Today, the guys have on the National Champions Texas Longhorn Softball Head Coach Mike White as they talk about the feeling of winning the title. What is the coach doing to prepare for next season? Players who are coming back and what recruiting strategies will come into play. What was it like to coach players like Mia Scott and Tegan Kavan? How consistent the pitching staff was this season. Plus, the popularity of women’s sports, including the high TV ratings for the Women’s College World Series. You can hear it all here on “The Morning Kickoff Show!”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I know he's got a smile on his face. He's
been smiling since Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
He is the head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of the national champion Texas softball team, and coach I
said it as soon as the game was over light
the tower, congratulations, my friend, Thank.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
You so much. Man.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
That's been you know, a whirlwinds thast few days. But
really enjoying that. The way the team played over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
No doubt about a coach. We were every game was exciting.
I know that you wanted to end it in game two,
but obviously getting the game three seeing Naja Kennedy for
the third straight day, timing with this talented softball team
that you have, it made it going into that last game,
(01:00):
little people, A lot of people were a little nervous
about it, but your team came out, jumped all over
early in that matchup, and you never ever looked back,
talked about going, talk about going into the game. By
the way, I saw you throwing uh pitches before the game,
getting your team ready to go.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Becoming some solar surgery rotated cuff that I had in December,
so I didn't throw a whole off this year, but
broke it out for the final week.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So it was, it was, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
It was some great that the team come out with
authority and take take take matters into their own hands
early in the game.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean it was. It was so awesome.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
That first inning is just to see U you know,
us jump on them, you know, you know, get that
big lead, that five run lead in the first innings.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
It was just unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Really, and you know our patients paid off, you know,
seeing here for the third day.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Congratulations, man, I hope y'all did get to go to
the club.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well, uh, I'm too old for the club. I think
just about anybody else was well.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
I wanted to say congratulations just from me and my family.
I mean, the uh, the run that you had this
year with your women was unbelievable. Uh, and we and
I know you expected to keep it going. Uh you
got a lot coming back next year, Like have you
thought about, you know, what your rotation would be like
(02:31):
next year?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Are you still celebrating? Bit of both?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I mean, it never stops me right back into recruiting cycle.
I head out to Kansas City on wind on Tuesday
actually tonight to start recruiting.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
And you know we've got some we're.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Looking at the transfer portals see what we can kind
of where we can fill fill in.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
But we have such a.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Strong incoming freshman class with seven seven kids coming in
and we're really excited about that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We always like to try and build.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Them within as opposed to go out and get but
you know, if there's an opportunity to pick up some
exceptional players that can fill the media positions, and that's
something we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
So I wanted to ask you to coach because obviously
the Mac Morgan pitching on Thursday, a lot of people
were questioning it. I was fine with it because Mac
has done such a great job for you all season long.
But then going to Teagan and what she has meant
to this team, uh throughout the process. Then in the
(03:30):
College World Series not giving up an earned run the
entire time is pretty impressive. To watch your pitching staff
weekend in week out.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, thank you about that.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
And you know, Patty Brief Taylor at pitching coach, it's
done a tremendous job with him, which.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Theon really had.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
You know, we have five pitches on stuff, so it's
you know, it takes takes a while to make sure
everyone gets the time they need and that was the
process we had and you know, just trusting in each
and everyone.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I mean they old played the big pot in the end.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
You know, Tigan obviously was the mainstay, but she couldn't
do it without the help from the stop and that
they were ready and able to help out it any
way they could. You know, the decision to stop Mac
was a calculated one. You know, we didn't want to
throw all our eggs in one basket having had that
one first win and you know, obviously it paid off,
but you can't do that without the trusting the players
(04:19):
in the middle.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
We're here with coach Mike White, National Championship Coach, does
that ever has it? Has it gotten old yet? Or
is it still when you hear it just rings in
your ears?
Speaker 6 (04:33):
That just rings in my ear, just so you said,
and that was like yes, so coach that second the
second game, uh, you went with a myriad.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Of pictures to throw at Texas Tech.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I thought that was a brilliant thing.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
And you know we we've discussed that, uh your efforts before,
but was that good for recruiting for you? Was that
was did you ever think you know, I can always
say that, you know, I play my players.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, that's definitely something we're going to promote for sure.
I mean, you know you're seeing some other programs with
kids are bailing out, you know. I mean obviously they
had opportunity part of national programs, but you know they're
they're betting because you're just not getting the time and
they're getting recruited over.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So it's something we're cognizant about and we're going to
be aware of.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I mean, if we, like I said, if we pick
someone up, you know, we we may look for a
left hand pitcher and a portal. You know, it's something
we were interested in, just to bring some variety to
the stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But and we do have room. We have four pitches next.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Year, and we've got a really good one coming in
and Hannah Wells, who's who.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
You know, you just never know what they're going to do.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
But we were we really have a lot of promise
with Hanna and you know, I think Cam Salmon is
going to come back stronger and better. And you know,
said Lati Gutari's as showing the moments of brilliance. So
there's a solid stuff there which we can you know,
pick up and make stronger with the left hand.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Pitcher will look at doing that. Yeah, so this is
where we're at.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So coach.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yesterday during my segment, I talked about being a girl
dad and how female sports are starting to grow. Your
team in Texas Tech played in front of two point
eight million people watching the final game of the College
World Series. As someone who's been doing it as long
(06:26):
as you have, watching the game evolved, how excited are
you when you hear those types of numbers about what
you were a part of and it was your first
national championship.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, very excited.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
You know, I think it goes back to nineteen ninety
six with the Fist Olympic team and playing Atlanta and
just to boost the.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Game Gaun, I mean around the world.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
It was really it wasn't that big, and with that
boost from the Olympics just took a super step forward
and we've been able to build on that ever since.
