When Texas was eliminated from the College World Series on Monday, heralded coach Augie Garrido summed it up best: "It's not good to be the first interview, the first two [rounds] of the tournament. But that's what we are."
That was Florida a season ago.
Young and confident, the Gators strolled into Omaha content just to get an invitation. That mentality earned them an early ticket home.
The second time around has been much more pleasant.
"I hate to say it, but everybody was just happy we got there last season," senior second baseman Josh Adams said. "It's been a different mentality. Everybody's been in the right frame of mind since we've been out here. We're itching to go win it."
After getting drubbed twice en route to a disappointing two-and-out finish last year, the Gators have totally reversed their fortunes in 2011.
Charged with a businesslike approach, Florida has stormed through three games in Omaha to reach the CWS championship series for the first time since they faced Garrido's Longhorns in 2005.
Starting Monday, Florida will take on defending national champion South Carolina in the best-of-three series.
The Gators' one-year postseason turnaround has been impressive, but not necessarily surprising.
Since February, the Gators have talked about filling that hollow feeling that's haunted them since in-state rival Florida State sent them home last season. They promised things would be different if they got back.
So far, they certainly have been.
"They were a really good team last year but they're older now," Baseball America senior college writer Aaron Fitt said. "Experiencing Omaha before has really helped. [Coach Kevin] O'Sullivan has done a great job managing this whole season with the eye on Omaha."
Last year's core was full of wide-eyed freshman - six, including Park Vista grad Cody Dent, played in UF's elimination game - but those key players have developed into grizzled veterans, pacing the Gators toward what would be their first-ever baseball championship.
For 70 games, Florida has played with a confident, yet centered, all-or-nothing mentality. The Gators have won a school-record 53 games and a conference tournament championship, but each accomplishment has merely been a stepping-stone in self-assurance that the trip to Omaha would be different this time around.
"We knew we had a chance to be really good," O'Sullivan said. "I thought winning the SEC Tournament was big. It gave us confidence and a huge momentum boost going forward."
Florida has rolled into Omaha knowing what to expect, knowing the heartbreak of elimination.
With O'Sullivan's regimented approach, the Gators have shed their lack of maturity and more than prepared for the awaiting circus of cameras and autograph seekers.
According to a six-time national champion, the process has made sense.
"My feelings about that is in being here a few times, that until you've been here, it's hard to play here," Garrido said.
And the Gators still aren't finished.
"We all share a common goal, which is to win, not just be here," star slugger Preston Tucker said. "We're happy we're in the finals, but we're going to be just as disappointed as if we went 0-2 if we lose the series."
