BATON ROUGE — It’s a quote that has stuck with me for a few months now.
Coach Trent Johnson asked Marcus Thornton of his goals for the recent LSU basketball season and one of the things he said was that Thornton “wanted to play meaningful games in late February and March.”
Driving down River Road to the new Alex Box Stadium, it dawned on me that this particular weekend is one of the reasons this park was built ? for players to play and fans to watch meaningful games in the month of May in the palace of college baseball.
When LSU and Florida took the field Friday night with the sun setting behind the third base bleachers, there was no doubt this was as big a weekend series as LSU as played in over the last few years at this time of the year. Two quality teams, two of the three tied for the lead, with great hitters, good pitchers and solid fielders.
Now coaches say all the time that every week in the SEC is one that causes coaches to pull their hair out as every move they make and every swing of the bat could determine the difference between winning and losing. But I’m sorry. Every week is just another week in a long road to the SEC division or overall championship. Sure you have to play good almost every week to play for a championship. But if you do …
Then you have the chance to play a series like LSU and Florida are playing this weekend. This series just IS college baseball. It’s why the players play and why the fans hang on every pitch. Those fans deserve to have this series in this venue and I guarantee you it’s rocking here early and often.
Before the game, I went down on the field and watched the players going through pregame batting practice. All was serious but not too serious, probably just the way the coaches like it. Those hundred or so fans who love to watch every pitch of batting practice were already in the stands. Many had kids with them and were pointing out things in the stands to their children.
All of them had seemed to have already made what would probably be the first of a few stops at the concession stand to pick up the first round of burgers, nachos and soft drinks.
Those that weren’t in the stands early were having dinner under trees and tents and in motor homes parked all over this part of campus. By the time those people decided to move toward the stadium, the infield practice had been completed and LSU’s invaluable grounds crew (who have a sign on their supply room door to “rake like a champion today” were well into their field prep.
Traffic was stacking up on Nicholson and from the press box the people walking to the park from all directions was like at a major league park. But then again, this is darn close to a major league park.
Walking the concourse again I was struck with all the sights and sounds and frankly the smells ? one concession stand on the concourse leads to another and the smells of burgers and brisket and well-done hot dogs and all the other things Tiger concessions sells combines for a smell that just signals I’m hungry and need something to eat (something that usually occurs quite often for me).
But looking at the lines, obviously I’m not alone.
I saw it at the old Box and it still remains true here at the new Box (wonder how many years we will call this the “new” Box), everyone seems to know almost everyone in the place. Marshalls and ticket takers know the people that come through their gate or to their section. They discuss family, politics and of course baseball. Lots of baseball. It is a baseball stadium after all.
And that’s the charm of college baseball at LSU. But when the national anthem was played the talk about other things ceased. By then everyone had grabbed their drinks, their scorecards and pencils and jotted down their lineups as longtime PA announcer Bill Franques intoned them in that “voice of God” quality we’ve come to expect.
By game time, most of the people were in their seats (although a few were probably delayed by that 7 p.m. train that came through. Timing is everything and that may teach a few more to arrive early. Even the suites were packed and from where I was it appeared very few were socializing in the air conditioned comfort. They all wanted to be outside watching THE GAME.
It wasn’t the prettiest of starts for the Tigers as an attempted stolen base and subsequent error put a Florida runner on base. But when the next batter hit into a 6-4-3 double play, the crowd that was slightly holding its breath let out a prolonged cheer and for the moment all was right with the Alex Box world on a Friday night in Baton Rouge.
Chris Guillot was ready to yell as the Tigers came to the plate, the K lady had her K’s ready and even Coon’s Corner was … well, Coon’s Corner was Coon’s Corner.
It’s all part of what makes college baseball special on this campus. LSU fans stand and applaud your team, your stadium and for that matter applaud yourselves. You are a special ingredient in what is LSU baseball.
Remember, check back later on LSUsports.net for a complete recap of tonight’s game and remember the series continues with a 7 p.m. game on Saturday (think the place will be a little more ready to rock after a full Saturday or tailgating outside the stadium) and noon Sunday.