And just the quality of softball, the level of play
throughout the country, even in the recruiting age grades, it's
just tremendous. And yeah, you could make a highlight reel
of top ten plays from the Collegeable Series alone. Little
(07:11):
one the Super Regionals and there's so much pressure on
just the performance that they're putting on.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It's just incredible. So I'm real happy to be part
of that. And we're focused.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
On promoting the game itself because once we get people
to watch it and be a part of it, they're hooked.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
And I hear that so often.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, and a lot of people are hooked.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And you talked about top ten plays and how it
was being done. I can't let you go without talking
about the performance by Mia Scott her last game as
a Texas Longhorn. She goes out handles her business and
obviously we know the story now. I know you couldn't
talk about it before because you were talking about Hippa,
(07:51):
but we saw the picture of her sitting there with
the knee wrapped and.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She was like, I didn't need an ACL I was
ready to go.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
How cool is that that she was able to perform
at that level dealing with an injury as such?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Oh, without a doubt. I mean people have noticed that
we weren't standing her much. That's the reason why, because
we wanted to protect her, and you know, she could
have had at least, you know, fifteen more stolen bases
per year. You know, without that injury, but you know
she was able to play through it, and you know,
we're really kind of you.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Know, it's a decision that she made.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
You know, we we had advice that you know, she
should probably shouldn't do some stuff, but still born here.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
She wanted to do it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
She had that grit that termination to say, you know what,
I'm going to do this for my for my team,
and I'm going to be there for them and give
them everything I've gone.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And we're so blessed to have me a scout.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
On that program, no doubt about it. Coach. We're so
excited to have you on.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
We're thankful that we got a chance to spend this
immaculate run with you. And we from from the bottom
of our hearts here at AM thirteen hundred to Zone
the Flagship Station, we are pleased to tell you that
you are a national champion and nobody could ever take
that away from you.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Never, Baby, Let's go. Welcome.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Congratulations coach, and thank you for the time.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Thank you so much. I appreciate you all.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
No problem there is Coach Mike White, National Champion
I know he's got a smile on his face. He's
been smiling since Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
He is the head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Of the national champion Texas softball team, and coach I
said it as soon as the game was over light
the tower, congratulations, my friend, Thank.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
You so much. Man.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
That's been you know, a whirlwinds thast few days. But
really enjoying that. The way the team played over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
No doubt about a coach. We were every game was exciting.
I know that you wanted to end it in game two,
but obviously getting the game three seeing Naja Kennedy for
the third straight day, timing with this talented softball team
that you have, it made it going into that last game,
(01:00):
little people, A lot of people were a little nervous
about it, but your team came out, jumped all over
early in that matchup, and you never ever looked back,
talked about going, talk about going into the game. By
the way, I saw you throwing uh pitches before the game,
getting your team ready to go.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Becoming some solar surgery rotated cuff that I had in December,
so I didn't throw a whole off this year, but
broke it out for the final week.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So it was, it was, it was fun.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
It was some great that the team come out with
authority and take take take matters into their own hands
early in the game.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
I mean it was. It was so awesome.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
That first inning is just to see U you know,
us jump on them, you know, you know, get that
big lead, that five run lead in the first innings.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
It was just unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Really, and you know our patients paid off, you know,
seeing here for the third day.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Congratulations, man, I hope y'all did get to go to
the club.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well, uh, I'm too old for the club. I think
just about anybody else was well.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
I wanted to say congratulations just from me and my family.
I mean, the uh, the run that you had this
year with your women was unbelievable. Uh, and we and
I know you expected to keep it going. Uh you
got a lot coming back next year, Like have you
thought about, you know, what your rotation would be like
(02:31):
next year?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Are you still celebrating? Bit of both?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I mean, it never stops me right back into recruiting cycle.
I head out to Kansas City on wind on Tuesday
actually tonight to start recruiting.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
And you know we've got some we're.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Looking at the transfer portals see what we can kind
of where we can fill fill in.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
But we have such a.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Strong incoming freshman class with seven seven kids coming in
and we're really excited about that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We always like to try and build.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Them within as opposed to go out and get but
you know, if there's an opportunity to pick up some
exceptional players that can fill the media positions, and that's
something we're looking at.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
So I wanted to ask you to coach because obviously
the Mac Morgan pitching on Thursday, a lot of people
were questioning it. I was fine with it because Mac
has done such a great job for you all season long.
