The University of Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame (HOF) is an impressive site. It is chalked full of accolades and pictures of players that have left their mark on the University of Virginia baseball program. Many of the pictures of players that are highlighted have been added since the arrival of Coach Brian O'Connor. This should come as no shock considering the number of on-field accomplishments that have come about since Coach O'Connor's arrival. Most notably are the two NCAA trophies that signify the two trips to the College World Series. However, Coach O'Connor is the first the acknowledge and recognize the great players that have come through the program. There are a few players that have stood out above the rest and gain in national prominence. Such players as Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals and Mark Reynolds of the Baltimore Orioles.
One of the projects that Coach O'Connor wanted me to work on was the updating of the Hall of Fame. While it is important to recognize the past, it is as equally important to keep the HOF current. The HOF is not only part of the UVA baseball experience for fans, it is also an important part of the recruitment process. When recruits and their families come for a visit part of what they do is tour Davenport Field. It is important for the HOF to showcase the rewards that have been achieved by the players and the team. It is important to show the past and the where the program has come from. The message is an unspoken one, but it says to every recruit that they too could one day be part of this successful program and have their picture hanging among the greatest Cavaliers of all time. However, it is important to recognize the marketing aspect of this project. While it is important to recognize the past, the HOF has to be able to be relevant to the younger generation. As important and impressive as it is for UVA to say they have a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame alumni, Eppa Rixey, as part of the storied tradition, this won't impressive the current generation of in-coming players. This is why it is important to keep the UVA HOF current. So the recruits can see names and faces of people they can immediately identify with and try to emulate their accomplishments.
I was asked to sit in on meetings Coach O'Connor had with the University of Virginia Assistant Media Relations Director for Baseball, Andy Fledderjohann. Andy had assisted with the last update and is intimately familiar with the history of the program. The bulk of the discussions focused on who is currently on the walls, who should remain and who should be added. Coach O'Connor was adamant about several that should stay and several that should be added. However, it was clear that with the limited amount of space it is important to maximize the available space. Some of the players that held multiple spots in the HOF will be reduced down to one spot. This has been made possible by the increased number of players that are being drafted higher in the draft and who are having both ACC and National success. It is also important to Coach O'Connor to recognize those players that have achieved similar accolades to those already in the UVA HOF. Case and point, Sean Doolittle and Joe Koshansky. Joe Koshansky was the ACC Player of the Year and an All American. Sean Doolittle won the same honors, but is not currently enshrined. Even further solidifying Coach O'Connors point is that Sean Doolittle has made the Major League roster of the Oakland Athletics and appears to be establishing himself as a mainstay in their bullpen. Conversely, Joe Koshansky was called up a few times while he was in the Colorado Rockies, but he is out of baseball now. The recruits will be able to see Sean Doolittle and immediately be able to identify with a current Major Leaguer.
Another large part of the need to update the HOF is to make sure the most recent team accolades are highlighted and Davenport Field is promoted. When Coach O'Connor took over the program, Davenport Field did not have the current capacity. The program did not draw the types of crowds that they do now. It is important to highlight to the recruits the types of crowds that they could be playing in front of on a regular basis. As a result, Coach O'Connor wants to update the pictures of Davenport Field when it is at capacity as well as the most recent team accomplishments. For example, UVA has hosted Regional and Super Regional tournaments since the last update was done. By making sure these updates show the most recent hostings by UVA and the most recent trip to the College World Series, Coach O'Connor is able to bring parents and recruits through the HOF and speak specifically to what they can expect by committing to play baseball at the University of Virginia.
So, ultimately the HOF represents much more than just the awards of the past or players that have come through the program and gone onto have success at the major league level. The UVA Hall of Fame represents the extension of dreams for recruits that have more than just playing college baseball on their minds. The HOF is a way for the University of Virginia baseball program to tell their recruits that by attending the University of Virginia they can take that next step towards greatness by being part of a perennial Regional host. And, as the adage goes, to the victors go the spoils. UVA baseball have shown they are both the victors and the have reaped the spoils.
