Omaha Observations - Day Five

Brian Bogusevic on the pitcher's mound

Monday, June 20, 2005
By Debbie Grant

Baseball is tricky. The difference between a win and a loss is more than a statistic. One day you are sky high and the next you are wondering where the sun went. But baseball is also constant, with another game tomorrow.

The Green Wave’s game against Texas was less than we hoped for but that didn’t stop a really nice contingent of fans from staying in Rosenblatt until the end and cheering mightily for the guys.

Wow, was it hot at 6 p.m. in the stadium. Bet the heat index was over 100 degrees and we’re in the Midwest. What gives? People were pounding back the water and lemonade; nothing harder available since it’s an NCAA Championship round.

Several Baylor Bears were sitting around us at the stadium. They were pretty happy since their team just escaped elimination against Oregon State earlier in the day. Their colors are green and yellow, so there will be plenty of green in the stands tomorrow night.

At the post-game press conference, Coach Rick Jones was candid and gracious. “We just got outplayed by Texas tonight,” he said. “we had a couple of defensive breakdowns and didn’t bunch any hits tonight.”

Micah and Bogie accompanied Coach to the press conference and both handled themselves very well with some tough questions thrown at them.

I moved to the team hotel yesterday, Crowne Plaza, and it’s quite interesting to see how thing are handled there. The lobby is decorated with lots of “Go Green Wave” signs, green and blue balloons , and a Tulane merchandise table.

After the game at the hotel, head football coach Chris Scelfo was having dinner with Jim Wilson (Wilson Center is named for him), Rick and Brenda Dickson and Rick’s parents. Meanwhile, on my floor, which is where the team is staying, they loaded up a six foot table in the hallway with about 20 pizzas and sandwiches buffet-style and the guys help themselves.

Got to say the atmosphere at the hotel after the game was pretty upbeat. One lousy game is behind us, but tomorrow brings another opportunity. As Coach said in the press conference, “This club has won too many games not to rebound.”