IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it’s a championship Monday at that. And you wonderful orange-clad people known what that means.
Let’s get that batting helmet on, step up to the plate, and swing away and the orange and white nuggets of Tennessee Volunteers-related thoughts coming in hot from my brain.
1) I wrote about it yesterday, but I am in a good place heading into today because of the mindset this team has. Facing likely tournament death in the late innings twice – both in their first game against FSU and in game two yesterday, the Vols rose to the occasion. Clutch hits, pitching coming through late when it had to. Not being afraid of the moment. That’s why I’m not worried and ultra-nervous coming into tonight. I probably should be nervous, but for some reason I’m not, and that’s probably why.
2) I also don’t feel like this team has much left that it has to prove. Sure, sounds perhaps like I’m hedging my emotional bets – or being defeatist, some might say – but it’s not that. I feel l like Tennessee baseball has proven that it indeed belongs among the best in the country and that it’s an elite-championship-level program. Does it really need win number 60 and a national championship to prove that? If any Arkansas fan tells you that, then they’re being bold-faced hypocritical, as I’m sure they would tell you the Hogs are on that level.
3) This team is as fun and as exciting as any I can ever remember watching. The 2022 team very likely would have been there had they made Omaha. But they didn’t and this one did. Not only make it, but dominate it up to the final game of the season. Just a steady progression this program has made over the last four years. Making Omaha in 2021 and getting swept out, missing out in 2022, winning a game in Omaha in 2023, and now being a win away from the school’s first-ever national title and win number 60. What a climb over the last four years, and what a season in 2024 to punctuate that growth. Man, I will never forget this squad no matter what happens at 7:00 pm ET.
We’ll find out soon enough if this team will bring home the hardware for the first time. Regardless, I can’t believe what Tony Vitello, his staff, and the players have built over the last four years. Hopefully they punctuate it with a dogpile this evening.
Go Vols!