By the way, thanks for covering. I was at work and had no access to the game at all. I couldn’t even get online updates until about the 6th inning because of work issues. I came home and watched the game on Tivo.

What struck me is the seeming suddenness in which we won. One minute, we were pretty much out of it. Then we won it. I think the announcers did a poor job of acknowledging the drama. I mean, when Blake Dean came up with the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on first base, anyone paying attention to LSU for the last several weeks knew we were VERY much still in the game. But the announcers just seemed to treat it like we were just mounting a bit of a rally.

I was watching with no sound again (at work, and didn’t want to break superstition), but if what you say is right, how on Earth would they not know that Blake Dean is about to do something.

He has been the Big Papi of the postseason. I’m not going to take time to do the numbers right now, but he’s been insane. I guarantee you there is not a coach at the CWS that wants to see Dean at the plate with runners on, much less the game on the line.

You would have thought ESPN was just going through the motions. I caught Hawthorne at work for the whole game. I was stunned. Wanted to scream and run around the halls but that might not have been best for the career. My dad, back in BR had turned it OFF!
He can’t stand it when they’re losing. When I called him and told him Dean was up, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I ragged him later for not watching but it’s what he does to pull ‘em through. I stand up in front of the TV when the game is on the line. Who am I kidding? I stand up most of the game.

The game:
Not to rain on the parade but we were very fortunate in some ways. A balk to bring in a run??? Wow!! Doesn’t happen too often. Hit batsman, error from short?? I’ll take it. Rice didn’t stay focused enough to put us away. UNC Thursday. I’m not thrilled but maybe we get in to their bullpen sooner. Hope that’s a good thing. There hitting impressed me a few days ago. Rice was a senior team. So is UNC. Let’s see what happens.