Jan. 30, 2013

Nine Innings with Nino Giarratano of San Francisco

Nine Innings with Sherman Reed of Coppin State

Nine Innings with Bob Mumma

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

phil@collegebaseballinsider.com  @RoadToOmaha

This week, we will have head coaches from the Baltimore and San Francisco areas give their thoughts on Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Ravens and the 49ers.

Today we continue with Bob Mumma (left), entering his second season as head coach at UMBC. He also served as a player and assistant coach for the Retrievers.

A native of Rising Sun, Md., Mumma was a catcher at UMBC from 1990-92. He batted .339 and belted 14 home runs in his first year, earning Freshman All-American honors. Mumma hit .395 as a sophomore with 15 homers and 53 RBI in being named Player of the Year in the East Coast Conference. The following season, he batted .346 with 13 homers and 53 RBI in helping the Retrievers earn an at-large bid to their first NCAA Division I Tournament.

Mumma was drafted in the 13th round by the Chicago White Sox in 1992 and spent two seasons in their organization.

Following his professional career, Mumma returned to UMBC in the fall of 1996 and spent 15 years as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach. He succeeded John Jancuska, who guided the program from 1978-2011.

Mumma was inducted into the UMBC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from UMBC in 1993 and received his MBA from the University of Baltimore in 2000.

Mumma gives us his thoughts on the AFC Champion, the Baltimore Ravens.

First Inning – Were you a Baltimore Colts fan before they moved?

Yes I was a Colts fan. I was young when they moved, but I was a Colts Fan.

Second Inning – Did it take you any time to become a Ravens fan?

I was always a Ravens fan. Just a little at the start. I was out of town playing baseball when they first came to town. Once I got settled back in at UMBC I became a big fan. Probably really got hooked during their first Super Bowl season. I followed them from the start of that season.

Third Inning – Did you think all season that this was a Super Bowl team? 

No, I did not think this was going to be a Super Bowl team once the season began. With the injury to Suggs and watching the struggles of the defense in the preseason I thought they would be a playoff team, but not a Super Bowl Team.

Fourth Inning – What impresses you about John Harbaugh as a head coach?

What impressed me the most was the story of when he met with the players and really listened to them. Things seemed to start changing at that point. This can be difficult for the head coach. 

Fifth Inning – Which Raven do you think would be the best baseball player?

I'm sure one or two of them have baseball in their background, but I'll take Joe Flacco. Great arm, get him on the mound. His brother is playing minor league ball for the O's so there has to be some baseball blood in him somewhere.

Sixth Inning – Who on your team would make the best Raven, and what position would he play?

That's tough. Anthony Gatto was a very good football player in N.J. Vince Corbi ran the option in high school. But I think maybe Joe Vanderplas. He could play D-end.  He is probably the strongest player on the team.

Seventh Inning – Who is the biggest Baltimore fan on your team/staff?

While we have a number of Ravens fans, I would say I am the biggest fan.  

Eighth Inning – Which player from the 49ers do you fear most?

The 49ers are a great team. Kaepernick is the one who scares me the most. With his legs, he could change the game. The Ravens better keep him contained.

Ninth Inning – Why will the Ravens win? What will be the final score?

The Ravens have gone through so much adversity this year I think they are a close team. They believe in themselves as a team. The offense is playing very well in the playoffs and the D is keeping teams out of the end zone. They will need to play their best game to win.

Extra Innings – What should we expect from the UMBC Retrievers this season?
I think you will see a young but talented team. We will compete in every game this year. As this team develops and get more experience they will have the ability to beat anyone they play.

(photos courtesy of UMBC Media Relations Office)