2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 24, 2021

Chris Newell

Virginia Cavaliers

Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 6, Virginia - 2

Q. The TV broadcast showed Coach O'Connor with the players out in the field after the game. What was his message to you guys?

CHRIS NEWELL: It was just to keep our heads up. We just talked about the position we were in in April and where we were at. And I completely agree with him. There's no reason that we should come out of here with our heads down, because, I mean, we really did do something special as a group. From where we were at and it really says a lot about this club this year. And I'm just so proud of everybody just top to bottom. There's really nothing else that you can ask for.

Q. There are still guys out in the outfield hugging and sharing moments together. What is it about this team that makes the group so close and so tight? And what will you remember most about this team and being a part of it?

CHRIS NEWELL: I would say it started last year, honestly. I mean, if you look at our roster, it's almost the exact same as last year, plus or minus a few guys. So just where we were at last year and how great of a start we were off to last year and just to have that taken away from us, just left a little bit of a sour taste in our mouth.

So we went home over quarantine and over the summer and everybody went their own ways. We all knew that we were all going to be back. And it definitely was our goal to get here and win a national championship. We did one of those things, and unfortunately missed out on the other.

But just from what happened last year and to this year, it's just unbelievable how close all of us have gotten together. And just sad to see it end the way that it did.

Q. The way you guys fought all year when you were in that hole in April, when you were in all the elimination games, where did that confidence come from? Where did it originate for you guys that you just kind of carried throughout this whole season?

CHRIS NEWELL: I would say that it came from ourselves, honestly, and our preparation throughout the year. Going back to last year, obviously we were cut short. So we all had to report early and started practicing, things like that, workouts really early in the summer. And it takes some sacrifice for us to do that.

But what I think is really, really special about this team is the trust that we have in each other. I can tell you just offensively within our lineup, you always -- if you get out, you have all the confidence in the world that the guy after you or the guy after him is going to get something done for us. So, I mean, it speaks volumes about this program and this group of guys this year, for sure.