![]() I was around some great people who continued to develop my game as a player. It is the greatest organization in pro sports. "Then I was lucky enough to be drafted by the New York Yankees, a program with so much pride and tradition. I learned more things about the game while playing for him. And he did incredible things at that program. I feel like he was one of the best coaches in the country. "I was very fortunate to play college and play for Rick Jones at Tulane. And the more time you do something the better your skills become. It wasn't work to me because I loved doing it and I loved being around my dad. And it gave me a chance to be around my dad all of the time. I had to work at it but I loved working at the game of baseball. ![]() I had a really good skill-set and could play shortstop. "But to do all of those things as a player I knew I had to work harder than everybody else because I wasn't overly tooled out talent-wise. My dad (Gary Cannizaro) is my biggest idol and role model in my life. There was this passion of growing up around this game and, basically, wanting to be like my dad. And I knew that I wanted to play in the Major Leagues someday. My dad was a high school and college coach, so I grew up around the game in the dugout. I think I hate to lose more than I love to win. And I am very competitive and hate to lose. "That kind of touches on what we spoke about earlier. Where does that drive come from that has allowed you to be so successful? You have had great success in everything that you have done in baseball. And I feel this town and this university is a perfect fit for me because they love baseball as much as I love it." ![]() I was very fortunate to play baseball until I was thirty-years old. Baseball has always been such an important part of my life. I have loved it since I was three-years old playing in the back yard with my mom and dad. That is one of the reasons why this university and this job were so appealing to me. Winning and being great in baseball matters to them. And the unique thing about Mississippi State is everybody in the city of Starkville are diehard Mississippi State fans. They want the best for us, the best for our players, the best for the university. "The people in Starkville have been amazing to my family and me. But have you seen that passion from the fans firsthand during those three weeks? I know it has only been about three weeks since you have been on the job. Mississippi State deserves to be national champions in baseball." ![]() And that is why I want to do everything that I can within my power to win that first national championship here. The excitement that Mississippi State baseball generates is unrivaled anywhere because the community and the town of Starkville absolutely love Mississippi State baseball. And there is a tremendous, passionate fanbase that loves Mississippi State baseball. There is real history with Mississippi State baseball. You can go all the way back to the 70s and the phenomenal players that were on the 1985 team. "You go back to the era that Ron Polk started. I am so honored to be able to do this because I understand what the pass means for this program. It is extremely humbling for me to the head baseball coach here. "Every single day that I walk into this building I see all the history and all the tradition of Mississippi State baseball. What is it like for you to walk into the baseball office and see on the wall by the front door a list of the 10 largest crowds in baseball history and they are all Mississippi State crowds?
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