ADAMS FOSTERS RESPECT AS UCLA COACH.Byline: CHRIS BRANAM College Baseball College baseball is baseball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. Compared to American football and basketball in the United States, college competition plays a less significant contribution to cultivating Gary Adams has been a Bruin for life. He graduated from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX in 1962 - that's two years before the basketball team won its first NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association championship - and he's in his 25th season as its baseball coach. Although Adams won his 1,000th game earlier this season, he's at an age (59) when coaches are nudged out if the program isn't competing for a national championship year after year. With seven games to play, the Bruins are break-even this year (26-26) and have only been consistently dominant in the 1990s. Still, Adams is one of the nation's most respected coaches, well-liked by his peers and admired by his players. ``I think Gary Adams is one of the great guys and class acts in college baseball,'' said USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. coach Mike Gillespie There are 3 sports coaches with the name Mike Gillespie:
There is no significant call for him to step down - which might be the case at another school with another coach. ``I don't hear the whispers,'' Adams said. ``If the administration says (to me), `You must win,' I can find ways to win. That hasn't been expressed to me in any kind of a way.'' Adams, who said he isn't disappointed by this season because of his team's youth, isn't retiring. ``I'm in good condition,'' he said. ``(I'll stay) as long as UCLA wants me, as long as the players want me and as long as I'm happy doing what I'm doing, which I am.'' Adams hasn't lost touch with players and his reputation for developing players is respected by major-league scouts. A few scouts who watched the Bruins upset nationally ranked USC 8-5 on Sunday said Adams' players are polished and ready for professional baseball. Among the 32 players Adams has sent to the major leagues are Eric Karros That's one reason UCLA has 17 players on the roster who were drafted out of high school but who chose to attend UCLA. Freshman pitcher Josh Karp turned down a reported $2 million signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. These are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee e.g. if the annual salary is lower than they desire. from the Braves last year to go to school. ``I just got a good feeling from (Adams),'' said sophomore outfielder Bill Scott Bill Scott or Billy Scott may refer to:
Adams says he is available to the players, but he's not seeking to become their friend. ``I'm their `dad' away from home, but I'm not one of them,'' he said. ``I tell them, `Don't invite me to your parties.' (But) I try to keep an open door. I try to stay communicative. I know the juniors and seniors on this team have no problems approaching me.'' UCLA is 50-59 since advancing to the College World Series in '97. With a roster full of standout freshmen and sophomores, the Bruins could be ranked among the nation's top 10 teams next season. Adams will be ready to make a run at the national title that has eluded him. ``I can't do anything but coach college baseball,'' Adams said. ``This is all I've ever done. I'm not qualified to do anything else.'' PLAYOFF PICTURE A look at the L.A.-area Division I teams' bid for the NCAA playoffs, which begin on May 28 with a field of 64 for the first time: Locked in: USC, Pepperdine, Cal State Fullerton. USC (30-22, 15-7) can either get an automatic bid by winning the Pac-10 (USC is two games behind In sports, the phrase games behind, often abbreviated as GB in tables, is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division. first-place Stanford) or receiving an at-large bid. Expect the latter. USC slugged its way to the national title last year, but don't forget the Trojans had a first-round pick in staff ace Seth Etherton. Junior left-hander Barry Zito has accepted the No. 1 starter's role and flourished with a 10-2 record and nine-game winning streak. He was named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week after striking out 16 in a 4-1 win over UCLA last Friday. If Zito beats Washington on May 14, he can become the third Pac-10 pitcher since 1989 to win all his conference starts. Pepperdine (37-10, 16-8), which is leading the West Coast Conference's Coast Division, can host the WCC WCC n abbr (= World Council of Churches) → COE m (Conseil œcuménique des Églises) WCC n abbr (= World Council of Churches) → Weltkirchenrat m championship series if Loyola Marymount continues its slump. The Waves, who have cooled a bit since winning 31 of their first 35 games, are battling USC for the chance to host one of the playoffs' 16 sub-regionals. Cal State Fullerton (40-9, 21-3 in the Big West) has been ranked as high as No. 2 in some polls and is making a run at its fourth national championship. Fighting for consideration: UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State. If UCLA can sweep Oregon State this weekend and win at least two of three against Stanford at home on May 14-16, it will merit serious consideration for an at-large bid. What hurts the Bruins' cause is an 0-4 record against Cal State Northridge, UC Santa Barbara and McNeese State and a 12-19 record away from home. LMU LMU Ludwig Maximilians Universität (München) LMU Loyola Marymount University LMU Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) LMU Lincoln Memorial University LMU Location Measurement Unit (26-23, 14-10) rose to No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball's poll after sweeping Pepperdine three weeks ago. But the Lions have lost seven of nine since then and are now tied with Portland for the WCC West Division lead. Long Beach State (27-19, 15-8) was under .500 midway through the season but, as has been the 49ers' pattern under head coach Dave Snow, it is closing strong. An at-large bid isn't a slam dunk, but the 49ers' past success in the playoffs will probably carry them through. - Chris Branam CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO UCLA coach Gary Adams has coached the Bruins for 25 years and sent 32 players to the majors. John McCoy/Daily News BOX: PLAYOFF PICTURE (see text) |
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