Omaha, Nebraska is a simple city but when it comes to baseball they turn it up a notch with the annual hosting of the College World Series, and after a year away it was back in full force in 2021. Two local Tennessee teams were also involved in the Volunteers and the Vanderbilt Commodores which afforded me an incredible opportunity to take a trip out to the great baseball city of Omaha to cover these two power baseball programs and document the journey for you and boy what a journey it was.
I was also fortunate that a good friend and fellow Tennessee media member covering the local teams for Chatt Tenn Sports Chase Green was able to make his way out to Nebraska with me.
Before we go any further and we dive into the trip I need to give a special shout-out to those who made this trip a possibility.
First, Papa John’s of the Greater Chattanooga area
Papa John’s
And Guardian Investment Advisors
Guardian Investment Advisors
Thank you so much to both of those companies for making this trip a possibility.
It started with the road trip to Atlanta to catch our flight out to the College World Series.
Make sure you’re locked in with us all weekend long as the road to Omaha starts NOW.
Our very own @G_ESPN1051 and @ChattTennSports contributor @Mcgreen423 will have the first three days of the #CollegeWorldSeries COVERED right here. Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/Yaj5qRqMZT— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 19, 2021
Then, one of us (me) finally arrived for the first time ever in Omaha.
We’re here
@G_ESPN1051 pic.twitter.com/4LeK56nRal
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 19, 2021
Once Chase arrived it was time to explore and we stumbled upon Omaha’s Baseball Village.
The boys are in the mix
@G_ESPN1051 @Mcgreen423 @ChattTennSports #Omaha #CollegeWorldSeries pic.twitter.com/clw4Q7X703
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 19, 2021
Yeah, we’ve traveled a bit of a way but certainly not as far as some folks had to trade to make it to the baseball heaven that is Omaha.
Finally, it was time to enter TD Ameritrade Park for the first time as Vandy and Arizona were underway.
Kumar gave up three before we could get a cold beverage in our hands
AZ: 3
Vandy: 1
B2@G_ESPN1051 @Mcgreen423 pic.twitter.com/ITiOxlRGD1— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 19, 2021
A little mid-game update from Vandy and Arizona.
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
While in Omaha, I got an opportunity to see my cousin Abby for the first time in about three years as Chase and I stayed with her and her boyfriend Shane as we all took in the action of game one of our trip.
The Omaha crew
@Mcgreen423 pic.twitter.com/8mnVDqUvtE
— Greg Larnerd (@G_ESPN1051) June 20, 2021
After many chances by both Vandy and Arizona, the Commodores FINALLY won it in the bottom of the 12th in what was the fourth-longest game in College World Series history and the longest in TD Ameritrade history.
VANDY WALKS IT OFF IN THE 12th!!!
(With 6% battery to spare) pic.twitter.com/scZsdQgYK2— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
Day two began nice and early as the Vols were opening up their College World Series trip with the first game on Sunday against Virginia and Chase was ready, to say the least.
Somebody is ready for today my friends. Light those orange flames
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@Mcgreen423 pic.twitter.com/7DEnlhlWHR
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
More Omaha Baseball Village goodness with tons of orange.
.@TheMattOBV and a lot of TN orange pic.twitter.com/ssJ7EZ4j2h
— Greg Larnerd (@G_ESPN1051) June 23, 2021
Time to head to our seats as the Vols were gearing up to play.
Game one pregame heading to our seats for TN and Virginia pic.twitter.com/GYPNxEwS3a
— Greg Larnerd (@G_ESPN1051) June 23, 2021
Tennessee hitting the field in Omaha for the first time in 16 years.
Vols hit the field in Omaha for the first time in 16 years.
Are. You. Ready?? pic.twitter.com/t8kX993loB
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
It wasn’t the best day for the Vols against the Cavaliers as the offense didn’t show up and Chad Dallas was solid but was knocked out in the 7th.
Chad Dallas’ day is done as UVA cracks a couple runs off him in the 7th…
UVA: 3
Vols: 0
T7 pic.twitter.com/TuKm8Cb9Dp— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
Even though Tennessee fell 6-0 to Virginia we got some exciting news for The Word With G show that we were broadcasting on Monday…
Big news for tmrw’s local programing as The Word With G will be LIVE on location out at @TheMattOBV right outside @tdameritradeprk 12-2p EST (11-1p local) w/@G_ESPN1051 along with @Mcgreen423
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Make sure you’re LOCKED IN for this special edition of TWWG@MrRogers99 at 12:40 pic.twitter.com/Hyr4izUMou
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 20, 2021
Big news for tmrw’s local programing as The Word With G will be LIVE on location out at Once Monday rolled around the show was ready to go with a pretty sweet set up on a beautiful sun-soaked day.
The boys are about ready to go LIVE from @TheMattOBV next to @songsofthegame pic.twitter.com/XeCCJ3QO0T
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 21, 2021
We also ran into some Chattanooga natives in Omaha AND had nine-year-old sports guru Ford Vaughn on the show with us in the first hour, what a treat.
Chattanooga boys in Omaha. @Mcgreen423 @ESPNChattanooga @TheMattOBV pic.twitter.com/GQuMOZpZhk
— Greg Larnerd (@G_ESPN1051) June 23, 2021
Hanging with Chattanooga native and sports guru Ford Vaughn. @Mcgreen423 @ESPNChattanooga pic.twitter.com/RVjm1tZDlN
— Greg Larnerd (@G_ESPN1051) June 23, 2021
The second half of hour two from the Omaha Baseball Village LIVE feed.
The Word with G Live From Omaha! https://t.co/ESfGWTxzQM
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 21, 2021
Once the show was in the books it was time for us to take in our final action of the weekend from the College World Series with an elimination game between Arizona and Stanford which Stanford won 14-5.
Day three out at the College World Series. Arizona and Stanford #omaha pic.twitter.com/611LILKsJY
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 21, 2021
Can never go wrong with some good BBQ to finish up the trip.
A little chopped brisket never hurt
pic.twitter.com/fciZUOoB7h
— ESPN Chattanooga (@ESPNChattanooga) June 21, 2021
The trip was absolutely incredible and I want to thank Kira Headlee, Keith Landecker, and Wells Gutherie of Brewer Media Group for allowing me to take this trip. Once again, I need to thank Papa John’s of the Greater Chattanooga area as well as Guardian Investment Advisors for sponsoring the trip as well as all of our trip updates on the radio. Thanks for following along the Omaha ride with us.