Event 19 – Why Omaha is More Than Just a Peyton Manning Audible Call
Our third game inside of 36 hours at the Men’s College World Series. We got to see a bit of eventual champion LSU’s prowess on display before storms halted play.
The backside of the scoreboard of Charles Schwab Field.
This Coastal Carolina fan was taking all necessary precautions on its travel to Omaha.
The MCWS and Omaha are synonomous with one another.
Team logos for half the participants …
… and the other half.
How far did each school travel from campus to Omaha.
The Fan Fest included plenty of interactive activities for fans of all ages.
More from Fan Fest.
We tried, unsuccessfully, to block that pennant behind my dad.
Outside the stadium, there are plaques recognizing champs from each decade of the MCWS – 1940s.
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s – soon to include LSU again.
The Louisville players gather pregame.
Our seat view for Arizona-Louisville.
The left field view for Arizona-Louisville.
The third base line view for Arizona-Louisville.
The homeplate view from the concourse for Arizona-Louisville.
As high up in the stadium as I could get.
It was H-O-T! I don’t blame this kid one bit.
Somewhere in this photo is Jerry Hill. Can you spot him?
We took some time to visit the Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium tribute.
It’s located at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
NCAA champs crowned at The Blatt.
Professional victors at The Blatt.
The Rosenblatt Tribute from behind homeplate.
Markers indicated where the bases would be.
The foul pouls are still in position down each line.
Large posters highlight some key members of the MCWS history along the concourse. Here George H.W. Bush and Yale are featured.
Jim O’Neil, Holy Cross (center)
Rod Dedeaux, USC Coach
Sal Bando, Arizona State
Steve Arlin, Ohio State
Dave Winfield, Minnesota
Terry Francona, Arizona
Will Clark, Mississippi State
Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State
J.D. Drew, Florida State
Skip Bertman, LSU Coach
Huston Street, Texas
Darwin Barney, Oregon State
Charles Schwab Field
Adley Rutschman, Oregon State
Paul Skenes, LSU
The Most Outstanding Players of each MCWS are immortalized on this plaque on the concourse behind homeplate.
The field of 64 MCWS participants are featured via logo around this banner …
… and this one.
Murray State players chill out prior to its game with Arkansas.
Arkansas players are ready for their matchup with Murray State.
The coaches and umpires meet pregame.
Our view for the Arkansas-Murray State game.
Racers’ leadoff batter Jonathan Hogart readies for his first at bat.
Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood heading into the dugout.
Razorback Gage Wood reacts to the final out of his no-hitter.
Arkansas celebrates Gage Wood’s no-hitter
Dad and I strike a pose prior to the UCLA-LSU game.
UCLA pitchers begin their warm ups pregame.
Our seat view for UCLA-LSU.
The bracket as it stood upon leaving the soon-to-be suspended UCLA-LSU game.
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Video
The “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Cardinals take the field.
Louisville-Arizona first pitch.
Alex Alicea first-pitch swinging.
Tailgating at MCWS.
Seeking cooler climes.
Cardinals’ players shenanigans.
MCWS Hype Man.
Playball announcement.
Murray State takes the field.
Murray-Arkansas first pitch.
Gage Wood’s first pitch.
Woo Pig Sooie!
Wood takes the mound in 9th.
Last two batters compilation.
Gage Wood pitch No. 119 completes his no-hitter.
Murray-Arkansas coaches handshake.
rAn organist with a sense of humor.
LSU-UCLA first pitch.
Audio
Deborah Ward from Visit Omaha.
Doug and Jerry discuss the MCWS and Field of Dreams.
Fun Facts
Traveling Party – Doug and his father, Jerry
Last Time Visited – Doug had driven through Omaha twice before but never stopped. Jerry had never visited. Neither had attended the Men’s College World Series previously.
Now That’s an Upgrade – As noted in Volume II, my dad and I were on the receiving end of the benevolence of local resident and regular MCWS attendee, Kevin Thompson, who secured a pair of tickets nine rows behind homeplate for the Monday afternoon game featuring Arkansas and Murray State. Arkansas pitcher, Gage Wood, proceeded to throw just the third no-hitter in the history of the MCWS, striking out 19 Racers in the process (also a 9-inning MCWS record). That 90-degree sun didn’t feel nearly as scalding as it otherwise might have!
Cinderella’s Slipper Shatters – My dad and I – along with just about the rest of the U.S. – were pulling for Murray State University from the Missouri Valley Conference to continue their Cinderella Run through the tournament. Alas, the Racers were beaten on Day 1 by Coastal Carolina and then fell victim to Gage Wood’s no-hit, 19-strikeout peformance in their next game for a 2-and-out visit to Omaha.
Tigers Fans Roar – There was a map in the Fan Fest area that featured the distances from Omaha for each school. LSU was the fourth closest at just under 1,000 miles (954 from Baton Rouge to be exact). You’d never know it from the volume of purple and gold in and around Charles Schwab Field. Perhaps it’s because of their recent success (winners two years ago with Paul Skenes leading the way) but for whatever reason Tigers’ fans traveled well. And they didn’t just attend LSU games, there was plenty of LSU-clad spectators at two games we attended that did not feature the Tigers.
Running List of States Traveled To/Through – Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, & West Virginia
Running List of Countries Traveled To/Through – Canada (Ontario & Quebec), England, Japan, Korea, Scotland, United States, & Wales
Distance Traveled – 759 miles one way.
Cumulative Distance Traveled After 19 Events – 44,367 miles
Up Next: A visit to “The Field of Dreams” movie site in Dyersville, IA; the 120th Midnight Sun Game in Fairbanks, AK; and rodeo at Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY
