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Pitcher Theodore commits to UT
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His mom was a UCLA cheerleader. His dad was a UCLA football player.
So where does Michael Theodore want to play his college baseball? Yep, the University of Tennessee.
Theodore, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher from Detroit (Mich.) Country Day High School became the latest UT commitment for the 2010 class.
“I’m really pumped up to be going down there to play,” Theodore said. “We moved to Michigan from Southern California when I was 10 and I’ve never been a real big fan of the cold up here.
“I’ve just always wanted to go play ball in the SEC or ACC to get into a highly competitive conference.”
To make sure he was looking in the right neighborhood, Theodore and his dad took a mini-spring tour around the Southeast to find the right fit.
“Basically every weekend, my dad and I would hop on a plane and go to different colleges around the South,” Theodore said. “We looked at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Mississippi and then Tennessee was the last stop on that trip.
“Tennessee was the best visit we had by far. The coaches seemed like the best people, the school spirit was great and the team looked really good (in sweeping LSU). I walked away from that knowing that was the place I wanted to take a long look at and they became the No. 1 choice.”
Theodore has been clocked throwing his fastball in the low 90-mph range and went 6-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 60 innings as a junior this past season.
“Mike has a great fastball and is working on his other pitches,” Country Day coach Frank Orlando told The Oakland (Mich.) Press. “He’s starting to develop a slider and an off-speed pitch, and that’s making him more effective. He’s starting to change speeds and becoming a better pitcher.”
The big question now — in a house divided — is who will Theodore be rooting for when the Tennessee football team travels to UCLA to open the season Sept. 1 on national television?
His dad, Terry, played for the Bruins from 1982-85 and was a teammate with current UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.
“I’ve got no problem telling my dad I want Tennessee to win,” Theodore said. “He’s already sick of it. I already ordered a bunch of Tennessee T-shirts and I’ve got the Rocky Top ringtone on my phone.
“I already told him Tennessee was going to win and he just said, ‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’ ”
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by volchiq on July 17, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to embrace the Big Orange! We feel the same about you! Welcome!
Posted by jh43 on July 17, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to Vol Country! You will be a part of a team that will keep getting better and better.
Posted by mgraham65 on July 17, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome home Mike! Thanks for coming! Good luck next spring.
Posted by utvolz on July 17, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to God's Country Mike.
Frank in Miami (but soon to be in Tullahoma!)
Posted by andefromtn on July 17, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to the Orange Nation! My biggest hope is that MLB team doesn't draft this young man in the first round and we lose him. So many college baseball teams get robbed this way.
Posted by volboy81 on July 17, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike-you sound like a smart guy!! Dont think youll regret coming to Knoxville. East Tennessee is America at its best & UT is the greatest place on earth!
Posted by RockyTop1 on July 17, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome and know we bleed Orange! GO VOLS!!
Posted by jawbreaker on July 17, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The kid's 2.50 ERA seems a little high with a fastball in the low 90s. Evidently hitters who couldn't catch up with that fastball struck out (93 Ks in 60 innings); but, those who could get to it did so with results. He must not have much movement on his ball, and really needs to develop another pitch or two that he can throw predictably for strikes. Otherwise, SEC hitters will make him pay.
Posted by GreerVol22 on July 17, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if only Sam and Andy's was still on the corner....I'd buy him a steamed hoagie on white and a Dr Pepper...might even spot him a buck for supplies from 10 or so condom machines on the wall and tell him to have a great weekend with the the UT ladies.....just one more way to hook a recruit in the 80's...
Posted by BillVol on July 17, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greer, shame on you. "Condom machines"? "Have a greak weekend with the ladies"? I have news for you. Our UT co-eds are someone's daughter, granddaughter, sister. I don't want ANY star athlete having a "great weekend," as you say, with with any of our Tennessee co-eds.
Posted by GreerVol22 on July 18, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BillVol, there is a reason there were 10 machines on the wall instead of one. These girls you refer to are adults....trust me, this went on a long time before me and will continue way past...
if you think it isn't happening just go hang out a while.
Posted by vol4gzus on July 18, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Grrrvol22 you missed the point! He didn't say it didn't go on. You promoting it is the problem sir! I have a daughter 20 yrs young and I don't need you telling someone to have fun at her expense or anybody elses daughter/granddaugter thank you very much! Promote integrity and purity please. Go VOLS lets keep building a quality baseball team with young men of integrity and solid character!
Posted by bobbarbilly on July 18, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greer, I have no doubt about what goes on there but the fact that it does occur does not make it all inclusive. There is a difference in observing and promoting.
Posted by RichRollin on July 18, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully in the next few years our baseball team will make us proud.
Posted by zanebreeding on July 18, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
haha funny stuff , you can rest assured if your daughter or granddaughter isnt doing some pretty shady stuff then her friends are , i only graduated 4 years ago , tell your daughters and grandaughters not to visit the condom machines and leave giving the other consenting adults advice alone.
Posted by vol4gzus on July 18, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
zanebreeding you are one of the reasons I pray for my daughter to wait for her life partner if she is to marry. Out of wedlock intimacy(which her dad is not proud of) did not make me a better person or is it justified. So consentual does not make it right. There was a time people actually cared what others thot of them when it came to an individuals character. We're all characters...what type of character though? Don't worry I'm not taking up an offering..this one was free. Zane not mad at you just praying 4u.
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