http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/apr/28/baseball-gators-cancel-two-game-series-against-fgc/
Baseball: Gators cancel two-game series against FGCU
By DANA CALDWELL (Contact)
Originally published 12:55 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008
Updated 3:28 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008
The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team was looking forward to another shot against the Florida Gators. They won't get it this year.
Coach Dave Tollett and his players got a nasty curveball thrown at them Monday afternoon when they were shocked to learn the two-game series at Florida that was to begin Tuesday night was abruptly cancelled.
The reason, UF officials said, is a Southeastern Conference policy that does not allow its teams to play non-conference games during exam periods.
"I can't say what I think, to tell you the truth," Tollett said. "This is terrible, terrible, terrible."
Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley said his university dropped the ball.
"This was an administrative issue that was simply overlooked and we accept full responsibility for this situation," Foley said. "We are looking at several options in making up the missed games during the next two weeks and wanted to apologize to Florida Gulf Coast University and the fans of both schools."
Tollett found out from FGCU athletics director Carl McAloose at almost 1 p.m. Monday, 22 hours before his team planned to depart for Gainesville. A miffed McAloose found out from UF associate athletics director Chip Howard around noon.
How could UF's athletics administrators first become aware of this as late as Monday? How could UF officials not give FGCU more of a heads up?
"I've got to watch what I'm saying," McAloose said. "Those are good questions. They're questions I have, too."
John Hines, the sports information director for Gators baseball, was equally confused.
"I didn't know until today," Hines said. "When I got in today, a couple administrators called me in and mentioned that having the midweek games falling under the exam schedule ... said we weren't going to be able to play the games."
After Florida (27-16) beat No. 5 Georgia, 7-2, at home on Sunday, Hines said he compared notes and exchanged stats with FGCU sports information director Matt Fairchild. He even said Florida coaches were planning their pitching rotation against FGCU after beating the Bulldogs.
"They wish they could (play this series)," Hines said. "I don't know where to point the finger at for how this happened, but it happened."
Tollett said this is a first in his six seasons, and as of Monday afternoon, he had not heard from anyone at Florida, including coach Kevin O'Sullivan. The Gators were off Monday.
"All of our players and our fans are very disappointed in the whole situation," Tollett said. "Our team was excited for the chance to play Florida again. This is just disappointing for our program."
Tollett had discussed the series in depth Monday morning, before leading his team through a workout and even working on shifting travel plans to allow the Eagles to remain in Gainesville until Thursday, when he hoped his team could travel to DeLand to prepare for a crucial three-day Atlantic Sun Conference series beginning Friday.
FGCU (29-12) has not played since the series-sweeping 8-5 clincher at A-Sun foe Jacksonville on April 18. At 19-5, the Eagles' main goal is holding off Lipscomb (23-20, 17-10) and Kennesaw State (24-22, 15-9) for the regular season title. But FGCU's coaches and players were ready to get back in the swing of things this week.
"We're rested up and ready to go," said Tollett on Monday morning. "The kids are excited."
Monday afternoon, Tollett was scrambling to find a game for his stagnating players Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I am trying to find a game somewhere, somehow," he said.
FGCU still will get its guaranteed money from Florida, McAloose said, but the cancellation will end up costing the Eagles money. And lots of aggravations.
"The problem is a lot of our plans have to be changed now," McAloose said. "We're trying to get out of a bus contract. We have people flying up on private jets tomorrow. We had all kinds of different plans made for this thing. We've lost quite a bit of money on this.
"It's unfortunate and we're certainly disappointed by it."
FGCU played at Florida for the first time ever on March 11, when the Eagles lost, 2-1, as the Gators plated a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Florida had five hits to FGCU's four.
Hines said the Gators had been looking forward to facing FGCU again.
"That was one of the better games we played all year because it was one hour and 58 minutes and any team could've won that game back in March," Hines said. "Obviously with them leading the Atlantic Sun heading into the home stretch, and with us doing pretty well in the SEC, it would've been a great two games for them to come up and play.
"Hopefully we'll get to play them again soon."
FGCU is scheduled to play Florida twice next season: at home on April 21 and in Gainesville on May 6.
The bulk of Tollett's ire was at the last-minute timing and the lack of proper warning or explanation.
"Exactly," he said.
But he also was angry that the Gators reneged after Tollett agreed to help them out with this series.
"I tell you what, when they needed two games and they couldn't find anybody, they called and we said, 'Yeah, we'll play you two more times,' when no one else in this state would've," Tollett said. "And you wait till right now (to alert FGCU of the cancellation)?"
