Troy University Athletics
From the Diamond
Hello everyone and welcome to “From the Diamond”.
I spent the day today with coach Bobby Pierce in
My father found out he had prostate cancer just before the start of the baseball season thispast spring, so it is a
From the Diamond Archived Blogs
very serious thing and it can happen to someone very close to you.
First off, we would like to thank the community relations staff at the
The morning started at 7:45 when we were treated to breakfast in the hospital’s doctor’s lounge (very nice!). Then it was off to WTVY for a sit down interview with Ann Varnum. Ann’s show has been on the air for 34 years and she seems as if she could do it for another 34. Her grandchildren are big fans of
Following that, there was a press conference at the hospital in which most of the upper administration attended. Ron Owens, the CEO of the hospital was also there. Its kind of a small world because Owens’ son was Pierce’s student manager when he was coaching at Alabama-Huntsville.
Coach Pierce signed autographs and shook a lot of hands for the guests who were in attendance. After a few interviews, it was off to the other TV station in
Coach Pierce was on live with Charlie Platt. Platt hosts two live shows a day on the station. Pierce was joined by a local doctor and all three of the men talked about baseball and men’s health for a 30 minute segment.
After the show, it was time for lunch. During the ride to Longhorn, our hosts were asking coach some questions about the teams he has coached over the years. Coach Pierce is the youngest coach in
Also brought up in conversation was a record that could stand for a very long time. That is the five consecutive NCAA statistical champions
Each year it seems that another player raises his game to the next level. Can 2009 bring the sixth?
One thing that everyone was shocked to hear, and everyone kept asking him was about his perfect record. Pierce has never had a losing season in his 19 years of coaching (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!). He has had success at
His players often joke that coach Pierce could walk through mud with white shoes and they wouldn’t get dirty.
When lunch was finished, Coach Pierce had one more interview to do. This time is was with Reginald Jones, who is the lead anchor for WTVY. He hosts a weekend show called “Weekend Edition”. The theme was the same, men’s health.
Coach Pierce said he learned a lot about prostate cancer and how it is found in one out of every three men. He will be at the health fair on Aug. 23 in
Everyone who met Coach Pierce today had nothing but kind and positive words to say about him. That seems to be the constant pattern involving Coach Pierce. Everyone he talked to today, he talked to them like they were childhood friends. Several people didn’t even introduce themselves, but he talked to them like he knew their name and had known them forever.
It makes you glad that
Being a part of the baseball program, in a limited role, I have noticed the little things that Coach Pierce teaches and it’s the little things that help make him successful. He instills a certain pride in his teams that make them proud to wear the Trojan uniform. He teaches his players respect and about leadership.
Don’t believe me? Watch the baseball team during the national anthem. While other teams are swaying and just standing looking at the flag...look at
This stems from the head coach all the way down to the managers. He does it in respect for the leadership of our university, Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr, who is a military man.
Little things such as that make me proud to have Bobby Pierce as a Trojan.