Alabama softball
Women's College World Series
Alabama vs. Michigan
Where: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City
When: Thursday at 6 p.m.
Records: Alabama 47-13, Michigan 56-6
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 95.3 FM
By Tommy Deas
Executive Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY | After the University of Alabama softball team played Michigan back in February, senior shortstop Danae Hays approached Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to shake her hand.
"Thanks, it was an honor to play you," Hays said.
That gesture sums up the level of mutual respect between the Alabama and Michigan programs.
Alabama and Michigan have played 15 times over the years. They'll play again Thursday night in an opening-round game at the Women's College World Series.
"It's hard to play Alabama because I like them so much," said Hutchins, who has won 18 Big Ten titles and taken the Wolverines to the World Series 11 times in her 31 seasons. "I like their kids. I like the way they represent the sport. They're always classy, and that starts at the top. They play for the big 'A' on the front of their shirt. They're my kind of team.
"They always say thank you, they're always really reverent. It's hard to dislike kids like that."
Alabama coach Patrick Murphy met Hutchins in the early 1990s, when he was a young assistant at Southwestern Louisiana (now known as Louisiana-Lafayette). He has been an admirer ever since.
"The same goes for me with her and her teams," Murphy said. "I try to be like her.
"Everybody loves her. She always wins, in the cold, in the snow – I'm from Iowa and I respect that. I love her staff, just really, really good people. That's what we try to emulate."
Hutchins has more than 1,400 career wins. Murphy has more than 900 in his 17th season as a head coach. Both are in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Michigan beat Alabama twice early this season in Tuscaloosa, and holds a 9-6 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines beat UA twice in 1997, the first year of the Crimson Tide program, when Alabama was playing home games in Sokol Park, because it didn't have an on-campus stadium yet.
Both coaches dismiss the importance of the results from early this season. Michigan won 8-2 and 4-1.
"It was a fun series," Murphy said. "I know that we are better. I'm sure they're better, which is kind of scary. But we're looking forward to playing Michigan again."
Said Hutchins, "When we saw them early, I thought this is a team that's still trying to search for their new identity, their post-(Jaclyn) Traina identity, and they clearly have found it. And they're gelling as a team and playing so well.
"I think we're a better team. And I am certain that Alabama's a better team."
Regardless of tonight's outcome, there is more history to be made between Alabama and Michigan.
"We've gone down to Alabama a bunch of times. Actually, he owes me a trip," Hutchins said.
Murphy said he tried to schedule a trip to Michigan in 2013, but it didn't work out. He plans to make good on the return trip.
"I will go," he said.
Women's College World Series
Alabama vs. Michigan
Where: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City
When: Thursday at 6 p.m.
Records: Alabama 47-13, Michigan 56-6
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 95.3 FM
By Tommy Deas
Executive Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY | After the University of Alabama softball team played Michigan back in February, senior shortstop Danae Hays approached Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to shake her hand.
"Thanks, it was an honor to play you," Hays said.
That gesture sums up the level of mutual respect between the Alabama and Michigan programs.
Alabama and Michigan have played 15 times over the years. They'll play again Thursday night in an opening-round game at the Women's College World Series.
"It's hard to play Alabama because I like them so much," said Hutchins, who has won 18 Big Ten titles and taken the Wolverines to the World Series 11 times in her 31 seasons. "I like their kids. I like the way they represent the sport. They're always classy, and that starts at the top. They play for the big 'A' on the front of their shirt. They're my kind of team.
"They always say thank you, they're always really reverent. It's hard to dislike kids like that."
Alabama coach Patrick Murphy met Hutchins in the early 1990s, when he was a young assistant at Southwestern Louisiana (now known as Louisiana-Lafayette). He has been an admirer ever since.
"The same goes for me with her and her teams," Murphy said. "I try to be like her.
"Everybody loves her. She always wins, in the cold, in the snow – I'm from Iowa and I respect that. I love her staff, just really, really good people. That's what we try to emulate."
Hutchins has more than 1,400 career wins. Murphy has more than 900 in his 17th season as a head coach. Both are in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Michigan beat Alabama twice early this season in Tuscaloosa, and holds a 9-6 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines beat UA twice in 1997, the first year of the Crimson Tide program, when Alabama was playing home games in Sokol Park, because it didn't have an on-campus stadium yet.
Both coaches dismiss the importance of the results from early this season. Michigan won 8-2 and 4-1.
"It was a fun series," Murphy said. "I know that we are better. I'm sure they're better, which is kind of scary. But we're looking forward to playing Michigan again."
Said Hutchins, "When we saw them early, I thought this is a team that's still trying to search for their new identity, their post-(Jaclyn) Traina identity, and they clearly have found it. And they're gelling as a team and playing so well.
"I think we're a better team. And I am certain that Alabama's a better team."
Regardless of tonight's outcome, there is more history to be made between Alabama and Michigan.
"We've gone down to Alabama a bunch of times. Actually, he owes me a trip," Hutchins said.
Murphy said he tried to schedule a trip to Michigan in 2013, but it didn't work out. He plans to make good on the return trip.
"I will go," he said.
