If you prepare for each game like a starter, regardless of if you are, you will be prepared for any situation thrown your way.
Just ask senior Grant Dozar.
As a sophomore, for example, Dozar launched a walk-off homer, his first of the season, in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Tigers a 6-5 victory over Alabama and the series sweep for the first time since 2002.
Similarly, this season, following Chris Sciambra‘s season-ending neck injury, Dozar started at first base against Louisiana-Lafayette. He crushed a three-run home run in the third inning to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
Just like that, he does it again.
“That’s something where you just have be thankful for the opportunities you get to play,” said Dozar. “A lot of guys never have that opportunity and I’m thankful. I love being out there with my teammates.”
Time and time again, the native of Morgan City, La. has proved to be that guy to come in whenever needed and go above and beyond. His work ethic and versatility have become two facets that define his four-year career with the LSU baseball program, starting at six positions for the Tigers (first base, second base, third base, designated hitter, left field and catcher) with solid production at each.
“Whatever I can do to help the team in any way is something that I’ve taken pride in and it’s my main goal, whether it be coming off the bench, starting at first, or even getting behind the plate,” said Dozar.
His work ethic stems from watching greats like Eddy Furniss and learning from the guys he’s played with on the team. In his years at LSU, Dozar has experienced both the highs of LSU Baseball, being a part of the 2009 National Championship team, and the lows. He uses this to his advantage, as he’s learned from these experiences and applied them to himself as a person and a player and passes it on to his younger teammates.
“A lot of the guys that came through before me taught me a lot of things about not only baseball, but about becoming a man, and learning responsibilities,” Dozar said. “When I lay my head down to rest, all I can do is pray and hope that I affected someone like those guys did for me.”
This mindset, coupled with his magnetic personality, has established the senior player as an outstanding student-athlete and leader. Teammates, such as sophomore pitcher Kurt McCune, admire Dozar’s vocal leadership and ability to keep the team motivated. He keeps the guys in line by passing on the wisdom he’s learned, and that Lou Holtz impression could keep any team in high spirits.
“I think it’s always been my personality to be the loud guy and the jokester,” said Dozar. “In my freshman year, guys like Chris McGhee and Buzzy Haydel had that role, and when they left it was kind of a hole to fill. I think it was just natural with my personality to just fit in that role, plus they just taught me so much about the game and life so it was kind of an easy transition for me.”
Though his career at LSU is coming to a close, he doesn’t plan to venture too far from the program. The finance major says that he’s fallen in love with Baton Rouge and hopes to remain in Red Stick. Regardless of where life takes him, he knows that he will follow LSU Baseball closely.
His years with the program taught him the meaning of versatility and hard work. It taught him what it means to lead a team, and more importantly it taught him what it means to be a man. The memories made in Alex Box Stadium are ones that Dozar will never forget.
“When you hear people tell stories about their old college ball days, you rarely hear them talk about who got the game-winning hit in this game, or who struck out this guy,” Dozar said. “Winning games is awesome, we don’t want to downplay that, but meeting people, interacting with the fans, and forming bonds with teammates is probably the thing that I’ll most treasure. It’s just been truly a wonderful experience and I’m grateful that I’ve gotten to do it.”