Episode 1- ACC Softball PreSeason Rundown & Legend Talk

Welcome to Episode 1 of Up the Coast with Alex & Britt!Opening weekend is here! Butterflies are in full effect for athletes, coaches and fans across the country! We open this episode with our thoughts and experiences of opening weekend as former players.Florida State #1:Younger pitching staff, Kat Sandercock graduatedMcKenna Reid- Lefty sophomore for the Noles was very impressive in her freshman campaignLonni Alameda coaching style- pitching by committee FSU’s offensive leaders- Michaela Edenfield, Dev Flaherty, Kaley Mudge, Jahni Kerr, Kalei HardingClemson #2: Valerie Cagle- the ACC Star 2023 National Player of the Year award recipientSurrounded by returners- Alia Logoleo and Mackenzie ClarkClemson fanbase seems electric!Duke #2:Marissa Young as the Head Coach- has done a phenomenal job building the Blue Devil programRunner up at the ACC Tournament in 2023Top 8 National Seed in 2023 (#8)Winning in the “big” games will be crucial for Duke this seasonVirgina Tech #3:They have historically had great pitchingThey had 100+ homeruns in 2023- great bats!Didn’t execute and win the important games, which proved to be the difference makers throughout their seasonEmma Lemley in the circle- illegal pitches, NCAA pitching rule changesPitching- Step/ Stride Rule Chage:RULE: “To allow pitchers to disengage from the playing surface during the delivery. The pitcher’s pivot foot could become airborne with one push from the pitcher’s plate. However, pitchers would not be allowed to replant their pivot foot resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher’s plate. Britt’s thoughts on the rule changeAlex’s thoughts on the rule changeNotre Dame #4: Interesting pre-season ranking given how their season played out last yearHosted ACC Champs, lost the opening round gameLeadership has been a theme for the team heading into the seasonKarina Gaskins- 2022 ACC POYRepeating success is HARDLouisville #5:Transfer portal: lost Korbe Otis, Sarah GordonGraduated in ‘23: Taylor Roby- Louisville career leader in HR’sFilling the shoes of last year’s players- dealing with change and finding their identityBuying into that identity will be crucial for the CardinalsHaving a sense of self- finding a team identity and the importance of it!University of North Carolina (UNC) #6:New coaching staff- Donna J. Papa retires New Head Coach- Megan Smith Lyons- UNC AlumAutumn Owen- transfer to UNC from MarshallUNC style of play- competitive, grittyGeorgia Tech #7:Another interesting ranking, finished ‘23 10th in the ACCNew coaching staff- anxious to see how the team adapts to changeStrength of schedule is solid- opening weekend plays Alabama twice and then heads to Clearwater for the Clearwater Invitational- such a huge tournament and opportunity for GT to get better and see what they’re made ofVirginia #8:New assistant coaches- Joanna Hardin bringing in new assistants and has had to do this a few times, has done a great job adapting to the changes and keeping the program’s culture at the forefront of her missionAssociate Head Coach- thoughts on the elevation of the position and how it’s relevance is spreading across the countryRetention focus to avoid coaches leaving programsSyracuse #9:Alumni as assistant coaches- Sydney O’Hara- was an All- American for the Orange, 2- way player and now able to give back to her program, having experienced it first handSyracuse has a great strength of in conference schedule this season- playing VT, Duke, Clemson and Florida StateNorth Carolina (NC) State #10:2023 was a DOOZYCoaching staff was let-go mid seasonDirector of Ops became the interim head coach, Grad Assistant became the Assistant coachRespect the Wolfpack’s resiliencyNew coaching staff- Lindsay Leftwich named as Head CoachBoston College #11:Important to take ownership of their identity to be in the driver’s seat of their wins and successesInteresting hire of Cody Damon- player development coach and bringing more intelligence to the coaching perspective, not necessarily a softball specific backgroundPittsburgh #12:New coaching staff- Jenny AllardPrevious HC at Harvard, 28 years there- Ivy League’s longest tenured and most winningest coachImportance of hiring solid assistantsTransferred out: Dani DrogemullerInterview with Donna Papa and JoAnne Graf- two LEGENDS of the coaching world (a combined 2,805 wins between the two coaches)History of the ACC and UNC & FSU’s involvement in the conferenceGrowth of the conferenceAdditions of teamsAdditions of coverage- ACC Network, ESPN broadcasted gamesAdditions of facilities and amenities added for athletes and fansThe evolution of the student athlete and the sportSoftball being shown on TVNIL and its impactTransfer portal and its impactACC scope compared nationally amongst other conferencesCal & Stanford joining the ACCChanges within the conferenceThank you and closing remarks