Unfortunately, the project won't be complete by the time my internship ends. We all talked about the players and team accomplishments that would best promote the baseball program. However, the players and pictures that will be chosen won't be known until the Media Relations department put the final touches on the pictures and shows the pictures to Coach O'Connor. Once that happens, the new pictures will be be put up and the update will be complete.
One of the projects that Coach O'Connor wanted me to work on was the updating of the Hall of Fame. While it is important to recognize the past, it is as equally important to keep the HOF current. The HOF is not only part of the UVA baseball experience for fans, it is also an important part of the recruitment process. When recruits and their families come for a visit part of what they do is tour Davenport Field. It is important for the HOF to showcase the rewards that have been achieved by the players and the team. It is important to show the past and the where the program has come from. The message is an unspoken one, but it says to every recruit that they too could one day be part of this successful program and have their picture hanging among the greatest Cavaliers of all time. However, it is important to recognize the marketing aspect of this project. While it is important to recognize the past, the HOF has to be able to be relevant to the younger generation. As important and impressive as it is for UVA to say they have a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame alumni, Eppa Rixey, as part of the storied tradition, this won't impressive the current generation of in-coming players. This is why it is important to keep the UVA HOF current. So the recruits can see names and faces of people they can immediately identify with and try to emulate their accomplishments.
I was asked to sit in on meetings Coach O'Connor had with the University of Virginia Assistant Media Relations Director for Baseball, Andy Fledderjohann. Andy had assisted with the last update and is intimately familiar with the history of the program. The bulk of the discussions focused on who is currently on the walls, who should remain and who should be added. Coach O'Connor was adamant about several that should stay and several that should be added. However, it was clear that with the limited amount of space it is important to maximize the available space. Some of the players that held multiple spots in the HOF will be reduced down to one spot. This has been made possible by the increased number of players that are being drafted higher in the draft and who are having both ACC and National success. It is also important to Coach O'Connor to recognize those players that have achieved similar accolades to those already in the UVA HOF. Case and point, Sean Doolittle and Joe Koshansky. Joe Koshansky was the ACC Player of the Year and an All American. Sean Doolittle won the same honors, but is not currently enshrined. Even further solidifying Coach O'Connors point is that Sean Doolittle has made the Major League roster of the Oakland Athletics and appears to be establishing himself as a mainstay in their bullpen. Conversely, Joe Koshansky was called up a few times while he was in the Colorado Rockies, but he is out of baseball now. The recruits will be able to see Sean Doolittle and immediately be able to identify with a current Major Leaguer.
Another large part of the need to update the HOF is to make sure the most recent team accolades are highlighted and Davenport Field is promoted. When Coach O'Connor took over the program, Davenport Field did not have the current capacity. The program did not draw the types of crowds that they do now. It is important to highlight to the recruits the types of crowds that they could be playing in front of on a regular basis. As a result, Coach O'Connor wants to update the pictures of Davenport Field when it is at capacity as well as the most recent team accomplishments. For example, UVA has hosted Regional and Super Regional tournaments since the last update was done. By making sure these updates show the most recent hostings by UVA and the most recent trip to the College World Series, Coach O'Connor is able to bring parents and recruits through the HOF and speak specifically to what they can expect by committing to play baseball at the University of Virginia.
So, ultimately the HOF represents much more than just the awards of the past or players that have come through the program and gone onto have success at the major league level. The UVA Hall of Fame represents the extension of dreams for recruits that have more than just playing college baseball on their minds. The HOF is a way for the University of Virginia baseball program to tell their recruits that by attending the University of Virginia they can take that next step towards greatness by being part of a perennial Regional host. And, as the adage goes, to the victors go the spoils. UVA baseball have shown they are both the victors and the have reaped the spoils.
Unfortunately, the project won't be complete by the time my internship ends. We all talked about the players and team accomplishments that would best promote the baseball program. However, the players and pictures that will be chosen won't be known until the Media Relations department put the final touches on the pictures and shows the pictures to Coach O'Connor. Once that happens, the new pictures will be be put up and the update will be complete.