Tony Vitello sat down across from the microphone after Tennessee’s College World Series berth on Sunday night and cleared his mind of topics that had been building over the season and the playoffs.
Vitello’s near seven-minute opening statement to begin his press conference revolved around the term “success” but ventured into other directions for topics that had been weighing on the Vols’ head coach.
Sweat still dripping across the brim of his cap, adrenaline pumping through his veins, and a chip firmly planted on his shoulder, Vitello unloaded a speech that would’ve had WWE producers putting him on the opening segment of Smackdown.
What defines success? How do you measure success? That was the crux of Vitello’s comments on Sunday evening as he addressed a question that was asked to Blake Burke on Saturday afternoon. Vitello broke down the definition of success from a dictionary perspective but also applied it to himself and his team from a human perspective. The Tennessee head coach touched on the highs and lows of a season, from managing expectations with fans and the media to processing the game’s most emotional moments in the postseason.
Vitello sent a strong message in the recruiting department, went to battle for his former players and a former team, and spoke about his Dad on Father’s Day.
It’s hard to briefly sum up the statement and any written form doesn’t do it justice until you see the passion that Tennessee’s coach was speaking with. But there’s no doubt that the Vols’ fanbase ate up every bit of it on social media, marching through the streets of X with flags and sound bites.
More from RTI: Zander Sechrist’s Finest Moment Yet Sends Tennessee Baseball To Omaha
Here’s a look at the top clips that had social media buzzing after Vitello’s rant began to surface online:
Vitello on Cal Stark:
“Cal Stark is my guy. THAT’S my guy.”
Tony Vitello’s fiery, passionate postgame press conference had Tennessee fans and college sports spectators in awe on Sunday night.
Here are the top clips that had people talking. A thread 🧵 @rockytopinsider
“Cal Stark is my guy. THAT’S my guy.” pic.twitter.com/lHTUDmhbkj
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Recruiting:
“Anybody that’s thinking about visiting our place that we’re recruiting, and you think that this is a place where you can come and have your hand out and see how much money we can give you, don’t waste our time and don’t waste your time.”
“I’ve stayed in an awful lot of hotels to be in this position. Alone and running around, watching games.” pic.twitter.com/DkaoJM4UhS
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Season Expectations and Polls:
“It started out as, ‘We were No. 1 for most of the season.’ That’s an incorrect statement. That’s not a fact.”
“It started out as, ‘We were No. 1 for most of the season.’ That’s an incorrect statement. That’s not a fact.” pic.twitter.com/dqqvOedTI3
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Player’s Success
“We make these guys write down what success is for them.”
“We make these guys write down what success is for them.” pic.twitter.com/6u22UKfsU9
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Success
“You get to pick. You get to pick what success is. Which is pretty awesome.”
“You get to pick. You get to pick what success is. Which is pretty awesome.” pic.twitter.com/JemejIhsyt
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on What Success Is For Him
“[Dalton Bargo] wants to go home (to Omaha). And he’s going home.”
“[Dalton Bargo] wants to go home (to Omaha). And he’s going home.” pic.twitter.com/uJjxealQyK
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on High Emotions in the Postseason
“One thing I stated after last season, in a bathroom crying with just a lot of emotions after we’re able to beat Clemson last year, was to show up at work every day and get out of my car excited and to have fun.”
“One thing I stated after last season, in a bathroom crying with just a lot of emotions after we’re able to beat Clemson last year, was to show up at work every day and get out of my car excited and to have fun.” pic.twitter.com/PGLrjT7Iwq
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Taking the Underdog Role
“As a matter of fact, we can kind of pick up where Evansville left off.”
“As a matter of fact, we can kind of pick up where Evansville left off.” pic.twitter.com/PuJCAs98rc
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello Defends 2022 Team, Praises Jared Dickey
“You didn’t like the [2022] team? So what. They got you talking about college baseball. I can tell you that.”
“You didn’t like the [2022] team? So what. They got you talking about college baseball. I can tell you that.” pic.twitter.com/vdAFjb05QI
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Evansville
“When he’s older, he’ll be able to look everyone in the eye and say, ‘When I played (for Evansville), I was a warrior. A warrior. Period.'”
“When he’s older, he’ll be able to look everyone in the eye and say, ‘When I played (for Evansville), I was a warrior. A warrior. Period.'” pic.twitter.com/xmhNw7VXU3
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
Vitello on Father’s Day in Omaha, Beach Recommendations
“At the end of the day, for me, Omaha will be where Father’s Day is for me.” “I would recommend Cabo, Ibiza, or Tulum. I’ll be there at some point.”
“When he’s older, he’ll be able to look everyone in the eye and say, ‘When I played (for Evansville), I was a warrior. A warrior. Period.'” pic.twitter.com/xmhNw7VXU3
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) June 10, 2024
FULL SIX-MINUTE VIDEO
Here’s the video. pic.twitter.com/lzp6GHc4sH
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) June 10, 2024
No. 1 Tennessee defeated Evansville by a score of 12-1 in Game 3 of the Knoxville Super Regional on Sunday night. The Vols exploded for a program single-game record seven home runs while Tennessee starting pitcher Zander Sechrist put up a career-defining performance on the mound to keep the Purple Aces at bay.
Tennessee now turns their sights to the 2024 Men’s College World Series this week in Omaha.
