David Kopp holds the Clemson Super Regional championship trophy the Gators won on Sunday in Clemson, S.C., a place he once called home. (Photo: John Paternoster/UAA Communications)
Tales from Omaha: CWS Berth Prompts Meaningful Flashback for Gators Assistant Kopp
Thursday, June 13, 2024 | Baseball, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
OMAHA, Neb. — Gators assistant coach David Kopp stood off to the side as the team's equipment staff unpacked luggage late Wednesday afternoon when the Gators baseball team arrived at its hotel.
When he was joined by a visitor, the conversation turned to Sunday's memorable victory at Clemson that earned the Gators a berth in the College World Series. Kopp is still processing the full-circle moment.
"I'll have a good story to tell the grandkids one day,'' he said. "There's a lot of emotions. It was surreal to be back there on that field."
While much of the pregame chatter before last weekend's Clemson Super Regional centered on the return of UF head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, who spent nine seasons as a Tigers assistant before taking over the Gators, Kopp also reconnected with many familiar faces. David Kopp during his playing career at Clemson. (File photo, Clemson Athletics)
He was a standout pitcher for the Tigers from 2005-07 who became a second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals. Kopp grew up in Florida and entertained offers from the Gators and Tigers out of Coral Springs High.
He signed with Clemson thanks in part to O'Sullivan, who was at the time the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator under then-Tigers coach Jack Leggett. One of Kopp's signature moments at Clemson happened 18 years ago Monday.
In Game 2 of the Clemson Super Regional on June 10, 2006, Kopp entered the game in the bottom of the seventh against Oral Roberts – the home team in Game 2 like the Gators on Sunday – with runners on first and third and one out. He pitched out of the jam, and the Tigers rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth on the way to a 6-5 victory and trip to Omaha.
Kopp won by pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings, retiring seven of the eight batters he faced. Kopp was pitching so well that the Tigers stuck with him despite having future big-leaguer Daniel Moskos as the closer. When he retired Carter McQuigg on a fly ball to right to end the game, a celebratory on-field eruption ensued similar to the one the Gators staged at Kingsmore Stadium.
Archived on Clemson's website is a game recap and transcript. Here is what Kopp said of his performance on that day:
"I can't describe the feeling. It was amazing. I wanted to go out there and put the team in a situation to win the ballgame … It was an unreal feeling (pile-on celebration), something I'll be able to tell my kids about someday. When I got the double play in the eighth inning, I went in the dugout and Sully [yes, that Sully] said, 'Go get it for us,' and that's when I knew it was my time to go out and get three outs to Omaha."
Clemson has returned to the CWS only once (2010) since Kopp's memorable outing, but he stood in Florida's dugout on Thursday at Charles Schwab Field for the second consecutive season. As the 38-year-old Kopp took in the scene and reminisced, that summer half a lifetime ago remains tucked away safely in his heart and mind.
"That's the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid,'' he said.
