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#UNC coach Scott Forbes and center fielder Owen Hull after victory over N.C. A&T
Feb 25, 2026
#UNC coach Scott Forbes and center fielder Owen Hull after victory over N.C. A&T
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0:00
Yeah, go ahead.
0:01
Okay. First multi-hit day [music] were
0:03
RBI's. How'd it feel?
0:05
Felt great. Team looked good out there.
0:08
Um the staff looked great as well. We
0:10
kept them at the zone and yeah, we ended
0:12
up getting win. So, it was great.
0:14
I saw before the game, right before they
0:16
played like the hype video, you probably
0:18
hugged every single one of your
0:20
teammates with like a different style of
0:21
handshake. Just what was the energy like
0:23
for you before the game?
0:25
Yeah, I love my teammates. We have that
0:27
uh team chemistry that we really take
0:30
seriously and we all love each other and
0:31
have have fun every day.
0:33
I know you're big on your mantras and
0:35
starting the season is probably not
0:37
exactly how you wanted would have wanted
0:38
to start at the plate. Is there any one
0:40
of those that you've really been relying
0:42
on?
0:43
Um honestly anything you vividly
0:45
imagine, sincerely believe and
0:47
enthusiastically act upon must
0:49
absolutely must come to pass. That's
0:50
probably my favorite one. And yeah, I
0:52
mean, put putting in the work with coach
0:54
Weas, Coach Jackson, Coach Forbes, um
0:57
trusting myself that all the work that I
1:00
put in will eventually pay off. So,
1:02
yeah. No, it's it's great to get a win,
1:04
though.
1:04
But you were showing great plate
1:06
discipline in the early games, leading
1:08
the team in walks, so I guess you
1:11
figured the hits would come like they
1:12
did today.
1:13
Yeah. Yeah, I know. I've been I've been
1:15
hitting the ball hard all all since the
1:18
season began. So yeah, I take I take my
1:20
play discipline very seriously. But
1:22
yeah, uh yeah, giving uh coach Weir some
1:25
credit. Me and him sat down for a good
1:27
bit and we worked really hard to make
1:30
make a few tweaks in my swing. So
1:32
are you aware of the tradition recently
1:35
of center fielders who steal a lot of
1:37
bases? You stole 45 decks last year. Uh
1:41
do you feel like you can do the same
1:42
here?
1:42
Yeah, sure. I I I think that's part of
1:44
my my game is to play fast and whatever
1:47
to help the team win and stealing bags
1:50
can be a part of that as well. Yep.
1:51
Was there when you sat down and talked
1:53
with we was there anything specific that
1:55
you guys were looking at because it
1:56
seems like you were swinging at the way
1:57
pitches. You weren't really going for a
1:59
ton of stuff outside of the zone. It
2:01
just wasn't falling where you wanted it
2:02
to.
2:03
Yeah, I would say it was just more of
2:05
like trusting myself. I was trying to do
2:07
a little bit too much. But yeah, we we
2:09
kind of slowed things down for me and it
2:11
worked out well so far. seeing some of
2:13
those guys ahead of you in the lineup.
2:15
Just what have you seen from Jake with
2:17
at the plate and then on the face pass?
2:19
Oh yeah, I mean he's really fun to
2:20
watch. Jake Shatner is a great great
2:22
buddy of mine. Me and him both
2:24
transferred in. We have a bunch of
2:25
classes together. So yeah, spending time
2:28
with him you get to know that he's a
2:30
competitor on and off the field. So it's
2:33
great to have him on our team.
2:36
That deep drive. Take me through that
2:37
where you kind of made an over the
2:38
shoulder catch. Uh did did you not track
2:42
the ball initially or what happened
2:44
there?
2:44
Yeah, so um it it does get tough to see
2:47
out here at um like that dusk time. I
2:50
believe it was at dusk or a little bit
2:51
at night. So yeah, honestly in center
2:54
I've been working on my roots and that
2:56
that was first three steps with coach We
2:59
and Coach Jackson and um yeah just
3:02
trusting trusting my roots and I work
3:03
really hard in BP as well for those.
3:06
We've obviously never been in the box
3:08
and, you know, taken at bats, but what
3:11
does a game like this [music] do for
3:12
your confidence just moving forward?
