Two distinct roads with a single common destination.

On January 30, 2010, right after their last inter-squad game before their season begins, we interviewed University of Tampa head coach Joe Urso and pitching coach Sam Militello. Great interviews. Both are part of Tampa’s rich baseball history, with equally interesting tales of their own Roads to the Show. Although they each took a distinctly different path, both their paths led to the same place; the University of Tampa where their dreams are now focused on helping the next generation of ballplayers make it to the Show.

Urso was a 5-foot-5, 150-pound scrappy second baseman who excelled in high school and led UT to its first state title in the early 90s. But he wasn’t drafted until the next to last round of the amateur draft, round 49 to be exact. He knew with his size he was a long shot to make the Show, so he became the next best thing to enhance his career – the quintessential organization player and teammate who everyone loved. This led him to a coaching and managing position in the Angels organization. He was on a different career path to the majors then he ever imagined. But when he had a chance to coach at his alma-mater and continue the school’s rich baseball history, he came home to Tampa. “It was a tough decision, because you always dream of getting to the major leagues from the time you start playing in Little League, if not as a player than as a coach. But we were having our first son, and Tampa is home. And it meant a lot to me to be a part of UT’s baseball tradition.”

Militello made the Show, throwing seven shutout innings for the Yankees against Boston in his debut in 1991. At age 22, and with only two years in the minors, Militello looked like he would fulfill the potential he displayed at UT, when he was one of the country’s most dominant pitches and was chosen in the sixth round of the amateur draft. However, arm problems derailed his career and he went into coaching, eventually joining his good friend Urso at UT. Militello provided excellent insights about minor league life, and what it was like to make his debut at Yankee Stadium. “I don’t regret anything about my career. I got to experience what every kid dreams of. But it just shows how tough it is to get to the majors and stay there. The competition is fierce. Someone is always looking to take your place. That’s why everyone chases that dream, for that one moment when you can say you played with the best in the world.”

I've put the two interviews together so the duration is about 30 minutes. Pretty long I know, but for those who care, it will be time very well spent.

Thank you for watching!