Omaha Observations - Day Six

Rosenblatt Stadium

Tuesday, June 21, 2005
By Debbie Grant

What is there to say except “Thank You, Green Wave Baseball Team.” This has been an amazing, energizing and simply wonderful year. Top-ranked all year and ending up in the College World Series, this team did us proud.

We had our moments against Baylor, but couldn’t put away the Bears. They played well and never quit, so hats off to them.

Couple things to remember from today. First, Coach Rick Jones, Greg Dini and Tommy Manzella walking into the press conference after the game, doing what the NCAA mandates and that is to meet with the press 10 minutes after you lose a game.

Coach Jones said, ”I’ve been doing this for 30 years and this is the toughest loss I’ve ever had. We’ll learn from it but it sure is tough right now.”

Tommy Manzella, who just graduated a few weeks ago after a great academic career at Tulane to complement his athletic accomplishments, exhibited the heart and class that epitomizes this Green Wave team. “It was a privilege to be part of such a great group of guys,” he said.

As the team left Rosenblatt to board the bus back to the hotel, Joe Holland stopped to sign a few autographs. I went over to him to thank him for giving us fans such a great year. “No,” he said, “thank you all for supporting us all year.”

Back at the hotel the team got a wonderful ovation as they entered the hotel. Friends, fans and family let the guys know just how special they are.

Tomorrow we all go home. Some of our team go off to make their mark in professional baseball. Some go to play more baseball this summer in leagues scattered around the county and will be back at Tulane next year.

For those of us who cheered and celebrated and loved this team since that first pitch back in February, we go back to New Orleans or wherever we call home, knowing that the 2005 Tulane University Green Wave baseball team gave us their best, and in doing so, gave us a season that will long live in our hearts.