University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Profile - Patrick Hicklen
October 17, 2001 | Baseball
Oct. 17, 2001
Vol Profile: Patrick Hicklen
VOL PROFILE: After one season under your belt are you a little more confident going into fall practice and looking toward spring?
Hicklen: "For sure, coming in as a freshmen you don't know what to expect and I guess I expected different. This year is a lot more comfortable, you've gotten a whole year, especially going until June and the World Series, and running with a lot of leaders last year, and you're expected to be a leader also. As being a freshmen coming up to be sophomore you're expected to know a lot more stuff that you learned from the leaders last year."
VOL PROFILE: Why did you decide to come to Tennessee?
Hicklen: "Well one thing that stood out in my mind was Coach Mazey. Our recruiting and pitching coach, called me the first day that we could be recruited, so that was a big thing for UT. I've always liked all three of the coaches and I feel like I could go to them for anything.
VOL PROFILE: Do you have any specific goals you've set for yourself this season?
Hicklen: "Sure, especially team goals, to go to the SEC tournament and win that and host the regional and try to host the super-regional again and try to go to the World Series. Personally, I've set internal goals, but just to help the squad in any aspect on the field, that would be a pitching for me, but just in any way."
VOL PROFILE: Do you have a favorite or most memorable moment on the field?
Hicklen: "I'd say last year against Wake Forest in the regional game, I probably pitched one of the best games I've ever pitched my whole career in baseball. That was a special moment. But the biggest moment was the feeling to know when you arrived in Omaha and saw Rosenblatt Stadium--it was probably the greatest feeling I've ever had in baseball."
VOL PROFILE: What's your favorite thing about UT?
Hicklen: "I just love college, the freedom, it makes you grow up. I like having your personal time, and I love having a group of guys like we have on the team that you can turn to for anything."
VOL PROFILE: What are your interests other than baseball?
Hicklen: "I'm into Ben Harper, Dave Matthews type music, I mean I listen to just about anything. Besides that I just like hanging out and I like to meet new people besides, of course it's like a family here with the baseball team, but I like to meet people outside of baseball because you are pretty much together with the team."
VOL PROFILE: Who do you look to for motivation, or do you have a hero you try to mold yourself after?
Hicklen: "I guess I would have to say my dad, he's pretty much carried me through life and through baseball. He's always been there when I've been going down hill and he's picked me back up. That would be my No. 1 motivator and that's who I'm going to look for down the road to say thank you dad for helping be out on this field."
VOL PROFILE: What type of mental preparation do you do before a game and are there any superstitions you have?
Hicklen: "I try to focus on the opponent that day, and be prepared for that opponent by tape or by Coach Mazey's notes and the notes that Javi, our catcher, and I go through. I also have some superstitions like last year I had two different gloves, and if I feel like I'm going opposite direction, I change out gloves before a game sometimes. I think I did that three or four times last year."
