Local player plays many roles for LSU

LSU junior utility player Grant Dozar claims he would do anything humanly possible to help his team win a ballgame.

His actions in the past year or so prove him to be exactly right.

With the mighty Tigers using their powerful bats and strong arms to push toward another run at Omaha, they are also reaping the benefits of Dozar, who is making his mark on the team as a jack of all trades utility player – a role that isn’t lost on his teammates or coaches as being one of the most important on the team, both on and off the field.

“The only thing he hasn’t done is sell programs during the game for us,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said.

Dozar’s primary role, like any other player, is on the field.

But unlike the average player, the Morgan City native doesn’t show up to the ballpark knowing what to expect on gameday.

That’s because Dozar is the one of the team’s top reserves at catcher, first base, third base and in the corner outfield positions, meaning in any given game, he could be either behind the plate, in the infield, in the outfield or not in the lineup at all.

Despite the uncertainty, the always positive Tri-parish native said he gives it his all to help his teammates no matter what position he’s thrust into by Mainieri.

“It’s always fun getting out there, wherever it is,” Dozar said. “Whether it’s at first, behind the plate or wherever else. You know, you only get the opportunity to play here four years, so wherever I can play, it’s just a joy.”

From that willingness to accept his role comes Dozar’s second role to the Tigers – leadership.

In a mostly underclassmen roster, Dozar’s upbeat personality has made him an instant leader to his younger teammates.

Junior third baseman and every day starter Tyler Hanover said no one in LSU’s clubhouse sees Dozar as a “bench” player, but instead look at him as a model for what being an LSU Tiger stands for.

“Grant Dozar, I don’t even know what to say to sum it up about him,” Hanover said. “He’s definitely one of the great juniors on our team and he’s one of our main leaders on our team. He’s very outspoken and he does the right things. He works extremely hard at whatever he does and he’s just a class guy. He might not always play as much as some other guys, but when he does, he makes the best out of it and gives it his all for our team. We have nothing but respect for him here in this program.”

Mainieri agreed and said it’s not possible to measure the value of a player’s leadership.

“Let me tell you something, there’s no greater kid on our team than Grant Dozar,” Mainieri said. “He means everything to our team and to me personally.”

Even aside from the leadership and the team rallying calls, Dozar provides his third role – entertainment.

Virtually every Tiger player claims that the Morgan City native can provide laughs to the team in any situation.

That value cannot be measured, according to Hanover, who said every successful team needs that in a player to get them through the inevitable lumps of a five-month season.

“He’s hands-down the funniest guy on our team,” Hanover said. “He’s great to be around. … He can impersonate just about everyone and do just about any person you want him to do. He’s one of those guys that can bring it, but he also knows when to be serious when he has to.”

As for what impressions get the most hits among the team?

Hanover said Dozar does a mean impersonation of longtime college football coach and now ESPN analyst Lou Holtz.

Dozar wouldn’t confirm Hanover’s claims of comedic excellence, but did admit he’d given the Holtz voice a twirl a few times during his career.

“During the football season, we’d always have him on TV around the ballpark during fall practices,” Dozar said with a laugh. “And you know, it’s just something I’d do to make the guys laugh.”

It apparently worked, because during an early game this season Mainieri asked Dozar to do another impersonation – this time as a coach.

With the Tigers’ first base coach Will Davis suspended for one game due to an ejection, Mainieri tabbed Dozar as the team’s first base coach for their early season game against Sacred Heart.

How’d he do? Hanover believes there’s a future in it for the local Tiger.

“He was actually unbelievable at first base coach,” Hanover said. “That’s no lie – he definitely has a future in coaching when he’s finished here if he needs that.”

Whether he does or doesn’t want to get into coaching following his career is uncertain. Dozar said he’d rather cross that bridge when he gets to it.

For now, he’s living his dream.

Who knows, maybe he will sell those programs someday if it means helping the Tigers scratch out a ‘W’ and hopefully a national championship – which would be the second for the team in Dozar’s career.

“This really has been a dream,” Dozar said. “LSU baseball is kind of the Mecca of college baseball, so being from Louisiana, getting the opportunity to play here, it’s been everything I could have ever imagined.”

“He’s the most unselfish, team-oriented guy that there is,” Mainieri added. “He’d do anything he could to help us get a win.”