Reflections on Carolina Stadium
This past Saturday (my birthday) I attended my first college baseball game at the University of South Carolina’s Carolina Stadium. There, I got to see the Gamecocks beat Ole Miss. Here are some of my game-time observations:
- I’m impressed by the overall feel of the park. The place may only be slightly smaller that Charleston’s Joe Riley Park.
- This scoreboard/video display blows Joe Riley Park away!
- NO BEER?? It is a college game after all…
- Cocky – USC’s mascot may be the funniest i’ve seen at any level of sport.
- The stadium’s dugouts are huge – they may well be the same size as those a Comerica Park.
- I like the left field bleachers and the flags across the top, in order of the SEC standings.
- Of course, I dig the 360 degree accessto throighout the seating bowl. I walked the circumference of the seating at least twice during the game.
- Naturally, an old wrestling mark like me would get a kick out the Ric Flair “Woooo1” sound bit played after a USC pitcher struck someone out.
- About the only suggestions i would make for the whole a/v presentation is more pitcher data – pitch count, name, etc and less country music!
- Overall, a vey Major League-style presentation with musc, replay on the big screen, and the occsional t-shirt toss.
- Had a guy enter in front of me who flashed a San Diego Padres business card. Ya gotta wonder how many scouts are crawiling around this place.
- The replays have sponsors onthem…cha-ching!
- “The John Deere Drag” at the top of the 6th…cute…
- Gotta review th balk rule for both college and pros.
- The stadium is located way-off campus. a bit off the beaten path, but its situated so that it provides a nice lttle view of the part of the Columbia skyline.
- Aneat little touch, and maybe its a college thing: I noticed that when apitching change is made, the manager doesn’t take the ball and give it to the new pitcher. Rather, the outgoing pitchers gives it to the incoming pitcher.
- I will never get used to the “PING!” of the aluminum bats…
All in all, I was very impressed. I dont think it was hype when USC claimed they had one of the best college ballparks in the US. They also have a very strong fan base. No wonder the team formerly known as Capital City Bombers (now the Greenville Drive) moved.
Just heard a chilling stat on the MLB Network, the Tigers are 0-5 at night this season,
