Tom Petroff isn’t surprised Mike Anderson has led Nebraska to the College World Series in only his third year as coach of the Cornhuskers. All Petroff has to do is recall the first time the two talked. In 1982.
Petroff was coaching Northern Colorado, and he had a chat with a young shortstop who had just made first-team all-state at nearby Eaton High School. Petroff asked, “Mike, you think you can play here?”
“I not only will play here,” Anderson answered, “I’ll start as a freshman.”
He did.
At Nebraska, it took Anderson only three years to get the Huskers (56-13) back to the CWS and fill spikes some deemed too big. He replaced Dave Van Horn, who guided Nebraska to the CWS in 2001 and 2002 and then left for Arkansas, his alma mater. All Anderson has done is earn two Big 12 coach of the year honors in three years and lead the Huskers to the CWS at Rosen- blatt Stadium in Omaha, where they play at 5 p.m. Friday (ESPN2) against Arizona State (39-23).
In Big Red country, this isn’t exactly like playing in the Orange Bowl for a national title. Then again, many Huskers fans can’t remember that far back.
Baseball has become a substitute for success.
The NCAA is holding a special lottery for game-day tickets as Rosenblatt Stadium on Friday will look like Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on a fall Saturday. In last weekend’s win over Miami that clinched the CWS berth, football coach Bill Callahan joined Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and the board of regents in cheering on the Huskers.
“That’s pretty inspiring,” Anderson, 40, said this week. “Football is so incredible. This gives people something else to do in the spring.”
And in large part because of a Colorado boy who returned to his roots. Dotting the Nebraska roster are seven Colorado products, including leadoff hitter Jesse Boyer of Columbine High School, whose 11th-inning walkoff homer May 8 against Missouri – his only home run of the year – is considered a turning point in the season.
When Van Horn left, Anderson made a point to get re- acquainted with Interstate 70. Why not? The only two Division I programs in Colorado are Northern Colorado and Air Force. Besides, only 30 Nebraska high schools have baseball programs, a number that pales in comparison to Nebraska American Legion.
“Colorado has great coaches, great Legion programs,” Anderson said. “They have great foundations for youth programs. To me, it’s very, very evident in northern Colorado, where I grew up. The youth programs are very, very strong. They’re community-oriented.”
That’s why after Nebraska swept Miami in their super regional for the trip to Omaha, the people Anderson talked to were Jim Danley, who recently finished his 31st year as coach at Eaton, and Petroff, now 78 and retired in Chambersburg, Pa.
“They’re constant influences,” Anderson said. “If you came out and watched us play, besides the pinstripes in honor of Jim Danley at Eaton, you’d see Eaton High School and Tom Petroff influence.
“I think we have the fundamentals Coach Danley taught, more on the defensive side. We’re very consistent. The kids know the game, understand the game.”
Petroff knew deep down Anderson would be a coach. Even in the 5 a.m. practice sessions at UNC’s Butler-Hancock Hall, Anderson would pepper his coach with questions.
He also had remarkable maturity. Anderson, who was switched to outfield that freshman year, was playing for UNC at San Diego State, where a balcony filled with libated students hung over Anderson in right.
“They really massacre the outfielder out there,” Petroff said. “Mike would just stand there and laugh at them.”
Does Nebraska have a shot at its first national baseball title? Besides home-field advantage, the Huskers also have the No. 2 pick in the major-league draft in third baseman Alex Gordon and the most wins in the country.
So what advice did Petroff give Anderson?
“The biggest thing I said was, ‘Now you’re there,”‘ Petroff said. “I’ve seen you play on TV. I’m impressed with your team. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re coming out of a tough conference.
“If you guys can win that, you can take this thing.”
John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
