"Around The Bases" with Sam Demel
11/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 28, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas - With a year of college under his belt, sophomore pitcher Sam Demel sat down to answer a few questions about his experiences at TCU. Demel completed a successful freshman campaign with a 5-5 record while ranking second on the squad with 100 strikeouts in 95.0 innings.
Q:You were pushed hard to sign with the Texas Rangers out of high school but, chose to come to TCU. What made you decide to come to college as opposed to starting your professional career?
A:"There were a lot of man hours put into my decision to come to TCU by my parents, the coaching staff at TCU and myself. Making the decision to come to TCU and putting off my dream for a few years was the hardest decision I've had to make, and let me tell you it was not an easy one for an 18-year-old kid to make. When it all came down to it, I felt that if I signed and went off to play that the chances of me actually going back and getting a degree was probably not going to happen.
"For me, the thing I love to do almost as much as playing the game of baseball is coaching the game of baseball. That's what I hope to someday do after I'm done playing, and that is not possible without a degree. That was the biggest reason I chose to come to school."
Q:What has your college experience been like up to this point, both athletically and academically?
A:"My college experience thus far between the lines has been exceptional as a whole. Although last year left a bad taste in my mouth with my individual results and a lot for me to prove this year, I couldn't have asked for a better experience of college baseball. There is no greater feeling than sitting in a hotel room playing X-box with some of the guys on the team and just joking around.
"As for the academic side of my experience in college, let's just say that it has been an interesting ride. It's taken me a little over a year of college, but I think I'm starting to get a grasp on this thing they call studying! The academic side of my experience has been the hardest thing for me to adjust to because I never had to study in high school and now I have no choice.
Q:Describe what it was like to play in such a prestigious league as the Cape Cod League.
A:"Playing in the Cape Cod Summer League was one of the greatest times of my life and I'm ecstatic that I'm blessed enough to be able to go back next summer. The people in the Cape are amazing, they treat the league as if it's the MLB and the players the same. There is also no question that the best college talent plays in the Cape. Let me put it this way; great baseball, great food, perfect weather, beautiful golf courses, and amazing people. Sounds like a darn good place to spend a few months a year if you ask me.
Q:What is it like to play baseball for TCU and coach Jim Schlossnagle?
A:TCU is a wonderful school with a great atmosphere. For me being able to play baseball here gives me so much more pride than you could imagine. The way that the administration cares about TCU baseball and the way it's involved in every aspect of the team shows how committed this school is to the program.
"Playing baseball for TCU is like playing for a big league club except we have classes to attend and we're paid in scholarships. I love playing for Coach Schlossnagle because he is a players' coach, meaning he wants to hear the players' opinions, and he wants to know how things are going off the field and in the classroom.
"I played with around 25 guys this summer and, out of those guys, two of us loved playing for our head coach. The funny thing about it is that those two were me and (TCU teammate) Chad Huffman."
