The Road to Omaha

On Monday 64 teams were selected to play in the college baseball world series, a tournament that crowns NCAA baseball its National Champion. While it isn't as publicized or as popular as the 64 team field that makes up NCAA Basketballs March Madness, this tournament truely is a diamond in the rough.


The tournament names "national seeds", aka, the top 8 teams in the tournament. These teams along with another 8 selected become regional hosts the first weekend of the tournament. Overall record, strength of schedule, stadium and how good of a draw attendance wise are the determining factors. There are 16 regional sites that host a double elimination tournament that has 4 teams. The second round of the tournament is called the Super-Regionals and that is where that National Seeding comes into play. If you are one of the eight National Seeds and advance through the first round, you will host a series against another regional champion at your ballpark to advance to the College World Series. The winner of the best of 3 game series advances.


8 teams advance to the College World Series which is played in Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. Over the years some of the all-time baseball greats have played in Omaha in the World Series, including Barry Bonds, Rogers Clemens and Cal Ripken Jr. Once again double elimination decides who plays for the championship and then a best of 3 game series crowns the champ.


This tournament has everything you would want to see. It is the only baseball tournament in the world where a 7-run lead going into the 8th or 9th inning isn't safe at all. It showcases hard hits, long flies and 14-12 ball games that are never over until the third out of the ninth inning. You get to see true raw emotion from student athletes and responsible, respectful fans who appreciate seeing their "kids" play but don't get down on them or taunt the other team. It is the ultimate act of sportsmanship and showmanship.


This years overall number 1 seed is the Texas Longhorns with the 2-8 seeds being Cal St. Fullerton, LSU, North Carolina, Arizona St., UC Irvine, Oklahoma and Florida. Last year the unseeded, Fresno St. Bulldogs won the championship. It was a helluva tournament just as this one is sure to be as well. I'm slightly biased, but my money has to be on the Bayou Bengals from LSU.

You can catch a few of the opening round games on ESPNU and then most of the Super Regionals and World Series on ESPN and ESPN 2. Tune in!!