June 17, 2011
Vanderbilt’s College World Series central | Omaha on our mind, June 13 | June 14 | June 15
Although the clock long ago struck midnight in Omaha, and curfew has come and gone for the Commodores, this entry will be filed under Thursday — unless of course you begin to see a lot of this ……………………… throughout my text, meaning I’ve fallen asleep with my finger on the keyboard.
Did I mention it has been a long day for the Commodores? Most members of the traveling party were up no later than 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning to head to campus and board the bus to the airport. If you want a detailed timeline of the first day’s activities, be sure to check out Omaha: Day 1 in images for a behind-the-scenes look at Vanderbilt’s trip to Omaha. Also check out the departure video as the team boarded the bus to leave campus.
TD Ameritrade Park
It is hard to put into words how nice TD Ameritrade Park is. The ballpark opened in April and the entire team was awestruck by how the stadium looked. Rosenblatt Stadium will certainly be missed, but the city did a tremendous job building a successor. The ballpark is surrounded by shops and restaurants and it is located within walking distance of many hotels including Vanderbilt’s team hotel. If you want more info on the ballpark or want to see pictures, check out Omaha: Day 1 in images and Omaha on our mind, June 13 edition.
Before entering the stadium, the team took a moment to snap photos of the Road to Omaha statue. The statue is synonymous with college baseball, and truly has a special meaning to the players. To see the look on the player’s faces when they saw the statue and posed for pictures in front of it was a simple reminder of how special this opportunity is for each individual.
A Nebraskan on the Roster?
Almost, but not exactly. Second baseman Riley Reynolds is as close to being a Nebraskan as anyone who is not a Nebraskan if that makes sense. He has a long family history of Nebraska graduates and grew up attending Nebraska football games.
Friday’s Schedule
The Commodores will be busy on Friday beginning with the team photo at 9 a.m. and concluding with opening ceremonies, which last until 10:30 p.m.
Here is a quick look at the team’s partial schedule
9:00 a.m. – Team photo at TD Ameritrade Park
9:15 a.m. – ESPN interviews and jumbotron photo shoot
10-11 a.m. – Open practice at TD Ameritrade Park
11:30 a.m. -12 p.m. – Autograph session at TD Ameritrade Park
2 p.m. – Press Conference
8:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies at TD Ameritrade Park (Detailed opening ceremony schedule)
Missouri River Flooding
Just a reminder for those driving to Omaha to follow the news closely regarding road closures due to flooding. The team witnessed the flooding today as we flew in, and anyone traveling to town needs to be cognizant of what is going on. It is important to note that parking for the CWS has been impacted by the flooding.
To stay in tune with the latest road conditions, visit:
Omaha World-Herald
Iowa Department of Transportation
Missouri Department of Transportation
Nebraska Department of Roads
