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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1993)
Damon Lee/D N Series brings tradition By Derek Samson Staff Reporter OMAHA — Once again, the College Wald Scries at Rosenblatt Stadium is drawing people from all ages and all places, who have noth ' ing but praise for the annual event. And the list of those who have made the trek to the CWS include students from the University of Ne braska-Lincoln. Many students say the CWS is a good way to kick off their summers while watching the best college baseball teams in the country. “A group of my friends have came down here for probably the past five or six years,” UNL student Brian Hickey said. “It’s a great way to get our summer going and this is quality baseball out here.’’ Although Creighton is consid ered the host school, UNL students can be found in abundance through out the crowd. I nis and Nebraska football games are the two best sporting events the state has to offer,” Matt Miller said. “They’re both great to party before and after.” With its annual boost in atten dance, the nationally-televised, week-long event, which ends on Saturday with the national champi onship game, has become more popular every year while bringing notoriety to Nebraska. “I’m a long, hard fan of the College World Series. I love Omaha, the people are friendly and down to earth,’’said Ron DeFordof Austin, Texas, who has been com ing to the CWS since 1981. “I think it would be absolutely criminal if they ever moved the Col lege World Series from Omaha; you couldn’t pick a better place in the country.” A group of friends from the Air Force have met for the past four years and consider themselves “Pro fessional Tailgaters.” One of the tailgaters said they set up their trail ers in Rosenblatt's parking lot on the day before play begins and leave after the first weekend of games is over. “I live for this weekend,” Dave Bartholel said. ‘‘This is a great place for baseball. People come in, do what they want, have a l Barthold said he had seen people from such places as New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Minne sota and Los Angeles present at th is year’s gathering. “Nebraska docsn ’ t ha ve beaches or mountains, but they do have the College World Series and they make the most of it,” he said. Jen Stock of Minneapolis said she meets a group of friends in Omaha every year for the CWS. “Wecome here because we love the atmosphere and the College World Series in general,” Stock said. “It is always such a friendly crowd wherever you go.” Saturday’s contest between Ari zona State and Wichita State also had more than just the average baseball fans in attendance. Nick John and Chris Felt were married in the morning and then headed straight over to Rosenblatt with the rest of the wedding party to take in a game before their evening recep tion. The Johns, who currently live in St. Louis, said baseball was a vital part of their lives, and Nick even went as far as to have Sl Louis Cardinals all-star shortstop Ozzie Smith propose to Chris from him at a game in St. Louis. . “Baseball is kind of our life. The crowd we brought is having a good time,” Nick John said. ,YIt took some time convincing them to buy into this idea, but I got everyone to come.” The highlight on the afternoon for the newlyweds at the stadium was when a foul ball blooped down the left field line into the wedding party crowd and landed in Chris John’s seat. Inis has to be an omen — espec iall y about bascbal I,” she said. But baseball isn’t the only rea son the scats are so packed during the College World Series week, according to one UNL student. “There is always a lot of guys here,’’ UNL student Makayla Steinhocfel said. “1 mostly enjoy going to the games with my friends and having a good time. We’ve been going for quite a few years now and I guess it’s turning into tradition.” Mell Delich, director of the Pro fessional Tailgatcrs, said the CWS is an experience that should be enjoyed by all. “This is a real laid back atmo sphere,” Delich said. “I recommend to anyone, especially from the Omaha area, that hasn’t gone to a College World Scries to get here soon — they don’t know what they’re missing.” f__ Damon Lae/DN Damon Lee/DN Clockwise from top: a tailgate party in a parking lot across from Rosenblatt. Kansas pitcher Jimmy Walker fires a pitch in the Jayhawks’ elimination game against Long Beacn State. With the addition of more than 1,500 seats to Rosenblatt, the CWS is on pace this year to break its attendance record set last year. Chirs and Nick John, accompanied with their wedding party, . came from their nuptials to Rosenblatt last Saturday to watch a CWS matchup between Arizona State and Wichita State.