As Paul Mainieri greeted the media from, in his words, "the left coast," he referenced a pair of Louisiana sports icons to share his state of mind heading into what could be the final two games of a storied college baseball career.
One of those references was out of the fiction section.
With retirement looming, Mainieri likened his mindset to the climactic moments of Adam Sandler's Cajun classic 'The Waterboy,' with broadcaster Dan Fouts repeatedly telling Brent Musberger it was the last game of the year, "no use holding anything back."
"I kind of feel that way about myself now," Mainieri said Wednesday, two days before his team faces off with Gonzaga in the double-elimination regional from Eugene, Oregon. "Hey, this is it. If I can't be enthused and excited now, what am I holding it back for? You know?"
Mainieri announced his impending retirement in the final week of May, but said he hadn't made a decision until he woke up the previous Thursday morning and later spoke to LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward.
He said the impact of his decision didn't really sink in until he left Alex Box Stadium for the last time as head coach on Tuesday, likening his walk and look back to Drew Brees leaving the Superdome after his final game as the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints.
But LSU's coach isn't resigned to a ride off into the sunset for two games, the second of which will come against either Oregon or Central Connecticut State University.
"I think we can win this thing. I'm excited about the game Friday night. I'm confident, but, you know, not overly confident, I think we're going to play a really good team against a really good pitcher. But I'm excited as well. I've got a lot of family coming from the game. My two sisters are coming. I've got a brother coming. I've got my best friend from high school coming out. I want to win this thing. We're going to go after this thing with both barrels blazing."
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