College World Series - Omaha, Nebraska

Made a beeline from Pennsylvania to Omaha, Nebraska to watch Florida State play in the College World Series. Camping is scarce around there but we are very lucky and about 12 miles from the stadium is Offutt Air Force Base and they have a nice campground situated on a lake that we were able to get in to.

The Men's College World Series has been played in Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha for 60 years and this was the last year for that venue. A new stadium is being built for next year and much was made by the media about it being the last year for Rosenblatt. The Florida State Seminoles have managed to be one of the 8 teams in the World Series for 20 of those 60 years. Being the 20th year for the 'Noles and the last for Rosenblatt we were hoping that maybe, just maybe, they could finally win the big one and come home as the Champions.

The Seminoles did not get off to a good start and lost to the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday in the first game of the series. Into the losers bracket – a place where the 'Noles feel at home. Through much really bad weather (until you have seen a lightening storm out on the plains, you have not seen a storm) and mediocre baseball played by other teams we waited.

Finally it was Monday and our opponent in the losers bracket was none other than our in-state rival and most hated foe – the University of Florida Gators. As hard as the Seminoles tried to give the game away, they managed to vanquish the Gators and send them packing back to Florida. After that win – it did not really matter what happened – we beat the #2 ranked Gators at the World Series. How sweet was that?

More waiting around and more bad weather. The Missouri River which runs between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa was really on the rise by now.

While waiting around we went to the Strategic Air Command Museum that is about 30 miles from Omaha. We were not too impressed. SAC has one heck of a history and story to tell but the museum was just a bunch of static display aircraft. Should have gone to the Zoo.

Wednesday – and by now TCU has also fallen into the losers bracket and FSU has to play them again. We had spent the last few days laughing at the “Fear the Frogs” t-shirts. Seriously, who the hell is TCU in the baseball world and why would anyone fear a frog? We were about to find out – for the second time. FSU looked good early and by the 5th inning had a 7-2 lead, 7-3 in the 7th. We really did not have our hopes up – we have seen the 'Noles melt down too often. Then came the 8th inning –the 8 run 8th inning - an inning that will live in infamy (apologies to FDR). I can't talk about it – probably the biggest comeback in World Series history. FSU lost 11-7. How the hell do you give up a 2 out grand slam? And then another hit and another home run to make matters worse? Oh well –

All in all we had a great time and are glad we went. And no matter what – The SEMINOLES beat the gators at the World Series and we were there!! And – most importantly - Monte and Shelley were on ESPN close to the bottom of the 5th inning of the Wednesday game with TCU.