If you ask Bryson Barber what the biggest difference is between former UF baseball coach Pat McMahon and his successor, Kevin O'Sullivan, only one word is necessary: intensity.
"Coach O'Sullivan is a bulldog," the senior first baseman said. "Everything is 100 percent full out, and he doesn't hold anything back, which is great. Coach McMahon is a nice guy, but he was relaxed with what he did. Coach O'Sullivan doesn't relax, ever. I can't imagine what he's going to be like in games."
Expectations have been high for the Gators following their 2005 appearance in the College World Series, but they've battled mediocrity and inconsistency in the past two seasons.
Though McMahon was well liked by his players, the general consensus is that it was time for a change.
"The new coaching staff is very fundamental," senior right-hander Josh Edmondson said. "They want us to do everything right. They emphasize being mentally tough and doing everything full effort. They want to win, bottom line."
Conditioning has been the team's main focus in O'Sullivan's short time at UF. Staying in shape has become even more important this season with the condensed schedule that will have the Gators playing as many as five games per week.
Fall was grueling, but it had its benefits. In Barber's estimation, he's in the best shape of his career.
"We've done everything you can imagine," he said. "We've run sprints, long distance, run the mile, plate pushes. It can't be simulated. Everything we've done, I've never done it before."
O'Sullivan, who played catcher at Virginia, is charged with developing a solid fifth starter and a reliable bullpen. Edmondson, who pitched 51.2 innings last season, is the only senior on the pitching staff.
But the team remains confident in O'Sullivan's ability to develop pitchers. Over his nine seasons as a coach at Clemson, O'Sullivan had 29 players selected in the MLB Draft.
"Coach O'Sullivan definitely understands the game," catcher Hampton Tignor said. "He's a very smart guy, and he has a knack for getting the most out of each of his players."
