June 1, 2007
 |
|
A Full House
Post-Game Column By
Rod Williamson
There were hundreds of new fans in tonight’s record crowd of 3,532, lining up Wrigley Field style atop the parking garage and cramming into the right field bleachers and left-center patio.
No doubt many came to see the nation’s No. 1 seeded team strut its stuff but the lesson of the evening was that good pitching usually stops good hitting. So very true tonight.
Austin Peay was fearless. It had lost to the Commodores twice during the regular season but, as Tyler Farrar said afterwards, “we weren’t nervous like we were the first time we played them.”
Governors’ Coach Gary McClure admitted “it was easy to get up for this game.” The resulting 11-inning battle was a beauty, especially if pitching and defense is your cup of tea.
Tonight’s pre-game atmosphere was special. Was that “electricity” or pride in the air before the game? Indeed tonight’s opening NCAA Regional game against Austin Peay begins one of the most anticipated tournaments in our history. Really? A baseball tournament?
Yes, after talking to and hearing from alumni and friends literally around the world, it is fair to say the Commodore Nation is playing hardball. No doubt there have been other events – such as the recent March Madness – that had us all buzzing but we were usually cast in the role of David. Now we finally get to play Goliath and find ourselves hoping the best team wins.
If you picked up a copy of USA Today Thursday, there was a huge action photo and story on David Price on page 1. The first of several All-America teams was announced earlier this week and not only was Price the Co-Player of the Year, we had two other first-team All-Americans and a second-teamer (whom many thought should also have been on the first-team). It’s been that kind of year.
From ESPN’s NCAA pairings announcement show to major articles and awards, all college baseball roads begin at The Hawk these days. This program has become the hunter, not the hunted. Austin Peay’s McClure said the `Dores have “magic”.
As fans, this unabashed success in a “major” sport has put new spring in our steps and added a confident dimension to our psyche. It makes our other successes sparkle even more.
What do these athletic programs have in common: Arizona, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Iowa. They, along with several hundred others, trail Vanderbilt in the Director’s Cup standings.
 |
|
The second-to-last rankings came out Thursday. The Director’s Cup is the national all-sports championship. Our high water mark came in 2004 when we were 28th – a top 10% finish – with 585 points. As of Thursday, we had jumped into 36th position with 451.50 points while an over-achieving men’s golf team is earning solid points at the NCAA Championship right now and this baseball team is poised to add some big-time points soon.
One hundred points in a sport is the maximum that can be tallied, which is what our bowlers recorded. So far this spring, our women’s golfers added 73.5 points with a sixth place finish, the lacrosse team had 25 for making the tournament, women’s tennis scored 64 for a Sweet 16 showing and the men’s tennis had 50 for making the round of 32.
Tonight’s game was not just historic, it presents a tremendous opportunity for us to show nearly 2,000 new people what fun and excitement can happen at the ole ball park. Our athletic staff has worked very hard to make this tournament a big success.
We sold those added bleacher seats in a matter of days. I can only hope those fans enjoyed tonight’s game and are already thinking about attending games next spring.
If you are a Hawkins Field veteran, you can help by putting your own best hospitality foot forward. Welcome these newcomers to the band wagon, there is room for everyone. If we are going to build this program on a long-term basis into what Coach Corbin envisions, we need everyone pulling in the same direction.
The goal is to have this surge occur – be it electricity or pride – at each and every game.
