Feeling Melancholy with the End of the Baseball Season

I saw this post on EliteDawgs early this morning and I thought it was worth putting on the site. It’s from poster “State82”, who expresses his feelings about the 2013 Diamond Dawgs in poignant fashion..

It’s not because we lost. It’s because it’s over. This has been the most incredible season/run we have ever witnessed in MSU sports history. And for the first time since I finished at MSU (long time ago), I saw every weekend series at DNF from the first one until the South Carolina series to finish the regular season, then to Hoover for the first few days, and finally a trip to Omaha for the game that made history for our athletic department. It’s not easy to make the 2 hour trip for every home weekend series and stay one or two nights, but for some reason, I had looked forward to this year more than any in the past. Just a hunch I had I suppose. I have always hated seeing the end of baseball season arrive (except in 2008, 2009 and 2010) but today, the season’s end has been especially sad. Not because it ended with a two game sweep at the hands of the national champions, but just because it ended. Man, what a ride this one has been.

The sea of MSU faithful that descended upon the promised land of collegiate baseball this week was something of legend. The whole year has been something of legend. From the win streak to start the year, to the incredible comeback at UM to get the whole juggernaut rolling, the final regular season weekend/Hoover heroics to lock down the regional host and the march through national seed UVA. Just unbelievable. Although I only had the opportunity to see one game in Omaha, it was worth every one of the 900 miles. When the final out was made last Friday, I stood in stunned silence for several minutes with a feeling I had never experienced at a sporting event. That’s the reason today is kind of sad. Not because the National Championship Trophy won’t reside in Starkville (at least not this year), but just because it is over.

I am in a very small minority, but I have always wanted that CWS trophy more than anything else with regard to MSU sports. DNF is one of my most favorite places in the world, and its not the concrete, masonry or steel. Like John Cohen has said a number of times, it’s the people that make Mississippi State University great. It’s the thousands and thousands of fans that trekked a thousand miles to create an atmosphere that has not been matched at the greatest collegiate sporting event there is. It’s Rea, Holder, Renfroe, Bradford, Henderson, Pirtle, Frazier, Detz, Frost, Ammo, Slauter, Graveman, Girodo, Mitchell, Porter, Pollo, Fitts, Gentry, Cox et al. It’s the people/players/fans/coaches that make Mississippi State University great. I have MSU baseball friends that are like my family. And they became that way because of MSU baseball years ago. I wouldn’t trade anything for the chance to arrive at the outfield gates 2 hours before first pitch every weekend, and prepare for an all day affair, MSU baseball style. Nothing like it in college sports, in my opinion. My daughter was raised at DNF from time she was 7 months old (her first game). 15 years later, she wouldn’t miss a game for the world. This is another reason it is such a special place to me.

I will admit that I had some concerns in 2010 with regard to the direction of the program. However, John Cohen & staff have produced a product that is nothing short of miraculous when compared to the situation he inherited. Every time I listen to an interview with him, I come away more impressed. Even 5 years into his tenure. This run should produce immeasurable benefits for the program in the near future if it is sowed and reaped in the right fashion. And I believe this staff knows just how to do that. Its hard to comprehend the brightness of the program’s future now as compared to just three short years ago. But, this 2013 squad will hold a special place in all our hearts forever more. And that’s the reason the mood is kind of melancholy today. Not because the final game of many of their careers ended with a loss. But because some of those careers have ended.