‘It was worth it’ – Tony Vitello delivers statement that will mean a lot to Tennessee Vols fans
Tony Vitello recently stepped down as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols to make the jump to MLB as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Typically, when a coach leaves a college or professional team for another job, they are there one day and gone the next.
But that’s not how former Tennessee Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello operates.
Vitello stepped down as Tennessee’s head coach last month to become the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Despite his new job being on the opposite coast, Vitello has spent plenty of time in Tennessee since accepting the job with the Giants.
Vitello was at Tennessee’s football game against the Oklahoma Sooners in Knoxville last Saturday night, and he appeared in-studio for nearly an hour on Wednesday in Nashville on 104.5 The Zone’s 3HL.
On Thursday, Vitello joined WNML’s SportsTalk for a 15 minute segment and he delivered a statement that Vols fans will undoubtedly appreciate.
Tony Vitello says the personal sacrifices to bring a championship to Tennessee were “worth it”
During Vitello’s appearance on WNML, he mentioned that he’s proud of the sacrifices he’s made while working his way to the top of the mountain in baseball.
“There was an article that came out and it talked about the distaste for losing that my family has and myself,” said Vitello. “And that was something that I think we embedded in Tennessee, if anything, was a real hatred for losing. And then it carried over to the fan base. And the only way to use that kind of fear — that’s a tricky way to say it — but that fearful feeling of you don’t want to fall short is you work hard.
“And I know I got to go around town and do some fun stuff, and you know the football games are fun and basketball games and things like that, the CMAs. A lot of things were actually half or more work for the betterment of the program. I’m proud of the sacrifices I make. I always tease myself for not being a good player and don’t stand up for myself, but I’m incredibly proud of all the sacrifices that I made. And sometimes you wonder if it’s worth it — because you’ve got to live a life as well. And it stinks to shun people in your life that are important. It’ll always be nicer to have a meal you eat slower or to sleep longer. But all of those sacrifices were 1,000 percent worth it to bring joy to Vol nation and to give back to them. And also, just to be a small part of some of these crazy memories. Zane Denton’s home run, we could go on and on. You can come up with your own list. It was worth it. It was worth it.”
Tony Vitello didn’t just bring joy to Vols fans, he changed Tennessee’s baseball program forever.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Tennessee Vols as ‘It was worth it’ – Tony Vitello delivers statement that will mean a lot to Tennessee Vols fans.
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Tony Vitello points out one thing that would’ve made his decision to leave Tennessee more ‘difficult’
Tony Vitello stepped down as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols last month to take over as the new manager of the San Francisco Giants.
