Ever since Sunny Golloway was hired to be the next head baseball coach at Auburn University in June, he has said that Auburn is not going to wait around before becoming a force again in the SEC.
"We're going to win and we're going to win right now," Golloway said before their first spring practice of the season on Jan. 26.
Golloway is no stranger to winning.
He is fresh off of a Big 12 Conference tournament title with the University of Oklahoma last season.
During the past eight seasons serving as head coach for the Sooners, he also led them to seven NCAA Regional berths, four NCAA Super Regionals and the 2010 College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Despite being picked to finish last in the SEC in the preseason polls, the team believes making it to Omaha is a reachable goal this season.
Auburn has not made it to the College World Series since 1997.
"It's the first time starting a season my team hasn't been in the Top 25," Golloway said. "Why? Those guys can play. I can coach a little bit."
The new coach is not the only one that has his expectations set high for this season.
The players, most importantly the senior leaders, are buying into Golloway's system and believing in it.
"The expectations are greater and there are more of them," senior centerfielder Ryan Tella said. "Coach told us that you actually have to believe it to actually do it and that's what we're starting to do.
"Every day we talk about believing in what we have in store for us in May and June."
Ever since the team has worn "Omaha" on the back of their practice jerseys from the beginning of fall practices, the team has believed in their motto of "Omahauburn."
"That's the goal," senior catcher Blake Austin said. "If anything less, it's a failure."
In order to achieve that goal, Golloway knows his team must capitalize on their strengths, which are pitching and defense.
"UCLA won the national championship last year with a .250 batting average and they won games 3-2," Golloway said. "That's how we're going to be able to win games 3-2. I think it's going to be pitching or defense that will be our strength.
"It has to be if we're going to be a championship type club."
According to Golloway, the team's philosophy has been revolved around trying to get control of games early by playing smart baseball then letting his pitchers and defense close out games.
"We're going to bunt the baseball," Golloway said. "We're going to manufacture runs, and if we've got the lead in the fifth or sixth inning, we want to feel like the ballgame is over. Because we know how to defend, and we'll flat pitch it really well."
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