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FSU baseball coach Link Jarrett opens up about about Mike Martin's impact on life, career
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- FSU baseball coach Link Jarrett opens up about about Mike Martin's impact on life, career
Link Jarrett had to collect himself a few times when talking about the late Mike Martin .
Martin, the former longtime Florida State baseball coach died Thursday less than three years after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia at the age of 79.
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Jarrett led his team back out for a scrimmage Friday and then spoke to the media following the scrimmage. He said Martin would have wanted the Seminoles to continue practicing to get ready for their season opener on Friday, Feb. 16.
So they did.
"He would want 100% want us to practice," Jarrett said in a press conference Friday evening. "There was nobody better at turning up the heat and the intensity as it got closer. He would have wanted that to happen today."
Jarrett said he met with Martin and his wife Carol just two weeks before his death. In May, Martin stood in the FSU dugout and spoke to the players.
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"This disease is relentless. It's difficult what [Carol] endured, what the family endured for the last several months," Jarrett said. "And for Mike, it was tough for him to be here in May. And when I saw him, he still had that presence even in a condition, that was challenging to say the least."
The second-year FSU coach who played under Martin from 1991-94 spoke highly of Carol and the Martin family.
"I feel for Carroll, [Mike Martin] Jr., Mary Beth and Melanie on what they went through for the last several months," Jarrett said of how hard the process of dealing with a family member with dementia could be.
"That's what's on my mind as much as practice, as much anything else. Because I know that's tough. And I saw it and I'm so thankful I went to see him a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to go and I am glad I did."
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FSU will host a memorial service for Martin at noon Saturday, Feb. 10 on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. It is also Fan Day, where FSU will scrimmage at 1 p.m. followed by an autograph session.
"Just an impactful person in every phase of his life, every facet," Link said of Martin. "[As] a husband, father, grandfather, coach and mentor.
"The balance of when to push us versus when to go to the other side and build confidence. The gamesmanship, the management of the program, how to treat people in the program, and surrounding the program. And then even the external groups that follow the program, touch the program. He was masterful at that, the best ever.
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"I mean, take the wins out. He was the best ever at that. I would not be here had he not given me a chance. Somebody's got to give the chance. He was really one of the few that would have given me a shot."
Jarrett said that it hurt him that he could not help Martin bring a National Championship to Tallahassee, probably the only thing Martin did not achieve in his 40 years as a manager and 47-year tenure overall with FSU.
But he did share one of his favorite memories with Martin. Jarrett played 276 games in his four years with Martin and the team reached the College World Series in Omaha three times.
"My freshman year, I don't think he had ever put a freshman shortstop in his career coaching year and I was that," Jarrett said. "When we punched our ticket to Omaha, we were coming off the field and I hugged him. He said, "We're going back.'
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"I finally felt like I helped that guy reach that goal. He looked me in the eye and that meant so much to me in that moment, right here.
"That's probably the initial moment as a player, there were other things ... but that one stood out to me because I felt like I earned truly his trust and helped him accomplish something that he wanted more than anything else in his life in his career, in baseball in his professional life, is to get there. And I felt like I helped him."
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Mike Martin Sr.: Current coach Link Jarrett talks about late FSU coach
