The University of South Carolina baseball team is the last team standing after the 2010 College World Series. What a proper way to say goodbye to the Diamond on the Hill. USC wins its first national championship at the last CWS played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. Carolina’s run was simply amazing.
The Gamecocks started the CWS in a storm. They went on to lose their opener in a rain and lightening delayed game that lasted over eight hours. They later stormed through the loser’s bracket to the title series. Although the Gamecocks were decided underdogs, they went on to clinch the title by sweeping UCLA in two games.
Even though USC won the opening game of the championship series 7-1, the talking heads of college baseball still favored the Bruins to win the CWS. Game two is called an elimination game. The loser, by definition, goes home. This was more than an elimination game for UCLA. It was an elimination game for the stadium itself. A Carolina victory not only sent the Bruins home, it marked the end of the CWS for The Blatt.
The End of an Era
The 2010 College World Series not only crowned a new national champion, it was the final hurrah for college baseball’s most famous stage. Most fans are saddened by the loss of Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium as the host of the CWS. I agree with the sentiment. The ‘Blatt is a fabulous stadium with the most heralded history in college baseball.
According to some critics, however, the old stadium was too small and the layout was neither fan, nor player friendly. I also agree with that assessment. The parking was an event in and of itself. The concourse and the seats were too small. Oh, and the fence around the entire facility. I understand that it was put up for this last series, but it sure did make the entire experience difficult. Hopefully, the new facility has addressed those concerns.
The End of a Curse
I must admit, that at times, it has been difficult being a Gamecock fan. The slogan “wait ‘til next year” has definitely grown old. I’m not going into the close calls and hard times that the Carolina football and basketball teams have had in the past. There certainly have been some disappointments in those areas. The baseball teams have also had their fair share.
In 1975, 1977 and 2002 South Carolina was the runner-up for the national championship in college baseball. I also remember standing at The Sarge at a super regional in 2000. That year the Gamecocks were a consensus number one in the nation and highly favored to win the College World Series. They were eliminated in Columbia. That was a tough break.
Some, if not most, Carolina fans attribute the “Chicken Curse” as the reason for those tough breaks. Say goodbye to it. I saw some players scooping up dirt from the field. That will make a good souvenir and maybe help with the memories of a great championship. I’d like to think that they were burying an old ghost. This year’s team buried the chicken curse in the Diamond on the Hill. That is a fitting tribute to the fans of Carolina and of Johnny Rosenblatt.
