Ole Miss Baseball: The End of the Era of ‘Almost’ Making it
OXFORD, Miss. — Each season, Ole Miss fans across the state of Mississippi, the country, and world tune in to radio and television broadcasts of Rebel baseball.
They listen to Kellum and “Hendu” call the game with enthusiasm and honesty for the team they love. Fans listen because it’s not Rebel baseball without hearing Kellum say, “Swing and a miss. Struck him out!” Or, “It’s at the wall; It’s gone!”
Fans watch their Rebels begin the journey toward the ultimate goal of Omaha and hope that this will be the year.
Whether at home or away, young boys arrive at games early in the hopes of getting a baseball signed by the players they idolize. Parents travel thousands of miles during a season to support their sons who chose Ole Miss as their college home, and the coaches’ families support their husbands and dads through victory and defeat.
The Solo cups compete. The beer showers fall. Each time they do, somewhere deep down, the players, coaches, families, and fans think this could be the year.
Alas, it’s never been the year…until now. Now, it’s the end of an era!
The era of the Rebels ‘almost’ making it to Omaha has fallen and given way to a new era that brings with it a national championship for Rebel baseball!
This fan base will get to tell their kids and grandkids the stories of the “Legend of Loosh” and back-to-back-to-back home runs in Omaha.
Young kids will pretend to stand in the batter’s box to hit like Elko and Graham.
Future infielders will jump up and slap gloves like Chatagnier and Gonzalez while aspiring catchers imagine being Dunhurst with the throw down to second base.
The 2022 Rebel baseball team, loyal to their coaches, teammates, and faith, will forever be the men who brought the title home. And, shame on us fans if they ever have to buy their own drink at any establishment in Oxford, MS!
For Coaches Bianco, Clement, Lafferty, and Cleary, there will be time to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. Then they will hit the ground running to recruit new players to join the greatest team in college baseball. How does that sound, Rebels? It’s music to this fan’s ears for sure.
It’s been said that the harder the obstacles you overcome, the sweeter the victory. Well, for this team this victory should be a chocolate cake with ice cream, hot fudge, and a case of sprinkles. The determination of this team saw us all through defeat and on to the title of national champions!
From the fans who love, respect, and admire you to the coaches, players, support staff, administration, families, and announcers, we say thank you!
Until next season, Hotty Toddy!
David Kellum’s final call! https://t.co/UVs12mzN9Z
— Dale Douglas (@coachdouglas81) June 27, 2022
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Donna Sprabery
Donna Sprabery is a former teacher, graduation coach, and academic coach for boys basketball. She graduated from the University of West Alabama with a major in business education and from Arkansas State University with a MA in Educational Leadership. A native of Meridian, MS, Donna enjoys traveling, gardening, writing, volunteer work, and cheering on the Rebels.
