West Virginia Mountaineer Fans Wear Gold to Support their Mountaineers
It was this writers first visit to Morgantown for a West Virginia football game at Milan Puskar Stadium. I was not dissapointed in anyway. The West Virginia Fans were extremely friendly and proved to be very SEC fan passionate about their Mountaineers. I was fortunate to receive an invitation from an LSU Fan who had received an invitation to tailgate with a large group of Mountain Fans. This group of Mountaineers have been tailgating together for many years. They had one of the best set ups for tailgating I’ve ever experienced on an out of conference road trip and they know their Whiskey! This obviously has something to do with the name of their tailgate “Coughing Corner”. It was great to learn so much about the history of West Virginia Football and how passionate they are for their Mountaineers. Thanks for the warm welcome from this great group of ‘Neer Fans who know how to roll out the Gold carpet to a visiting LSU Tiger!
It was a short walk to the stadium thru may Mountaineer Fans and Tailgaters. Everyone was very friendly to this Tiger before, during and after the game. After finding my seat in the upper deck of section 203 near the top I was happy to see what a great view I had of the stadium and game. The Mountaineer Band was very entertaining and good. I just wish the stadium managers would get rid of the piped in music that keeps blaring loudly, I would much prefer to hear the band! The game started out quick for LSU racing to a 14-0 lead which brought the Mountaineer crowd noise down a few decibels until the 3rd quarter when West Virginia closed to with in 6 points. After that LSU pulled away for good for another LSU win and the #1 ranking coming out the next day.
I’m including some of my pictures all taken on game day. I was lucky enough to get the sequence of Tyrann Mathieu’s interception right before the half. I can now check off Morgantown as another great College Football game day experience! Thanks again to all the West Virginia Fans who treated so many of us Tigers so well!!!
Morgantown West Virginia on the River before LSU West Virginia Football Game
West Virginia Tailgate...these Mountaineers know how to Tailgate!!!
Mountaineer Fan Enjoying the Day
WV Mountaineers singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" before the Game
West Virginia Tailgaters yelling before heading over to the game
LSU and Mountaineer Fans enjoying tailgating before the game! College Football at it's Best!!!
This is the view walking up to Milan Puskar Stadium before the LSU WV football game
LSU Pre Game Ritual had Tiger Fans on their feet yelling "LSU, LSU, LSU..."
The Mountaineer Band was very impressive as they formed the state of West Virginia!
Mountaineer Football team entering the field before kickoff
Mountaineer Football Team running onto the field to start the game
LSU Football Team running onto the Field to start the game
One of many Mountaineer Fan signs around the stadium
Mountaineer Field
Opening Kickoff
Mountaineer Fans were at a Fever Pitch to begin the game!
Look close, there is a lone LSU Fan hanging an LSU banner on the WV side, what bravery!
View of LSU Fans from section 203 upper deck...7 to 8,000 Tiger Fans cheering
Great View of the game from the upper deck! Not a bad seat anywhere in this stadium!
Jarrett Lee leading the Tigers
Beginning Sequence of Tyrann Mathieu's Brilliant Block and Interception just before Halftime!
I had no idea the Ball bounced so high in the air
Tyrann Mathieu is an amazing athlete!
Tyrann is so Tiger Fast!!!
I have no idea how Tyrann got down to the 1 yard line after being hit at the 10
Tyrann dragging a Mountaineer to the Goal line
What a play! Defensive play of the Game!
Celebration Time!
Jarrett Lee rolling out to throw a TD!
LSU Celebrating another Touchdown!!!
Oregon 3rd Baseman Carter Bell up close on Tony Kemp at bat in 1st Inning
Oregon 2nd Baseman Jake Rodriguez goes high but just misses a line drive hit
Oregon Pitcher Ben Wetzler starts for the Beavers
Grayson Garvin Pitching for a trip to the College World Series
Carter Bell catching some more air as the pitch goes home. I've never seen a player jump up before every pitch home
Oregon Coach Pat Casey talking to this infield early in the game
Oregon tries to pick off Conrad Gregor at 2nd Base
2nd Pick Off Try at 2nd Base on Conrad Gregor
Conrad Gregor digging for 3rd
Jason Esposito ready at 3rd
Oregon's Carter Bell celebrates a double against Grayson Garvin
Hawkins Field at night
Hawkins Field looking toward right field
Hawkins Field behind Home Plate
Aaron Westlake rounding 2nd after one of his three 2 run home runs
Aaron Westlake greeting by his teammates after Home Run Trip
Vandy doing their traditional 9th inning jump
Vandy Wins Nashville Super Regional and Advances to Omaha!!!
