June 23, 2006

60th NCAA MEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
Championship Series Press Conference Quotes - North Carolina vs. Oregon State
Hall of Fame Room, Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, Neb.
Friday, June 23, 2006

North Carolina head coach Mike Fox
(Opening state) "This is a very exciting time for our program and for Oregon State. This is where you want to be at this time of the year. Just to even say the words that you're playing for a national championship is exciting in itself. I want to congratulate OSU for being here. It's kind of indescribable on want it means to be here. We work all year, like all college baseball teams do, to be here. It's a very exciting time for our players and our program."

(On being 3-0 and getting ready for OSU): Before we got out here, we really focused on enjoying the experience. Just have fun and enjoy being out here. We were very fortunate to win against Cal State Fullerton, both games. I think you have to be lucky as well as good. We've been fortunate to be both. There is such a fine line between good and great out here. A catch here or there, a hit down a line or a dropped ball. We've played loose and just enjoyed it and gotten breaks when we've needed it."

(On OSU in general) "I've enjoyed watching Oregon State play. I think they are a very tough team and have a chance to do something very special: lose the first game and then win the whole thing. They play with a lot of toughness, grit and emotion and are a talented team. They play off each other. They are very well coached and that's what has gotten them to this point. To win four in a row out here is pretty special."

(Starting rotation for 3-day series): "We'll throw Andrew Miller tomorrow night and Robert Woodard on Sunday and then figure things out after that."

(On support from administration and coaches): "I think it's terrific that Coach Williams would take time out of his schedule to come out here. I understand our football coach is coming out as well. Everybody likes a winner but for the two of them to come out and be supportive is great. They're both Carolina grads. What's neat at Carolina is that we pull for each other; I've been to football and basketball games so it's good that they're coming out for a few games."

(On being on the opposite coast from the Pac 10): "I think it's more difficult in more sports because there is television. They're such parody in college baseball now because there are so many teams that are that good. Some of the national seeds aren't here which says something about the parody of the sport. There is always the battle of who's better, ACC, PAC-10, they're all good and all very competitive."

(On being the first team at UNC to possibly win the baseball title): "I think it's neat that the two programs are here and it speaks to where college baseball is going. It's exciting and there are a lot of great programs out there. The ball has to bounce the right way a few times. There are a lot of programs that can get here, even if they aren't the top ranked team in the country."

North Carolina leftfielder Jay Cox
(On UNC baseball getting recognition in a basketball town): "It's great to give UNC baseball a little face time. I think it's going to be great in the next few years, especially for the guys coming in. They have a lot to work for and have the support from our fans."

North Carolina pitcher Andrew Miller
(On UNC baseball getting recognition in a basketball town): "It means a lot. Basketball is still tops in Chapel Hill but it's nice to get some recognition. I don't think it matters; we like having fans at our games but we like laying low and don't want the spotlight all the time."

North Carolina shortstop Josh Horton
(On advantage or disadvantage of rest): "I don't know how much of an advantage it is. Being away from the field for a few days, it might be an advantage to be on the field and have played consecutive days. We practiced at Creighton. At this point in the season, you've played 60-some games and everyone is running on empty. You have to dig deep."