3:14
Honestly, it's just another day at the
3:16
office. I'm not I'm not really changing
3:18
anything about my mindset. I'm I'm
3:20
positive every day. So, tomorrow's
3:22
another day. We got another team to
3:24
play.
3:24
Does being a black belt help you at all
3:26
in baseball?
3:27
Yes, I Yeah. No, I got that killer
3:30
instinct and um flexibility as well. I
3:33
attribute my black belt to that. But the
3:35
physical does it
3:37
I haven't had to use my skills in black
3:39
belt skills yet. Thank goodness. But you
3:42
never know. I'm ready.
3:43
So if there's ever a clearer or
3:45
something,
3:46
you never know. I guess we'll find out.
3:48
And I want to ask about that. Your
3:50
grandfather played at Notre Dame.
3:51
Yes, he was a running back and my on my
3:54
dad's side. He was a running back at
3:55
Notre Dame.
3:56
What was his name?
3:57
His name was George.
3:58
And anything notable from his career?
4:01
No, not much. So, I mean, I I tried
4:03
looking up how he uh how he played
4:06
online, but there was very little
4:08
documentation from that time. So, yeah,
4:10
I heard he had a lot of speed and he was
4:13
very physical. So, I think I got a
4:15
little bit of that from him.
4:16
Kane told me last year that he had to
4:18
learn to play this center field almost
4:19
like he was, you know, meeting and
4:21
learning about a new front just with all
4:23
the intricacies where the ball will
4:24
fall. Have you seen that? How do you
4:26
think you and the centerfield squad have
4:28
kind of adjusted?
4:28
Oh, I love it. I mean, wherever coach
4:30
for Forbes puts me, I'll I'll play and
4:33
yeah, whatever to help the team win and
4:34
I feel very comfortable out there.
4:38
Thanks.
4:38
Cool stuff. Thanks.
4:39
Thank you. Have a good night.
4:46
He'll know that, too.
4:47
Yeah. You don't want to fight.
4:48
He's an Eagle Scout and a blackout.
4:50
Is clear, you know. Go stand behind him.
4:52
I'm going to stay behind Coach G.
4:54
That's probably [laughter]
4:55
his mustache.
4:56
Not as cool.
4:57
It's interesting. Yeah, it's
4:59
it's [laughter]
5:01
he puts a hat a cowboy hat on. It looks
5:02
pretty like he could be like on
5:04
Yellowstone.
5:06
He's missing his opportunity.
5:07
He looks the part.
5:08
Oh god.
5:10
Yeah, that would be Yeah.
5:12
So, not much uh in the way of stolen
5:15
bases early in the season, but they came
5:17
together today. How' they come out?
5:18
Yeah, a lot of that is, you know, how
5:20
teams hold runners. Um Coach Jackson
5:23
said he felt like we could run. Uh, so
5:25
our guys were ready to do that. I think
5:27
we can run against anybody, but certain
5:29
teams depending on the catcher, how he
5:31
throws, depending on how quick they are
5:33
to the plate. It was really close at
5:35
second before Shatner stole third. It
5:38
was a bang bang play on the pick, but
5:39
um, we keep working on timing it up and
5:41
trying to steal and pressure teams as
5:43
much as possible. Uh, so the situation
5:46
will be what dictates that, but
5:48
obviously the more Owen Hull gets on
5:50
base, the more he's going to steal
5:52
because of his speed. And our best two
5:54
base filler Steelers are Shaftner and
5:56
Hull.
5:56
And then he's continuing the recent
5:58
tradition of speed and center field.
6:01
Yeah, I mean, obviously that's a
6:02
position where
6:04
you need speed or you and you need you
6:07
need really good instincts as Well, I
6:08
mean, we played in the national
6:09
championship and Seth Win was our center
6:11
fielder in 2007 and he wasn't a runner,
6:13
but he had a great first step. Uh, but
6:15
Owen's a runner. Um, he he has really
6:17
worked with coach Jackson, who coaches
6:18
our outfielders to get better. He played
6:20
right field last year, the center
6:22
fielder at George Mason, I think, was a
6:23
third rounder.
6:24
Yeah, Smith Irons.
6:25
Yeah. So, you know, he hasn't been a
6:27
center a ton, but he's really improved.