The beginning of a Vandy Dog Pile
Vandy Dog Pile shaping up
Ever wonder what a Vandy Dog Pile looks like? Now we know
Vandy Celebration
Vandy Baseball Team thanking Commodore Fans
Coach Tim Corbin says "Now on to Omaha!"
Both Vandy and Florida will host NCAA Baseball Regionals next weekend which will be announced later today. Congrats to Florida on winning their first SEC Baseball Tournament Title in 20 years! Here are a few pictures from the game in Hoover.
Regions Park in Hoover, Alabama hosted the 2011 SEC Championship Tournament
It was a great weather day for this years SEC Tournament Championship game
Regions Park is a Pitchers Park especially with the change to the new Metal Bats for College Baseball
Vandy wore their Red, White and Blue Uniforms in Honor of Memorial Day weekend.
Tony Kemp slides into 3rd in the 1st inning of SEC Baseball Championship Tournament play
Connor Harrell slides in to 3rd base but could not make it home.
Anthony Gomez gets around to hit this ball. That's a fast swing!
Nick Maronde is congratulated by Gator RHP Matt Campbell after stranding more Vandy runners
US Military Families and their sons who gave their lives for our country are Honored between innings
Preston Tucker gets hitting instruction from Florida Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan late in the game
Gator Picture Nick Maronde releasing a strike out of his wind up
The Best College Baseball in the Country!
Daniel Pigott chasing the ball off the wall late
Cody Dent ready to close out the game in the 9th inning
Gator Fans were hard to find at this years SEC Tournament in Hoover
Austin Maddox gets the last out to win the SEC Baseball Championship for the Florida Gators
Gators celebrate their win!
The Florida Gators are this years 2011 SEC Champions!
Florida's Hudson Randall throws to 1st base on a pick off try
Tony Kemp Stealing 2nd Base leading off the 1st inning
Tony Kemp's speed beats throw to 2nd base by a whisker!
Tony Kemp safe at 3rd
Gator 3rd Baseman Jeff Moyer signals Fly Ball
Vandy Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin giving instruction to Aaron Westlake
Sonny Gray winds up for the pitch to home plate
Vanderbilt's Sonny Gray keeps an eye on the runner at 1st Base
Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field, Nashville TN
The Hawkins Family enjoying the Vanderbilt Baseball Team at Hawkins Field
Florida 3rd Baseman dives for Fly Ball
Vandy Bench greets Mike Yastremski after scoring
It was a cold May Day at Hawkins Field
First Game Handshake with Umpires
After winning back to back 10 to 1 decisions the Vanderbilt Baseball team swept the Tennessee Volunteers at Hawkins Field in Nashville, TN 19-3. Tim Corbin’s Commodore Baseball team outscored the Vols 39 to 5 during the weekend 3 game series. While Vandy is playing with a high level of confidence you would have to say Tennessee is not playing with confidence as the 11 run 6th inning by Vandy on Sunday demonstrated. As Vandy focuses on the remaining games before the SEC Baseball Tournament you have to wonder if the Vols can win enough remaining games to make the trip to Hoover. Tim Corban seems to have his baseball team on a mission, you can see it by how Vandy is playing. I absolutely love watching Coach Corbin coach during games. He’s truly one of the great head coaches of college baseball. You can tell he knows what each of his players is capable of and executes plays during the game for each player to make. When it fails he goes into analyzing what went wrong.
Great series win for the Commodores as they continue a three way tie for first in the SEC Baseball Standings with South Carolina and Florida.
Here are some pictures from game 2 on Saturday at Vanderbilt’s Hawkins Field.
Hawkins Field Entrance
Vandy 3rd Baseman Jason Esposito
LSU 3rd Baseman Tyler Hanover
Vandy PItcher Grayson Garvin
Vandy Runner Rounding 3rd Base
LSU Pitching Conference
Another Vandy Hit
LSU Frustration Mounts
Vandy Runner Slides into 3rd
Coach Tim Corbin watches to see what LSU does next
Vandy First Baseman Ready for Play
Keeping Track of Vandy K's
Great Day at Hawkins Field
Vandy Runner Ducks at 3rd Base
Future Vandy Baseball Player Catches Foul Balls Outside Hawkins Field
Tim Corbin greets Paul Mainieri
Vanderbilt's Hawkins Field in Nashville
LSU Scores 1st run of game
Vandy scores 5 runs to answer
LSU Catcher tries to calm LSU Pitcher in 1st inning
LSU's 3rd Baseman Tyler Hanover ready at 3rd
Night time at Hawkins Field
Vandy Scoreboard tells the story
Vandy runner scores another run
Another visit to the mound for LSU Pitching