But then going to Teagan and what she has meant
to this team, uh throughout the process. Then in the
(03:30):
College World Series not giving up an earned run the
entire time is pretty impressive. To watch your pitching staff
weekend in week out.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yeah, thank you about that.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
And you know, Patty Brief Taylor at pitching coach, it's
done a tremendous job with him, which.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Theon really had.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
You know, we have five pitches on stuff, so it's
you know, it takes takes a while to make sure
everyone gets the time they need and that was the
process we had and you know, just trusting in each
and everyone.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I mean they old played the big pot in the end.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
You know, Tigan obviously was the mainstay, but she couldn't
do it without the help from the stop and that
they were ready and able to help out it any
way they could. You know, the decision to stop Mac
was a calculated one. You know, we didn't want to
throw all our eggs in one basket having had that
one first win and you know, obviously it paid off,
but you can't do that without the trusting the players
(04:19):
in the middle.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
We're here with coach Mike White, National Championship Coach, does
that ever has it? Has it gotten old yet? Or
is it still when you hear it just rings in
your ears?
Speaker 6 (04:33):
That just rings in my ear, just so you said,
and that was like yes, so coach that second the
second game, uh, you went with a myriad.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Of pictures to throw at Texas Tech.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I thought that was a brilliant thing.
Speaker 5 (04:53):
And you know we we've discussed that, uh your efforts before,
but was that good for recruiting for you? Was that
was did you ever think you know, I can always
say that, you know, I play my players.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Yeah, that's definitely something we're going to promote for sure.
I mean, you know you're seeing some other programs with
kids are bailing out, you know. I mean obviously they
had opportunity part of national programs, but you know they're
they're betting because you're just not getting the time and
they're getting recruited over.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So it's something we're cognizant about and we're going to
be aware of.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I mean, if we, like I said, if we pick
someone up, you know, we we may look for a
left hand pitcher and a portal. You know, it's something
we were interested in, just to bring some variety to
the stuff.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But and we do have room. We have four pitches next.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Year, and we've got a really good one coming in
and Hannah Wells, who's who.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
You know, you just never know what they're going to do.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
But we were we really have a lot of promise
with Hanna and you know, I think Cam Salmon is
going to come back stronger and better. And you know,
said Lati Gutari's as showing the moments of brilliance. So
there's a solid stuff there which we can you know,
pick up and make stronger with the left hand.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Pitcher will look at doing that. Yeah, so this is
where we're at.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So coach.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yesterday during my segment, I talked about being a girl
dad and how female sports are starting to grow. Your
team in Texas Tech played in front of two point
eight million people watching the final game of the College
World Series. As someone who's been doing it as long
(06:26):
as you have, watching the game evolved, how excited are
you when you hear those types of numbers about what
you were a part of and it was your first
national championship.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
Yeah, very excited.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
You know, I think it goes back to nineteen ninety
six with the Fist Olympic team and playing Atlanta and
just to boost the.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Game Gaun, I mean around the world.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
It was really it wasn't that big, and with that
boost from the Olympics just took a super step forward
and we've been able to build on that ever since.
And just the quality of softball, the level of play
throughout the country, even in the recruiting age grades, it's
just tremendous. And yeah, you could make a highlight reel
of top ten plays from the Collegeable Series alone. Little
(07:11):
one the Super Regionals and there's so much pressure on
just the performance that they're putting on.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It's just incredible. So I'm real happy to be part
of that. And we're focused.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
On promoting the game itself because once we get people
to watch it and be a part of it, they're hooked.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
And I hear that so often.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, and a lot of people are hooked.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And you talked about top ten plays and how it
was being done. I can't let you go without talking
about the performance by Mia Scott her last game as
a Texas Longhorn. She goes out handles her business and
obviously we know the story now. I know you couldn't
talk about it before because you were talking about Hippa,
(07:51):
but we saw the picture of her sitting there with
the knee wrapped and.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She was like, I didn't need an ACL I was
ready to go.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
How cool is that that she was able to perform
at that level dealing with an injury as such?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Oh, without a doubt. I mean people have noticed that
we weren't standing her much. That's the reason why, because
we wanted to protect her, and you know, she could
have had at least, you know, fifteen more stolen bases
per year. You know, without that injury, but you know
she was able to play through it, and you know,
we're really kind of you.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Know, it's a decision that she made.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
You know, we we had advice that you know, she
should probably shouldn't do some stuff, but still born here.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
She wanted to do it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
She had that grit that termination to say, you know what,
I'm going to do this for my for my team,
and I'm going to be there for them and give
them everything I've gone.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And we're so blessed to have me a scout.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
On that program, no doubt about it. Coach. We're so
excited to have you on.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
We're thankful that we got a chance to spend this
immaculate run with you. And we from from the bottom
of our hearts here at AM thirteen hundred to Zone
the Flagship Station, we are pleased to tell you that
you are a national champion and nobody could ever take
that away from you.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Never, Baby, Let's go. Welcome.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Congratulations coach, and thank you for the time.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Thank you so much. I appreciate you all.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
No problem there is Coach Mike White, National Champion
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