College Baseball is On the Rise
On a calm, warm night in late June, most people are out and about, doing various summer evening activities. Instead of being out, I sit on my back porch, turn on the TV, and turn to ESPNU for live coverage of the College Baseball Tournament, the Road to Omaha. For most, this is the last thing on their minds, as they are maybe watching a TV series, or even MLB baseball for that matter. I have been playing baseball for as long as I can remember, and I have always aspired to be an MLB player, but I realized with that comes college baseball beforehand.
Swayze Field, home of the Ole Miss Rebels, is one of College Baseball’s greatest venues. Over 13,000 fans pack the stadium every home game.
Photo from Ballpark Digest
In the NCAA, the pride of playing for something more than what seems to be money and fame in the MLB intrigues me. It is something I always wanted to experience. The rowdy dugouts and passionate fans remind me of my high school and summer baseball games and shows the energy of the game that the average person doesn't see. I think that it is a side of the game that people don’t experience right off the bat, which draws them away from the game. However, that intensity and competitive nature from college baseball makes the game interesting, and for that reason, needs more fame in the sports world.
There are a lot of people who think baseball is boring. It is a slow sport and can be hard to watch. Some people don’t even know what is going on. Even I, a baseball nerd, will sometimes get bored watching a game. To the public eye, sports like football and basketball are more appealing to watch, because of the constant movement and contact. Others also will argue that the game hasn’t changed over the years, while other sports have evolved and adapted for a greater following from the audience.
Yes, baseball may seem boring to some, it is a slower moving sport. Patience is learned from this game, because the exciting moments which happen quite often are some of the most exciting in sports. Baseball is a team sport, yet every play of the game there is a 1 on 1 matchup, pitcher vs. hitter. Once people realize the art of the game, they tend to get more interested.
Now, the MLB has become more political. It has become a business and money oriented; just look at the lockout right now. They are taking games out of the regular season because of a disagreement between the players, owners, and commissioners. College baseball is made up of a team of 18–24-year-olds (all from different backgrounds) come together and represent a school that they care about. It isnt like football where people leave their school early, people are passionate about the whole year and trying to win a championship rather than work on themselves. They play the game for the team not so they cannot collect a paycheck. It is real baseball. Therefore, it is more exciting to watch. The spirit of the game is at the forefront.
A few nights ago, I watched a highly anticipated midweek game between the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns and the #17 Texas State Bobcats. A good team, but widely known as just another small, mid major school with average athletics. The game was played at Texas State, in front of a record crowd of about 4,800 people, very impressive for a small school, during a midweek game. There were loud chants and very passionate Texas State and Texas fans. The game included a Bobcat grand slam to take the lead, followed by a crazy strikeout to end the game, and the Texas St. pitcher celebrating with a “Horns Down” gesture. The Texas St. team and fans going crazy on a Wednesday night shows what college baseball can be, a fun, enthusiastic game. It is the “hidden gem” of college sports.
And all of this matters. College baseball plays in a tournament style championship, like basketball, yet different in its own ways. The top 16 teams get home field advantage, hosting a “regional” comprising of 3 other teams, in hopes to advance and make it to the College World Series in Omaha.
Mississippi State one its first ever National Championship in 2021, and drew more fans to Omaha than ever before
Photo from D1Baseball.com
I think college baseball deserves more attention. We all know baseball is "America's Pastime". It is time to give credit to the people who decided to continue out that American Dream if you will. The MLB has been advertised so much and with its problems, people have drifted away from this sport that is such a great game. College Baseball has kept the fun in the game. The teams have never tried to make it fun, like the MLB did. They simply care to win.
The sport gives every team a chance. Upsets are more common. Like I said earlier, small, mid-major schools have fields, players, and programs that are just as good as the big-name universities. It is the only sport where you would expect a team like Louisiana Tech to beat LSU, or Wright State favored over Ohio State; that adds interest in the game. The venues are amazing, the faithful fans make games interesting and play a part in the outcome of the game. Anyone can come out on top, unlike basketball and football. Plus, there is nothing better than hearing a "ping" and watching the ball fly around the park, or seeing a pitcher throw a disgusting curveball right by a batter, then watch the dugout with the rest of the team celebrate and go crazy, unlike the MLB. It is a unique sport with an amazing atmosphere. Be sure to tune in this year for the tournament. It will begin on June 3rd and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN+ all the way through the month, ending in Omaha on the 30th of June.