6:29
He's got that length. He made a big play
6:31
um I don't know who it was against. I
6:33
think it was against Longwood
6:35
um last week. So, you know, those guys
6:38
keep and then Carter French came in
6:39
there at the end um and made a heck of a
6:42
play in that ninth inning.
6:45
Does he does he plays a little closer in
6:48
because he's got that speed to get back?
6:51
Yeah.
6:51
Yes. Yeah. And, you know, he goes back
6:54
better than he comes in. Uh but with
6:57
that length and that size, you know, he
6:59
has a tendency to be to get the balls
7:00
like Vance did. Um he's not Vance as far
7:03
as his instincts yet. um and he's not
7:05
quite as fast, but he's definitely I'm
7:08
glad he's here playing center field.
7:10
It looks like in the beginning of the
7:12
season really he was, you know, choosing
7:14
the right pitches, but the balls just
7:15
weren't falling.
7:16
Yeah.
7:16
With the play discipline, he let he
7:18
still leads the team in walks. How did
7:19
you see that
7:20
him connect with the ball tonight?
7:22
Yeah, that's what I told him. I mean, if
7:23
you're playing great defense and you're
7:25
getting on base, you have a high on base
7:27
percentage. You're seeing the ball. Uh
7:30
if you if you start chasing hits, you're
7:32
going to you're just going to have an
7:34
uphill climb. Just keep doing what
7:36
you're doing, controlling the strike
7:38
zone, getting on base, scoring runs, and
7:40
you'll start getting hits. And uh but
7:42
that's easier said than done. I've been
7:44
I was a player [snorts] and um I started
7:46
my sophomore year 0 for 32 playing for
7:48
Coach Fox and set the bench for like
7:50
eight games. and I remember getting out
7:52
of it with a hit and run. So, you you
7:53
you all a hit always helps. Um but he's
7:58
done a good job of of getting on base
8:00
and still helping us win even though he
8:02
hadn't got a lot of hits till tonight.
8:04
Cooper's defensive play, I believe, is
8:06
top of fourth. Yeah.
8:06
He stops that line drive, he taps third,
8:09
he gets it over to Pollson. Just how
8:11
important is that having that dynamic
8:12
third base there?
8:13
Yeah. Uh you know, I call it as I see
8:15
it. Um, I tell our players all the time
8:18
like I'm never I'm always going to be
8:19
happy after a win. Never seen a bad one.
8:22
Um, but I'm always honest with our team
8:24
and I just didn't think we play that
8:26
that well, honestly. But I thought that
8:28
was the play of the game. And making a
8:30
play like that uh is what you have to do
8:34
to to win games where you don't play
8:36
that well. And Cooper's play, I thought,
8:38
was the it changed the entire game. I
8:41
think if that ball gets down the line,
8:42
we're in a dog fight.
8:43
What bugged you about the game?
8:44
Obviously,
8:45
no, I mean, I I just feel like we we
8:47
just need to do a better better job um
8:50
offensively and fast ball counts and and
8:52
we've got awesome kids, but my job is to
8:54
be honest with them and to coach them.
8:56
Um, you know, it's important to me as a
8:59
head coach like there's there's never
9:01
going to be uh an excuse on why you're
9:04
not ready from the first pitch until the
9:06
last. Uh so, you know,
9:10
I'm still glad we won and and I'm happy
9:12
that we won. Uh, but I I feel like this
9:16
team has to be a team that is built on
9:19
toughness like the 2018 team. Um, and
9:23
not falling into that
9:26
uh distraction of where you're ranked or
9:28
what your record is because none of that
9:29
matters. It matters what you do today
9:31
and you know are you getting better, are
9:33
you getting worse because there's no in
9:34
between.
9:35
There were more walks in his first two
9:37
outings.
9:38
Yeah.
9:38
And then the last two specifically today
9:40
just his pitch placement. I know he had
9:42
I think it was a nasty it was on the
9:44
inside corner in 94. It just looks like
9:47
an unhitable pitch. Yeah.
9:48
How have you seen him settle into that
9:50
pitch placement?
