NC State LHP Cooper Consiglio met with the media to discuss making the NCAA Tournament, Coach Avent's message to the team afterwards, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
What's it like for you guys to be heading back to the postseason?
Yeah, it's a great feeling. That's what you strive for at the beginning of the season, just to get into the postseason, and then the season starts there. So, yeah, I'm really excited to get back into the postseason.
If you could just kind of describe what it was like to be in that room when you saw NC State come across the screen on selection day, and then also describe a little bit of what Coach's message to you guys was after that?
Yeah, we treated all of last week like we knew we were in. So, I mean, it was exciting to see our name called, but it wasn't an unexpected occurrence. So Coach just told us to go right back to work and treat it like a normal series.
How much does it help to be going back to Auburn and have that feeling of knowing what it was like last year, but also having a little extra push behind you because it was the team that knocked you out last year?
Yeah, it's exciting. A lot of our guys, especially position players, played on that field, so they know kind of how the park plays, what the gaps look like for the outfielders, and anything like that. But yeah, it's a little extra motivation for us since they did knock us out last year.
And obviously, it sounds like you guys were preparing last week as if, "Hey, we're in it," that's your mentality. But once you guys got the news, was there also any extra motivation or just kind of emotions with knowing that, hey, it's one last time to play with Coach Elliott?
Yeah, I think just kind of a little sigh of relief. I mean, we were confident that we were getting in, but you never know with the committee. So it was just a lot of excitement.
I've asked a lot of guys this, but what has Avent meant to you, having played for him for three years and obviously being recruited by him for much longer than that?
Yeah, I mean, it's been an honor to play for him. He's one of the best coaches in the country that's ever coached college baseball. So just having the opportunity to play for him and learn anything and everything from him has been an unforgettable experience.
How has he impacted your life the most these last three years?
He's just been a mentor for me, whether it's on the field or off the field. The way he goes about his business is kind of the way that other people strive to do their business, so it's been fun to look up to him.
Is there a phrase or piece of advice that sticks out in your head?
Not that I can think of off the top of my head.
I guess, yeah, you talked about his ability to show up day in and day out. One or two of your teammates have kind of hit on that and how important that was for a season that's had some bumps and some injuries. He just continued to show up and continued to be positive. Could you explain how he did that and what the impact of that was for you guys?
Just always drilling into our heads every day that no matter what happens, we need to stay together and keep playing for one another. And I feel like that helped us kind of get through some of the adversity that we had to face this year.
There is going to be a "want to" when you get there. You're obviously going to want to win for the team, but then there's going to be that "want to" for Elliott. How do you kind of detach and not let that override what you've got to do?
At the end of the day, it's just baseball. So I think just slowing the game down and focusing on what you can control will help us.
What makes Coach Hart the right man for the job?
He's the heart and soul of this program. He pretty much operates head coach duties already, so I feel like it'll be a pretty easy transition for him. And I think he's a great guy, a great coach, and there is nobody better for the job.
How is he similar to Coach Avent, and then maybe what is one way that they're different?
He's definitely a lot more mellow than Coach Avent. Coach Avent can get animated at times, so I'd say that's the biggest difference. But baseball-wise, they're just trying to win.
To describe Coach Avent, you said he is a little bit more loud?
Yeah, for sure.
