University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Coach Scott Berry Press Conference Quotes
5/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2009
Director of Athletics Richard Giannini "We've always had great respect for Coach Berry, not only as a baseball coach, but also because of his character. He is an outstanding man and individual. After talking to more than a dozen of our current and former players, it became very evident early on that we did not have to look any further than towards the man that we had in our own program, Scott Berry. He's been a big part of the six consecutive NCAA Regionals that we have appeared in, and his leadership has been a big part of that tradition.
"We put together an advisory group who have been a big part of our program, and were certainly part of the decision - Nick Welch, who served from the Athletic Foundation; Rick Maddox from the Dugout Club; Charlie Rogers, one of our former players; Brian Dozier, who is a member of our current team; Dr. Dennis Phillips who is our NCAA Athletic Representative and Scott Carr, who is our Baseball Administrator.
"After discussing several possible candidates, there was no question that we didn't really have to look far. There was no question that Scott Berry was way above these other individuals. We all knew that he needed to be the next man to lead our program. I'm proud to introduce Scott Berry as the next Southern Miss head baseball coach."
Head Baseball Coach Scott Berry
"I am very overwhelmed that you all are here, and you don't know how much I appreciate this. I can't thank you all individually, but I hope you accept it as a whole that this really means a lot. First of all, I'd like to thank Mr. Giannini and Dr. Saunders for this opportunity. They've put a lot of trust in me to carry on this program that Coach (Corky) Palmer had built and I appreciate the trust and confidence that they have in me, and we will do our best. We will represent this university and this program the way you would like it to be represented.
"Next, I'd like to introduce my family, who I think is the strength of anything. Whether you look at your program as a family, your church as a family, that's your strength and that's what you draw from. We'll continue to move forward as a program in those things that we teach.
"This wouldn't be possible without one person who gave me the opportunity back in 1990, and that's Coach Palmer. I met Coach Palmer in January of 1990 in Nashville at a coach's convention. Hill Denson, Charlie Gray and Jim Lambuth introduced me to him. I was fortunate that I was at a point where I didn't really know what I was going to do or where this career was going to take me, and I caught a break. We talk about in coaching how we have to pay our dues to get where we want to go, and I felt like I did. Coach Palmer had an opening in Meridian CC and put the trust and confidence in me, and gave me a chance. We built a relationship that has lasted for 29 years, 15 of which we've worked together. So all this certainly wouldn't have been possible without him, and I want to thank him for that.
"I would also like to thank my past coaches; those that I've played for and worked under. They've all helped me to bring out the character that I think is necessary to be successful, not only as a baseball player but as a person. Coaches can be great influences. When we're dealing with young kids it's more than just wins and losses. I know a lot of times that's what we're judged on. But the most important thing is that we give them something that equips them to go out after athletics and be productive, to give back and be able to raise their children with the beliefs that they have obtained. Those are the things that are never measured, but are really important to true coaches, especially me.
"I would like to thank the current and former players. They have let me learn from them. A lot of times, we try to teach. But at the same time, we have the opportunity to learn. I think that's important, that the young people actually teach us. We can always learn more from them, and they've done a great job of teaching us some lessons that we needed to learn. I want to thank the supporters in all that you do and have done for athletics.
"The influences in my life were my dad, who is no longer with us, and my grandparents, who were very, very close to me. Those are the people who built the foundation that I live by today. I was truly blessed to have that upbringing, and that's obviously been the foundation of my life.
"The foundation of this program is going to continue forward, set by Coach (Pete) Taylor. I know Coach Taylor had a vision. He started us there. In 1990, when I came down with Southwest Missouri State to play the Golden Eagles on this field when the stadium was just being built, and Coach Denson had that vision. He saw something that nobody else really wanted to see. He put his plan in place, and Coach Palmer has seen it through and moved it along. Hopefully, I'm going to continue to do that as well. I remember that day when we left here. We drove us (Highway) 49, and I thought to myself, `I like it down here in the South. I hope someday I get a chance to coach down here.' And that chance was given to me at Meridian, and then moved here. So I am kind of living out my dream.
"We're going to continue to develop good young men that represent our program and university. In today's world, we're losing values. But I think that too many of us are giving in. We have to stand up and say, `Hey, for at least this period of your life in this program, you're going to do it how we want, and I think they want that. Kids want freedom, but they also want discipline and direction. Coach Palmer stressed that, and I believe in it, and we're going to continue to do that.
"We're going to represent this university on and off the field as well as we possibly can. We're going to teach that education is first. That's the most important thing. Though our dreams may be on that baseball field, reality may not allow it. But education will open that door to whatever we want.
"We're going to teach them responsibility and accountability, something that is no stranger to our program. We're going to continue to do that. I think that has been the big focus of our program since Day One. The next step is going to be continued hard work and attitude on and off the field. We're going to take the field with the attitude to win baseball games. It doesn't matter if we're down in the ninth inning we're going to find a way to win that game. We're going to surround ourselves with good people - that's good coaches, players and supporters. It's very important that everybody gets on the same page.
"We're going to continue to sell our program and sell USM. When you sell our program, we're also selling USM and we're drawing people in here. That's why we're all here today. We're about USM. We all want to see USM achieve and be successful in every sport, including academics.
"I look at life as a book that we're all writing. It starts when you're born, and how your family brings you up - the values that you learn and what they teach you. Some of us get it, others don't. Sometimes those introductions take a little longer. It's up to us as coaches, administrators, teachers, supporters to help them in that introduction. Right now I've written a few chapters in my book. I still have one chapter I have to finish before I start a new one. That starts this weekend. We know what we have to do.
I certainly appreciate everyone coming here. Stay behind us. We're not dead yet. We're going to find a way to get it done. We will coach and play hard until that last out, I can assure you. Thank you very much.
