Busy Thursday Schedule In Omaha For Diamond Dogs
The day schedule gets under way at 11 a.m. with a team photo session at the CWS status at the entrance to Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, the site of the 61st College World Series. Media interviews come next, including a series by ESPN/ESPN2, which is televising all of the games of the double-elimination tournament. MSU’s hour-long practice session at Rosenblatt Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
MSU will join the other seven CWS teams in an NCAA-sponsored gambling awareness seminar at 1 p.m., followed by the first of many fan events during their stay, an autograph session at the stadium from 1:30 until 2 p.m.
Also on tap for Thursday is a 1:30 p.m. “State of College Baseball” press conference at the stadium featuring MSU athletics director and NCAA Baseball Committee Chairman Larry Templeton and nationally-televised (ESPNU/CSTV) 2 p.m. press conference involving the head coaches of each of the eight participating universities. The press conferences will be held at the stadium interview room.
The day’s schedule quiets for a brief time before the teams return to Rosenblatt Stadium at 7:30 p.m. for team barbeque dinners in advance of Olympics-style opening ceremonies events that begin at 9 p.m. at the stadium. Sky divers representing each of the participating teams will parachute onto the field and present the official team banner to the captains of the teams after the players march on to the field for introductions. The opening ceremonies will conclude with a fireworks display.
Mississippi State (36-20), ranked sixth in the latest Collegiate Baseball rankings, will begin CWS competition Friday at 6 p.m., taking on ACC power North Carolina (53-13). MSU has designated junior left-hander Justin Pigott (8-7) as its starter in Friday night’s CWS opener.
The Mississippi State team, headquartered at the Embassy Suites Old Market in central Omaha, arrived in Omaha late Wednesday morning and made an hour-long stop for an impromptu tour of the facilities at Rosenblatt Stadium prior to checking in to the team hotel.
For additional information on events at the 2007 NCAA College World Series log on to www.NCAASports.Com.