9:51
Yeah, I thought he was the second key of
9:52
the game. Pass through pretty good. He
9:54
had the two four pitch walks that we
9:56
have to eliminate and uh but it but he
9:59
set the tone. He was filling it up. We
10:00
turned a double play. He made a good
10:02
change up. Um, but then when Globe came
10:05
in, I felt like
10:08
like they weren't going to score and he
10:10
and I think they felt like that. Uh, so
10:13
besides Cooper Nicholson's play, the
10:16
story of the game for me was how he
10:17
threw the ball for sure.
10:19
We talked about you obviously have plan
10:21
A B through F with your pitcher.
10:23
Was the plan for him to extend today?
10:26
No, not necessarily. Um, we had a plan.
10:29
We didn't know for sure if we would use
10:32
him today. We even considered maybe
10:34
starting him tomorrow. We do want to get
10:35
his pitch count up. Um but we just did
10:38
not announce a starter tomorrow on
10:40
purpose cuz we just wanted to as soon as
10:42
you think, oh, you know, we're going to
10:44
be up 8 nothing, it's two nothing in
10:45
whatever inning and you need to go to
10:48
one of your best arms and that's what we
10:50
did. And he threw great. So tomorrow
10:52
we'll start Boston Flannry. Um but I
10:55
thought I thought he threw the ball
10:57
really well and y'all saw like he's got
10:59
three pitches. He threw a lot of change
11:00
ups. um he can he can relieve, he could
11:03
close, and he could also start. It
11:06
reminds me a lot of Trent Thornton as a
11:07
freshman um in 2013 where he can do
11:11
anything for us.
11:12
What did you go?
11:13
What were the uh the responses you got,
11:15
the reactions from your guys after you
11:16
told them postgame that you weren't
11:18
necessarily satisfied? I mean, even with
11:19
the win.
11:20
Well, I didn't say I wasn't satisfied.
11:21
Um cuz I'm going to they know they know
11:24
I never
11:26
I better never see anybody that's not
11:28
happy that we won cuz no matter what
11:31
that's what we're trying to do as a
11:32
team. So it wasn't that. It was just a
11:34
reminder of what the expectations are
11:37
and what our standards are and that is
11:40
um you know we're going to we we the
11:44
expectation is we're going to play every
11:45
game
11:47
uh like it is a weekend series in the
11:49
ACC.
11:50
And that was basically the message and
11:52
that they understood.
11:54
It sounds like the the tiptoe game, I
11:56
think that was Yukon last year, you said
11:58
we were tiptoeing.
11:59
Mhm.
12:00
And they came out and played a lot
12:01
better and a lot more focused. Yeah.
12:03
Similar similar vibe.
12:05
Yeah. You know, uh I just don't believe
12:08
in I've heard uh you know, some days,
12:11
you know, you're just not going to play
12:13
well. Well, you may not play well, but
12:15
you can you can be ready. And again, I'm
12:18
not saying we weren't. We had a lot of
12:19
guys that were ready. Uh but I just felt
12:22
like you know what like I don't think we
12:26
had that extra hop that we needed in our
12:29
step and uh thankfully Cooper Nicholson
12:32
made a heck of a play and Globe came in
12:34
and uh you know cuz I I I felt like you
12:38
know I felt like we could have been
12:40
ahead by a lot more.
12:41
Given his youth, what kind of
12:43
conversations do you have with Kaden to
12:45
help him have pitch performances like
12:46
today? What do you tell him? You know,
12:47
if anything, you just have to slow him
12:49
down. Even though he's young, he's ultra
12:50
competitive. Uh, and and our guys should
12:53
take note of that. Guys like that that
12:55
compete, um, you want them on the mound
12:58
and in the box. Uh, but he's supposed to
13:00
be a senior in high school. So, it's
13:03
pretty dang impressive. I'm glad that
13:04
his parents let him come early. And, uh,
13:07
I hate that he's missing his prom, but
13:09
I'm glad he's missing his prom and he's
13:10
here pitching for us. But really for
13:12
him, it's just to slow him down. He gets
13:13
a little bit quick because he's so
13:14
competitive, but he's not going to back
13:16
down from anybody. Do you sense any
13:17
nerves from him before like
13:19
excitement? I mean, he's he's he's he
13:22
wants the ball.
13:23
Uh, everybody has nerves, but his are
13:25
good nerves.
13:28
That's good.
13:28
Good win. Thank y'all. Just hurt you.