So I was going to post a preview on NU baseball but Corn Blight did a great job and I agree with everything he has to say. So here is something else I was working on. I hope it meets the literary standards of this fine blog.

I started on the Husker baseball bandwagon during the 1998 season.  A friend of mine had heard that the new coach, Dave van Horn, might be able to do something with the team. 

In 1998 baseball at Nebraska was still an after thought.  The team played in an outfield that doubled as a football practice field.  You could get into the game for free with a student ID, and in those days at Buck Beltzer, you could sit pretty much wherever you wanted. The metal bleachers at Buck were usually pretty empty.  This first game I remember going to was a cold Wednesday game against Dana College.  Nebraska won both those games, and it was a sign of things to come for that team, and for the program overall.

NU followed with a breakthrough season, making a regional in 1999.  After tasting the post-season in 1999, Nebraska baseball followed with a super regional appearance in 2000, 2 trips to the CWS in 2001, and 2002.  Then even after van Horn left for Arkansas, coach Mike Anderson led Nebraska to a regional berth in 2003, a return to Omaha in 2005 (which should have ending in a national title, but that’s another post), and regionals in 2006, 2007, 2008.

Part of the evolution of the program was the building of Haymarket Park and Hawks Field in 2002.  In as quick as 3 seasons Nebraska baseball was out of the shadow of Memorial Stadium and had a loyal following of it’s own.  No longer was I among a handful of fans at games, people started coming in force.  Instead of maybe 50, 5,000 regularly show up to see a game. 

However, with the fans came expectations.  It may have been the converted football fans, or the sudden success, but now the common fan expects every year to end in Omaha.  In comparison it would be like expecting the basketball team to make the elite 8 every year,  Every loss is scrutinized like a loss in football. 

Unfortunately, I may have some bad news for those CWS or bust fans, if this team makes a regional it would be quite an accomplishment.

I’m not saying that the team won’t make a regional, heck I was saying the same thing last year, and Anderson got the team a home regional.  It may have been his best coaching since he was promoted to the head spot.  Picking up Newman was a great move, especially since Childress has moved on to ATM.  But NU will have even less pitching this year versus last.  Even though last year before the season started I wasn’t convinced Dorn would be an effective Friday starter (he was BTW, kudos to Newman) at least Dorn was coming back.

This year? This year you have a whole new starting rotation, with lots of slots to fill.

Will Newman be able to develop the young talent?

Will Anderson answer some of this critics about his coaching ability?

Will NU make the post season again this year?

One things for sure, it should be a fun ride, and it starts this Friday at 6:30.

Well screw it, CWS or bust baby!