Baseball: Gators cancel two-game series against FGCU
By DANA CALDWELL (Contact)
Originally published 12:55 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008
Updated 3:28 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2008
The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team was looking forward to another shot against the Florida Gators. They won't get it this year.
Coach Dave Tollett and his players got a nasty curveball thrown at them Monday afternoon when they were shocked to learn the two-game series at Florida that was to begin Tuesday night was abruptly cancelled.
The reason, UF officials said, is a Southeastern Conference policy that does not allow its teams to play non-conference games during exam periods.
"I can't say what I think, to tell you the truth," Tollett said. "This is terrible, terrible, terrible."
Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley said his university dropped the ball.
"This was an administrative issue that was simply overlooked and we accept full responsibility for this situation," Foley said. "We are looking at several options in making up the missed games during the next two weeks and wanted to apologize to Florida Gulf Coast University and the fans of both schools."
Tollett found out from FGCU athletics director Carl McAloose at almost 1 p.m. Monday, 22 hours before his team planned to depart for Gainesville. A miffed McAloose found out from UF associate athletics director Chip Howard around noon.
How could UF's athletics administrators first become aware of this as late as Monday? How could UF officials not give FGCU more of a heads up?
"I've got to watch what I'm saying," McAloose said. "Those are good questions. They're questions I have, too."
John Hines, the sports information director for Gators baseball, was equally confused.
"I didn't know until today," Hines said. "When I got in today, a couple administrators called me in and mentioned that having the midweek games falling under the exam schedule ... said we weren't going to be able to play the games."
After Florida (27-16) beat No. 5 Georgia, 7-2, at home on Sunday, Hines said he compared notes and exchanged stats with FGCU sports information director Matt Fairchild. He even said Florida coaches were planning their pitching rotation against FGCU after beating the Bulldogs.
"They wish they could (play this series)," Hines said. "I don't know where to point the finger at for how this happened, but it happened."
Tollett said this is a first in his six seasons, and as of Monday afternoon, he had not heard from anyone at Florida, including coach Kevin O'Sullivan. The Gators were off Monday.
"All of our players and our fans are very disappointed in the whole situation," Tollett said. "Our team was excited for the chance to play Florida again. This is just disappointing for our program."
Tollett had discussed the series in depth Monday morning, before leading his team through a workout and even working on shifting travel plans to allow the Eagles to remain in Gainesville until Thursday, when he hoped his team could travel to DeLand to prepare for a crucial three-day Atlantic Sun Conference series beginning Friday.
FGCU (29-12) has not played since the series-sweeping 8-5 clincher at A-Sun foe Jacksonville on April 18. At 19-5, the Eagles' main goal is holding off Lipscomb (23-20, 17-10) and Kennesaw State (24-22, 15-9) for the regular season title. But FGCU's coaches and players were ready to get back in the swing of things this week.
"We're rested up and ready to go," said Tollett on Monday morning. "The kids are excited."
Monday afternoon, Tollett was scrambling to find a game for his stagnating players Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I am trying to find a game somewhere, somehow," he said.
FGCU still will get its guaranteed money from Florida, McAloose said, but the cancellation will end up costing the Eagles money. And lots of aggravations.
"The problem is a lot of our plans have to be changed now," McAloose said. "We're trying to get out of a bus contract. We have people flying up on private jets tomorrow. We had all kinds of different plans made for this thing. We've lost quite a bit of money on this.
"It's unfortunate and we're certainly disappointed by it."
FGCU played at Florida for the first time ever on March 11, when the Eagles lost, 2-1, as the Gators plated a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Florida had five hits to FGCU's four.
Hines said the Gators had been looking forward to facing FGCU again.
"That was one of the better games we played all year because it was one hour and 58 minutes and any team could've won that game back in March," Hines said. "Obviously with them leading the Atlantic Sun heading into the home stretch, and with us doing pretty well in the SEC, it would've been a great two games for them to come up and play.
"Hopefully we'll get to play them again soon."
FGCU is scheduled to play Florida twice next season: at home on April 21 and in Gainesville on May 6.
The bulk of Tollett's ire was at the last-minute timing and the lack of proper warning or explanation.
"Exactly," he said.
But he also was angry that the Gators reneged after Tollett agreed to help them out with this series.
"I tell you what, when they needed two games and they couldn't find anybody, they called and we said, 'Yeah, we'll play you two more times,' when no one else in this state would've," Tollett said. "And you wait till right now (to alert FGCU of the cancellation)?"