Florida Gators
Auburn Long Course Fall Class.
Former Gators coach Lopez's matchup against FSU in CWS stirs memories
Friday, June 15, 2012 | Baseball, Women's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
OMAHA, Neb. -- The second game of the College World Series on Friday night features a coaching matchup Florida baseball fans are familiar with.
In one dugout, Florida State coach Mike Martin. In the other dugout, Arizona coach Andy Lopez.
Lopez is better known around Gainesville as the Gators head coach from 1995-2001.
Lopez remains third on the program's all-time wins list with 278 victories in his seven seasons in Gainesville. While Lopez's stint at UF ended more than a decade ago, the Wildcats' matchup against FSU revived some memories for him.
"I got thrown out on night in Tallahassee,'' Lopez said. "I'm not even sure why. I sat behind home plate and [former FSU player] J.D. Drew's family was there. They talked to me through the whole game.
"I actually walked away thinking that wasn't a bad experience."
Lopez first met Martin in 1992 when the veteran FSU coach made a trip to California to visit Pepperdine, where Lopez coached at the time and won a national title.
They hit it off pretty well. Lopez joked about how that always didn't go over well when Lopez and Martin became rivals once Lopez took over the Gators in 1995.
"I think one time I got in trouble because someone called my radio show and said it was like a love fest,'' Lopez said. "We talked before the game. I'd give him a hug. He would give me a hug. I was like, 'Gee, I didn't know I had to hate the man.' "
Lopez was 13-15 against Martin while at UF, but in their only head-to-head meeting in the College World Series, Lopez's Gators defeated Martin's Seminoles twice in the 1996 CWS.
