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Donnie Marbut

Cougar Chats presented by:

Baseball Excellence Fund

Chat with Baseballcoach Donnie Marbut this Tuesday, May 26 .

Moderator: Thank you for visiting WSUCougars.com and this evening's online chat with Cougar Baseball Head Coach Donnie Marbut. Yesterday, the Cougars made history when they were selected to the NCAA Tournament, a first for the program since 1990. WSU will open the championships against Arkansas in the Norman (Okla.) Regional, Friday, May 29 at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Also please notice the Baseball Excellence Fund link at the top of this page. Click on this link to make a donation to the fund, which will be directed to the development of the baseball program and its facilities. For more information on the fund, please click HERE to read a message from Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. Without further delay let's get to the chat. Donnie, thank you for joining us today.

Donnie Marbut: Thank you for having me on. Just to warn you I will be brief, I have to go pack for Oklahoma after the chat.

Evan (Pullman): Has this year's success opened some additional recruiting doors to help sustain the Cougs at this level?

Donnie Marbut: Evan, yes, I'm quite sure the more success you have, the more doors that do open. But we don't plan on changing our recruiting philosophy. We are hoping that the success will lead to having more of our recruits go to WSU rather than signing professional contracts.

CKDad: At the beginning of the year, we were wondering who would step up and take Gran and Murphy's place for power. Did you have any inclination of the hitting potential the Cougs would have this year?

Donnie Marbut: CK, I thought we would eventually have a well-rounded offense and I think now we are gelling as an offense at the right time.

CKDad: How did this year's team gpa compare with the the team's you've had up to this point?

Donnie Marbut: CK, this year's spring GPA was the highest spring GPA in the history of the Cougar program.

Novato Ca: What will be the advantage for your team in the tournament?

Donnie Marbut: I'm not sure if we have the advantage, but I like our chances.

Cheetah @ Tracyton: I am curious since WSU has a chance to go to the World Series, do you do anything different now?

Donnie Marbut: Cheetah, we don't plan on doing anything different. We just plan on playing Cougar Baseball.

Debbie Schmitz: Do you see a strong recruiting class for next year?

Donnie Marbut: Debbie, we really like our 2009 recruiting class. If the majority of this class decides to go to college and bypasses the professional draft, we feel as if it will be the best class we've had since I've been here.

Dwight Houston: What's the impact for the program when you go to the championships, and if you do well?

Donnie Marbut: Dwight, I think it's visibility. The more success you have the more likely recruits will see you play or hear about you play. I think that it can only be a positive.

Moderator: As a reminder, please notice the Baseball Excellence Fund link at the top of this page. Click on this link to make a donation to the fund, which will be directed to the development of the baseball program and its facilities. For more information on the fund, please click HERE to read a message from Director of Athletics Jim Sterk.

James: What are your feelings about the budget cuts and potential cutting of Academic programs, and how that might affect what recruits might be willing to come to WSU?

Donnie Marbut: James, I think across the country people are cutting their budgets but at Washington State University the students come first. I don't worry much about the effects because I know the University will do the right thing for the students.

DC (San Diego): Heading to OK for this first round is obviously a tougher draw from a fan standpoint than staying in the west. Does the familiarity with the venue and the host team work to your advantage though, or were you disappointed (i know your excited to be there) that you could not play in CA where you could get more folks in the seats?

Donnie Marbut: DC, I really wish it was closer for the fans, but the NCAA makes the decisions and we go where we are told. I do hope that the being familiar with the teams and the playing surface does help.

Tom (Bothell): Way to Coach and team. Keep it going! Who will you start against Arkansas & why? All the best - Go Cougs!

Donnie Marbut: Tom, I'm assuming you are asking about the pitcher, and if you are, we are going to start Matt Way. We have started him every Game 1 the entire season, and we don't think it is a very good time to change it.

Brian (California): What can you tell us about the pitching that you expect to see in the regional? Go Cougs!!!

Donnie Marbut: Brian, Arkansas is going to start a left-handed pitcher named Dallas Keuchel. He is a senior left hander who is very experienced and from what I saw in early spring, very talented and competitive. He was actually a summer teammate of Matt Way.

Matthew Richland W.A.: Are you guys going to have a normal practice this week going into super regionals or are you guys going to tone it down and make sure everyone stays healthy?

Donnie Marbut: Matt, we try not to change anything. Our whole goal is to prepare for this weekend like any other weekend. But our injuries have taken a toll and we have had to tone it down a little bit.

Ralph, Portland: As a Horizon Air employee, when you go to Omaha, would you consider chartering Horizon CRJ tail #616, the Coug Jet? Please do so, so I can have a seat to Omaha!! Mention my name for a "special rate!"

Donnie Marbut: Ralph, nothing will make me happier than taking the Cougs and you to Omaha!

Moderator: Okay, that's all the time we have. Donnie, thank you for joining us once again.

Donnie Marbut: I just want to say thanks to all of the Coug fans out there who continue to support the Cougs and follow us from afar. I appreciate everyone who has donated to the excellence fund. Your support is very important to the success of the program. Go Cougs!

Moderator: Thank you to everyone for your questions. Remember, to get all the information about WSU Athletics, go no further than wsucougars.com, the official website of Cougar Athletics. Please check back to wsucougars.com for future online chats.