‘Hoosier’s moment’ is over, time for Clemson to play ball

Arlington, TX. – For the first time in two decades, the Clemson baseball team will open the season outside the friendly borders of the Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The No. 15 Tigers arrived on Wednesday before the start of the season on Friday against State No. 17 in the Shriners Children’s College showdown in Arlington. The first pitch is set for Noon (EST).

After Florida celebrated a walk-off win in the Super Regional in Clemson last year, it was a long low season. For this reason, there is a chip on the shoulders of this team.

Throughout the autumn ball and the previous season, head coach Erik Bakich saw how his team ended as a motivation last season to start another run in Arlington this weekend.

“Excited for team 128, ”said Bakich. “They prepared, worked hard and did all the things you would expect from a high level team. Very consistent. Consistent chip on the shoulder. A bad taste in her mouth as the last season ended. “

Opening in Arlington means playing on the Globe Life Field, the home of Texas Rangers. Playing in an event location where more than 40,000 fans will be new to many of the players on the Clemson squad.

For this reason, Bakich planned to take the team to the stadium after his arrival on Wednesday. Some of this plan included what he described as “Hoosier’s Moment”, a relapse in the film published in 1986.

In this film, a small town of High School in Indiana made an unlikely run to State Title Game. Gene Hackman, who played the role of coach Norman Dale, broke out a tape measure to show his team that the baskets were still 10 feet due to the larger arena.

“I think we’ll probably pick you up as a fan for a minute, and only this cool factor of ‘Wow, this is a childhood dream to play in a major League stadium,” said Bakich. “But then we will also become the moment of the Hoosier. It is still 60 feet, six inches. Still 90-foot bases. It is still baseball between the white lines. “

“So, just keep it from baseball and do it about how we play during the game and between the lines. Not in this is one of the largest, grand stadiums in the country. Just do it over baseball as soon as the game begins. “

Regardless of whether his team is opened at home or halfway throughout the country, the goal remains the same. This should lead this Clemson program to its first appearance in College World Series since 2010.

“These boys are about the right things and it certainly feels like we are on the right track to have a great season,” said Bakich. “But we do it because we want all this preparation to deserve the opportunity to get hot in the end and come by where we stopped and finally bring his first national championship against Clemson.”

Clemson opens against the state of Oklahoma No. 17 on Friday (12:00 p.m.) and then plays on Saturday (noon) No. 21 Arizona before ending with Ole Miss on Sunday (3:30 p.m. EST).

The tigers will be without Bakich in the first two games, since it is a suspension due to his failure in the season finale last season. Assistant Nick Schnabel will act as head coach in his place.