Saturday and Sunday in Montgomery
When you're the four seed in a tournament and the three above you are locks for the NCAA tournament, you have to do some things you haven't done before.
Saturday the Cajuns defeated Texas State 3-2. It was the FIRST time all year the Cajuns won a game when scoring fewer than five runs. Jacob Schultz gave a performance for the ages, and, at the end, I gave him a standing ovation on the air. It's only the second time I've done that (Zach Osborne vs. Rice 2010).
Sunday the Cajuns won over Georgia Southern 7-6. It was the FIRST time this year they won a game when trailing after eight innings.
I started to get emotional when the dogpile began. But I swallowed hard and did my own version of "grinding." We knew a win Sunday would be #36. Tim Perrin (Austin's dad) started crying after the Saturday game. None of these kids have experienced a championship and Austin has been there the longest (he and Schultz are the only two that played for Robe). He said we had to win for 36. He wore a shirt Sunday covered in 36's. (and he's about a 4X) That's alot of 36's. He was still on the verge of tears Sunday morning.
Brad went down to interview Coach Deggs. I got a text from Colleen Robichaux. The last out was at 4:36pm. I got choked up during the break. Thankfully the awards ceremony was next and it gave me a chance to get my act together. Then during the interview, Brad mentioned the text (he got it too) and he and Coach Deggs both broke down in tears. We took a break and I was finally ok. Or so I thought.
During the close I mentioned our next broadcast would be in the NCAA regionals and my voice broke. That has NEVER happened during a game broadcast. Brad was back upstairs by that time. I finished up (barely) and signed off. I got up and hugged him.
And proceeded to ugly cry. I mean body racking, loud, sobbing, ugly cry.
I cried because I missed Robe. But I felt his spirit in Montgomery.
I cried because Tim and Lisa Perrin, Brandon and Donna Talley, Dustin and Kelly Brandon, Karen and Joe Kimple, Rob and Jennifer Schultz, Sandy and Mark Wilson and Danny and Vivian Brock (and their sons) were going to have another week of Ragin' Cajuns baseball. (I've gotten to know Danny and Vivian well. I think they're the only parents ever to have me as a guest in their home. They made most road trips and were in for every home weekend this year. Vivian is first generation Colombian and they are just outstanding, loving people. Julian is draft eligible and this could be it for them). These parents have made a bunch of trips over the years (even the Kimples, who have been around the last three weeks and will be in College Station...which is quite a ways away from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.) Those relationships have been special to me. I'm so happy for them. (And, Brian Robertson, too, who gave me a bottle of Blanton's to celebrate after the game. TR is probably gone to the draft. Brian didn't make a lot of trips, but I knew he was a great guy before he gave me that gift.)
And I cried because all of you now understand there's more than one way to coach baseball. That's not a knock on you. If you're under age 40, Robe is pretty much all you knew. And, over the last two years, you've gotten on Matt pretty good because he didn't do things the way Robe did them. That was unfair, but I get it. I was so happy for Coach Deggs. I love that man.
Matt Deggs won a championship HIS way with HIS system and HIS players.
If it comes to an end this weekend, so be it.
I'm just so freaking happy right now.
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Originally Posted by JayWalker
