey, good, bad in between, help me to be there, be the best steward that I can of being a good person, caring, all that kind of stuff. And it's crazy how it's. It's, hey, it's made it a lot more. I don't want to say relaxing, because I still get intense. I want to win as much as anybody. But it's made me be able to deal with things a lot better, and it's funny how you get rewarded a lot better and hey, there's small victories every day, and and that's what. That's what I like I was.
Speaker 4:You know, I've been talking to some different people because, believe it or not, I am getting old, right? So you know you wonder how long you're going to do this. But I was talking to a gentleman. He goes. I retired too early and I go. What are you talking about? He goes, plenty of money could do anything I wanted, but he goes. Hey, man, when you wake up in the morning, there's, there's there, if your life is really going the way you want it, there's days you're going to want to laugh, days you want to cry, days you want to be nervous, have some anxiety. That's life, that brings you some energy, that gives you something to do, and so I don't know if that's a positive.
Speaker 4:But I do think that the more that you can give, you're going to get more than that back. And it's kind of been neat to see, you know, those kids come up. Hey, the kids. Hey, we never used to hug on the field. That is not a deal, right, and I probably hugged more kids on the field this year than I've ever had in my life and I just got to remember that was not a big deal back in the day. I mean, you know, maybe that showed weakness or something and and right.
Speaker 4:And then now, hey man, it ain't nothing for 10 kids to come up and give me a hug, hey coach, good to see you, or something like that. It's just it's kind of different, kind of like it in a way. You know, it's kind of I mean they, they, you know we used to hide our emotions and kids, you know, are more open with that kind of stuff, which is kind of neat.
Speaker 4:actually, it's amazing how we've changed as a society you know, yeah, I'm telling you that we need to do, I'm telling we need to be more like this. But you know what? In the other vein, like I said, I got more hugs this year than I ever have, so that's kind of a neat deal too.
Speaker 2:I love it. That is the perfect way we should end this. I mean, listen to what Frank says, or you know you watch you may, coach Anderson, but listen to that, apply that to your life, and all of us need to do that seriously. Well, frank man, I appreciate you. This is uh been a long time coming. We've talked about it, but you know you're, you're busy, you're, you're a family guy, you're recruiting and what just happened? I know you've experienced it before, but you're one of the most deserving people that I know that to, to experience another national championship.
Speaker 4:No, I appreciate it. No, it is, and I've I've enjoyed this one tremendously and and you know what this is this is a good one. This is our G rated podcast, right here.
Speaker 2:They don't have any bearing in this, but somebody appreciates us not. Or having filters, exactly.
Speaker 4:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Oh my God. So for the Frank Anderson, the two-time national champion and he's a champion in life too and for the OG man Cave boys, that being Harbo Hards, big Mike and the Coach Mo, we are out. You see the drip? Yeah, I'm fitted up. I'm in my car in a Gideon man. That was good.