The College World Series always produced some of the best soundbites of the year, and this edition in Omaha has been no exception.
On Sunday afternoon, the Louisville Cardinals, a team making their first trip to Omaha since 2019 and seeking their first title, were facing elimination after dropping a game on Friday night against Oregon State.
Needing a win over Arizona to stay alive in the double elimination tournament, Louisville came away with the 8-3 clutch victory and kept themselves in it.
After the game, Cardinals head coach Dan McDonnell was asked how he got his team to summon up the strength needed to win the elimination game, and he dropped an epic comparison to the GOAT himself:
“I can bring the Saban out of me with the best of them.” – @LouisvilleBSB Head Coach Dan McDonnell on his fiery speech that helped spark the Cardinals’ rally in the World Series elimination game win over Arizona https://t.co/xM1RqkRIr9 pic.twitter.com/vS5NclfFph
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) June 16, 2025
“I can bring the Saban out of me with the best of them,” McDonnell said of letting his team have it following the loss. “As a coach my age, that’s just who I grew up watching and admiring…I definitely have a little bit of old school in me, I love on the kids and they know I love them, but as I’ve always said, they see my best and they see my worst, and when I’m not happy they’re gonna know.”
Clearly, channeling Nick Saban worked out well for Louisville, and they will have another chance to stay alive on Tuesday afternoon with a rematch against Oregon State.
