USF Baseball to celebrate 1982 team on Saturday
By Joey Johnston
Forty years. It's an eternity of time and memories can fade. But some things you never forget. That's the case for USF's award-winning 1982 baseball team, the first to win a conference championship and earn an NCAA Regional bid. The squad will be honored Saturday before the USF-Niagara game at 2 p.m., capping its reunion weekend.
USF softball coach Ken Eriksen, a left fielder on the 1982 Bulls, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"Where has the time gone?'' said Eriksen, who has more than 1,000 softball coaching victories, highlighted by USF's 2012 appearance at the Women's College World Series. "We're older and hopefully wiser. But we had a blast playing for USF. There are so many stories — a few you can even print, possibly — but we accomplished some things on that team that will always last.''
The 1982 Bulls were coached by the legendary Robin Roberts, the former Philadelphia Phillies "Whiz Kid'' pitcher and a Baseball Hall of Famer who died in 2010. When USF defeated South Alabama 9-4 to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Red McEwen Field, Roberts was overwhelmed with emotion.
"I've never had a greater thrill in my athletic life,'' Roberts said that day. "I got involved in this thing (coaching) because I was serious about getting together a bunch of guys to play good baseball. This was representative of the way we can play — good, solid baseball.''
The Bulls (45-13) got an automatic bid to the NCAA Atlantic Regional, held at Miami's Mark Light Stadium. After defeating the Florida Gators 8-0 in the opener, the Bulls were beaten by the Miami Hurricanes 9-4, then eliminated by the Stetson Hatters 6-5 in 11 innings. USF was beaten on a two-out bleeder single after coming within four outs of another shot at UM for a trip to the College World Series.
A break here, a bounce there, and maybe the 1982 Bulls get to Omaha. The bitter end didn't diminish USF's accomplishments, though. The players beam with pride over USF's baseball evolution, 13 more trips to the NCAA Regionals, the program's first Super Regional berth last season and a new stadium that still nods to the past with the "Red McEwen Field'' designation behind home plate.
Members of the 1982 Bulls are now in their 60s. Most are parents and some are grandfathers. They have enjoyed professional success, through sports, business ventures or a variety of professions. Some are being reunited for the first time in 40 years. But it didn't take long to catch up.
"The biggest thing I got from the '82 team and season was how a group of individuals with varying backgrounds and experiences can achieve great things and have such a great time doing it when they all together,'' former infielder Bill Wyatt said.
"It was bittersweet to see 'The Red' (old stadium) come down a few years ago, but it was certainly a much needed upgrade for both the baseball and softball programs. Every time I attend a game, I wonder what it would be like to play at such a nice facility. Obviously, the program is thriving and will hopefully build off last year's success to take the next step and reach the College World Series soon.''
Wyatt and his former teammates have the satisfaction of knowing their team laid the cornerstone for future USF baseball success.
Most of the 1982 USF memories surround the leadership of Roberts, who took the Bulls' job one year after being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Roberts coached USF from 1977-85 and his No. 36 has been retired. Obviously, his presence brought enormous name recognition. But initial success was hard to come by. The Bulls built to the point where the 1982 team was ready for a major jump, buoyed by stable pitching, superb defense and a lineup full of hitters.
USF placed four players on the NCAA Atlantic Regional All-Tournament team — pitcher Randy Wilson (also a feared hitter), Eriksen, center fielder Jeff Bassett and first baseman Jim Roberts.
The Bulls were celebrated around Tampa. Catcher Nick Grasso and Wilson, the captains, were sent to a Sports Club of Tampa Bay banquet in downtown Tampa to receive an award.
"Coach Roberts gave us two tickets and we sat at the front table with Hall of Fame players and Major Leaguers,'' Grasso said. "When we looked for Coach Roberts, he and his wife were seated in the back of the banquet room. He had given us his two tickets. This speaks to the respect I will always have for Coach Roberts.''
"Every time we had a long bus trip — no flying in those days — I would get a seat as close as possible to Coach Roberts just to listen to his stories,'' Wyatt said. "Sometimes, he would have one of his old teammates from the Phillies join us on a trip and those were always the best ones.''
Many of Roberts' lessons could be applied off the field as well.
"What I learned to succeed was what Coach Robin Roberts displayed daily — and that was a strong work ethic, accountability, treating people with respect, surrounding yourself with people who want to succeed and being humble,'' Grasso said.
USF reached its goals with a powerful finish. Heading into the NCAA Atlantic Regional, the Bulls compiled a 1.98 ERA over 15 games (29 runs allowed) with Wilson (10-4, 2.80 ERA), the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, being the biggest catalyst. Over that stretch, USF's team fielding average was .981 (just eight errors in 15 games).
With a lineup that included right fielder Billy Cox (team-leading .364 batting average), shortstop Stan Smith, second baseman Tim Carr, designated hitter Scott Clement, catcher Jon Cook, pitchers Billy Saslawsky and Larry Grubbs — along with Eriksen, Bassett, Roberts, Grasso and others — the Bulls featured experience, balance and versatility.
"When time passes, you often have the ability to (exaggerate) and think you were better than you actually were,'' Eriksen said. "But my memories are of a team that worked together, cared about each other and came together at the right time to do something really special.''
Those long-ago times haven't faded at all. For the 1982 Bulls, they will always be great memories. As they reunite, it's time to remember — and time to celebrate.
