Clemson Baseball Head Coach Erik Bakich referenced the movie Hoosiers to motivate his team as they begin their season at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas1. Bakich aims to create a “Hoosiers moment” by reminding his players that despite the grandeur of the stadium, the dimensions of the baseball field remain the same1.Background on the Hoosiers ReferenceHoosiers, released in 1986, is a movie about a small-town high school in Indiana that makes an improbable run to the state title game1. In the film, Coach Norman Dale, played by Gene Hackman, uses a tape measure to show his team that the baskets are still 10 feet high, despite the larger arena1. Similarly, Bakich wants his team to focus on the fundamentals of baseball and not get caught up in the spectacle of playing in a Major League stadium1. A notable quote from the movie is, “I don’t know if it’ll make any change, but I figured it’s time for me to start playing ball”2. Another memorable quote is, “I play, coach stays. He goes, I go”2.Clemson’s Season OutlookThe Clemson Tigers, ranked No. 15, will open their season against No. 17 Oklahoma State in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown1. Bakich is suspended for the first two games due to an ejection in last season’s finale, with Assistant Nick Schnabel serving as head coach in his place1. The team is motivated by their Super Regional loss last year and aims to reach the College World Series for the first time since 2010 and ultimately compete for a national championship.
