By Ryan Rogers
LSU Sports Information
LSU wrapped up its 2000 season in Alex Box Stadium with their 14-8 victory over UCLA allowing them to advance to the College World Series. Many seniors played their last game in Alex Box Saturday. Among those seniors was Jeremy Witten.
Witten grew up in Louisville, Ky. The graduate of Fern Creek High School’s story began with his prominence as a high school punter. He was recruited initially by Gerry DiNardo to play football for Vanderbilt University.
When DiNardo took the job as the head football coach of LSU, Witten expressed his interest to follow DiNardo to LSU. DiNardo complied and offered Witten a scholarship to punt for the football team at LSU.
“I called him up when he took the job at LSU and told him I was still committed to him. He gave me a scholarship and I was headed for LSU,” says Witten.
Witten served as the “pooch punter” on the football team for the last four years. His precise short yardage punts made him a valuable member of the football squad. His most memorable effort may be the ’97 Alabama game in which he managed to have two of his punts downed inside the two-yard line. He pinned the Crimson Tide giving them poor field position all game long which helped LSU shutout Alabama 27-0 in a memorable victory for the Tigers.
Eventually Witten approached Skip Bertman about playing baseball for LSU. Bertman allowed him to walk-on and Witten hasn’t looked back since.
“The coaches were always extremely excepting of me playing two sports,” says Witten “The two coaches understood how much each sport meant to me and how I wanted to be a part of both teams. My teammates have opened me with welcomed arms making the transition rather easy.”
As a redshirt freshman in ’97, Witten appeared in 53 games. His sophomore season he made 28 starts in the outfield usually filling in for injured players. In 1998 he batted an impressive .309 in spot duty.
By his junior year Witten had become a key figure in the LSU baseball team. He was the Tigers second leading hitter with a .330 batting average and eight home runs. He played in all 66 games while making 59 starts.
Witten always managed to fill his role on the team whether it was a starter or a reserve filling in for injured players.
“I always tried to be solution to any problem.”
Now as a senior Witten has truly become a leader on the Tigers roster. He batted .349, with six home runs, and 52 RBI.
“It’s my job as a senior to take initiative and handle situations whether they be on or off the field. We have to set an example and lay down the framework for the younger guys,” says Witten. “It’s about willing to be one of the ‘go-to’ guys.”
Witten definitely has been a “go-to guy” for LSU. His clutch performances have numbered in his career at LSU. As a young sophomore he hit the sacrifice fly which scored the game-winning run over Rice in the College World Series. This year he hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth lifting LSU over No. 1-ranked South Carolina 9-7.
This past weekend in the Super Regional he came through with a RBI single in a crucial moment helping LSU pull away from UCLA in game one.
“When I’m in pressure situations I always feel comfortable because of my faith in God. I know he’s there with and he will help do the things he wants me to do.”
Among his many accomplishments at LSU, his most important may be the fact that he earned a degree in Kinesiology on May 19. Even more impressive is that he graduated as an honor roll student. He received the SEC Academic Honor Roll Award in 1999.
“I just take care of business in the classroom,” says Witten. “It’s indicative. If you take care of business off the field then you will be able to take care of business on the field. Being a good student has helped me be a better player.”
Witten has learned a lot of things under Skip Bertman‘s tutelage. He has also grown to respect Bertman immensely.
“He gave me a fair shot from the beginning,” says Witten. “He’s the best coach in America from a baseball standpoint. He taught me the game. When I came to LSU I didn’t know the game of baseball. I knew I could play it, but I didn’t know the finer points of the game. He taught me as he’s taught everyone the finer points of baseball. It’s helped me and made all the difference in my career.”
In his five years at LSU Witten has endured many fond memories. Among his best memories are the ’97 National Championship, Warren Morris’ legendary home run in the ’96 title game, the 28-21 win over No. 1 ranked Florida and the game winning home run over South Carolina.
“Evenh tough it’s fresh on my memory today’s victory over UCLA is a great moment. This was a time when guys came together,” he says. “Early in the season we weren’t seen as a good team by the fans. We were patient with ourselves and we put it together. And just to know now that we’re headed to Omaha, what a special day.”
Witten offers a solid recommendation to any student-athletes considering making LSU their school of choice.
“I would have to say do it (come to LSU). The most fun you will have your entire life will be at LSU,” he says. “It’s the pinnacle of college baseball. LSU is the New York Yankees of college baseball. It’s where everyone wants to be. You walk on the field and people respect you almost to the point of fear. Just look at the tradition it carries.”
Witten credits his great experience at LSU to the elder players whom took him under their wing.
“Tim Lanier, who I look up to more than anyone, and Tom Bearnheart and Eddy Furniss are the guys who taught me how to act on and off the field an they taught me what it means to be a LSU baseball player.”
Witten has been a part of great times at LSU. He has been a key ingredient in LSU’s success in both baseball and football. More importantly, he has managed to define the term “student-athlete” very well.
His accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom make him a credible example of what LSU athletics are all about. By being successful and simply a great person he has represented LSU well.
Witten always had a very quiet, yet brilliant career at LSU. Never thought of as a star, yet he always put up outstanding numbers. In Witten’s last at bat as a Tiger in Alex Box Stadium, he left all but quietly. Witten smashed a two-run home run and said goodbye to Tiger fans in dramatic fashion.
Jeremy Witten will wrap up his career as an LSU student-athlete in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Although Witten will leave LSU and may not be remembered as one of the greatest athletes to ever to wear the purple and gold, maybe he should be.