College World Series Memories: Steve Webber
Steve Webber knows Omaha.
Having grown up only about 300 miles away, in addition to playing in one College World Series (CWS) and coaching in two more, Webber is well versed in what goes on in Omaha each summer.
Omaha, Nebraska, is the Mecca of college baseball and, for a time, was a second home of sorts for Webber, now the Beavers pitching coach. For years, college baseball’s grandest stage was a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for Webber, who went two and out in 1969 while pitching for Southern Illinois and in 1987 as the head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
After failing to win a game in his first two trips to Omaha, Webber was finally able to break through and guide the Georgia Bulldogs to their first, and only, CWS title in baseball in 1990.
Webber, who was named National Coach of the Year in 1990 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, had to sit through tense moments in the championship game. Leading by only one run heading into the ninth, Webber found comfort in the fact that he was able to bring in his best pitcher to face their championship opponent, Oklahoma State.
His move paid off as the Bulldogs retired the side in the ninth, sealing the game with a called third strike.
“When that last pitch was called a strike, let me tell you, it was a really big thrill,” said Webber.
Being able to handle all of the distractions associated with Omaha was a key for the 1990 club, which was led by a group of seniors who had already experienced the spectacle of the College World Series.
Understanding that the grandeur of the College World Series can mess with a team’s concentration, Webber points to a moment before the series when he realized his team was poised to make a run.
“One of the things I remember is on workout day, we were driving up to the complex, and when the guys saw Rosemblat Stadium, they got pretty excited,” said Webber. “I think getting the first look at the stadium was a great motivator.”
Acknowledging how difficult it is to keep a team focused on the ultimate goal, Webber attributes the guidance of upperclassmen such as former Seattle Mariner Dave Fleming, as the deciding factor in the success of the 1990 championship team.
“We had a veteran team and a lot of the guys had been together for three or four years,” said Webber. “They did an excellent job because we probably weren’t the most talented team there, but we were the most focused.”
The Bulldogs were rewarded with a trip to the White House, a trip that still brings a smile to the face of Webber, nearly 20 years later.
“That was pretty exciting to say the least,” said Webber. “To be able to go there and meet the president was something I will never forget.”
Now, 14 years removed from his time college baseball, Webber can look back on those years with warm memories.
“The part I miss the most is bringing in new guys each year and meshing them with the guys you have and building a team,” said Webber. “That was a challenge but if you were successful, it was a great reward.”
Having grown up only about 300 miles away, in addition to playing in one College World Series (CWS) and coaching in two more, Webber is well versed in what goes on in Omaha each summer.
Omaha, Nebraska, is the Mecca of college baseball and, for a time, was a second home of sorts for Webber, now the Beavers pitching coach. For years, college baseball’s grandest stage was a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for Webber, who went two and out in 1969 while pitching for Southern Illinois and in 1987 as the head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
After failing to win a game in his first two trips to Omaha, Webber was finally able to break through and guide the Georgia Bulldogs to their first, and only, CWS title in baseball in 1990.
Webber, who was named National Coach of the Year in 1990 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, had to sit through tense moments in the championship game. Leading by only one run heading into the ninth, Webber found comfort in the fact that he was able to bring in his best pitcher to face their championship opponent, Oklahoma State.
His move paid off as the Bulldogs retired the side in the ninth, sealing the game with a called third strike.
“When that last pitch was called a strike, let me tell you, it was a really big thrill,” said Webber.
Being able to handle all of the distractions associated with Omaha was a key for the 1990 club, which was led by a group of seniors who had already experienced the spectacle of the College World Series.
Understanding that the grandeur of the College World Series can mess with a team’s concentration, Webber points to a moment before the series when he realized his team was poised to make a run.
“One of the things I remember is on workout day, we were driving up to the complex, and when the guys saw Rosemblat Stadium, they got pretty excited,” said Webber. “I think getting the first look at the stadium was a great motivator.”
Acknowledging how difficult it is to keep a team focused on the ultimate goal, Webber attributes the guidance of upperclassmen such as former Seattle Mariner Dave Fleming, as the deciding factor in the success of the 1990 championship team.
“We had a veteran team and a lot of the guys had been together for three or four years,” said Webber. “They did an excellent job because we probably weren’t the most talented team there, but we were the most focused.”
The Bulldogs were rewarded with a trip to the White House, a trip that still brings a smile to the face of Webber, nearly 20 years later.
“That was pretty exciting to say the least,” said Webber. “To be able to go there and meet the president was something I will never forget.”
Now, 14 years removed from his time college baseball, Webber can look back on those years with warm memories.
“The part I miss the most is bringing in new guys each year and meshing them with the guys you have and building a team,” said Webber. “That was a challenge but if you were successful, it was a great reward.”