Andy Lopez to remain in Tucson
A renewed contract last summer and a trip to the College World Series couldn't squash the rumor that Arizona head coach Andy Lopez could be the next head coach at his alma mater, UCLA.
"I've been rumored at the job for eons. They have a pool of five guys and I'm not one of them," Lopez said.
Lopez has been asked about the vacant job ever since UCLA's former head coach said he was retiring, and the questions continued in Omaha as Lopez continued to deny his departure from Tucson.
"I think (the rumors) will end when (UCLA) hires someone," Lopez said.
He said he loves working for Arizona athletics director Jim Livengood and his family loves the Tucson community. He also added that he'd like to stay as long as the people of Tucson will have him.
Wildcats aim to return to Omaha
Less than 15 minutes after the Wildcats fell 3-1 to Georgia in their final game of the College World Series, talk turned into the idea of the Wildcats getting back to Omaha.
With the youth of the team, the history of its coach and the benefits of this year's trip, a lot of people around the team hope to make the trip to Omaha in less time than the 18-year break the Arizona baseball program last endured.
"Now it's an expectation," said sophomore pitcher Kevin Guyette. "Every single one of the players knows we can compete at this level and knows we can get back here."
More than half of the members of the team are sophomores or freshmen and Arizona figures to lose less than eight player and only three really big contributors.
"We are getting older by the minute," Lopez said. "I looked at the roster and said, 'Oh my God, 22 out of 25 of these guys are freshmen or sophomores.' Most of them are younger than my daughter."
Lopez said another huge advantage that the Arizona baseball program gained was the experience of the College World Series. "They've played on the biggest stage in college baseball and played well," Lopez said. "It's priceless for the program and these guys. The last two years I've been talking about Omaha; now we'll have the background."
Along with the experience comes the national exposure of every game being televised on ESPN.
The Wildcats had six games on national television, with the three Super Regional games and the three CWS games. It should have a huge impact on future Arizona recruits.
"We were not on the college baseball map a couple of month ago, but Arizona baseball is back," said sophomore firstbaseman Jordan Brown.