I recently had the opportunity to catch up with former Gator baseball player Matt Laporta and talk to him about his upcoming season with the Indians and the state of the Florida baseball program.
Q: What’s your relationship with the baseball program at Florida since you have graduated like?
(Matt) A: I have a great relationship with Coach O’Sullivan and the entire athletic department. I don’t get back as much as I would like because of my baseball schedule, but I’m always either watching or checking the scores to see how the team is doing.
Q:Talk to us about Coach O’Sullivan?
A:First off he has to do a great job with coming in and putting Florida back in the top 5 or so programs in the country. He does an amazing job recruiting and then once those players are on campus he builds them into good ball players
Q: What made you choose Florida?
A:It’s not only a great athletic school but it’s also a place where you can get a great education. My mom graduated from there so that played a big part of it as well as just the tradition of the program
Q: Florida is known as a football school how does the baseball team get treated by the fans and student body?
A: First Florida has a wonderful football program and understandably football is big in the south so it does create more attention, but the baseball program is well respected and the fans and students give us full support. Actually any sport at Florida is supported whether it be volleyball, basketball, lacrosse or whatever sport it will be supported the students just all around love Florida athletics.
Q: Describe to me the feeling of being apart of Gator Nation?
A: Its one of the best feelings just being apart of the family atmosphere is great. No Matter where you go people always recognize you as a gator. Its true once a Gator always a Gator
Q: What was the feeling like going to Omaha for the college world series and what makes it so special?
A: Its an amazing feeling just being apart of the history of the college world series. The fan atmosphere is what sets it apart as there is 25,000 screaming fans watching college baseball. The city of Omaha also puts in tons of effort to make the game so special and to make the players feel welcome. There is nothing like Omaha for the college world series
Q: Whats your goal and the teams goals for this year with the Indians?
A: Well we are a young team and we expect to keep building on last year. As a team we have to cut down on the mental and physical errors and that will help us to improve upon last year. Me as a player I feel like I just have to just keep working to get better every year.
Lastly Matt has offered to answer any questions Gator fans have for him and has welcomed us to keep in touch with him throughout the season for updates on him and the Cleveland Indians.
By: Andrew Spivey
