COLUMN: Aggie Watch: USU baseball worth it
This time of year, most consider Aggie athletics to be dead. Spring football is around, but that’s only a precursor for next year. Track, tennis and softball are are still battling, but attendance is usually an issue for those sports regardless of the time of year. Most students would rather either go play something themselves or just get out of Aggieland as quickly as possible altogether.
But for those who can’t let their 2012-2013 Aggie experience die just yet, I have the perfect offer juiced with every legal steroid in the book: a Utah State baseball game.
Where at, you ask? Providence Field, located right behind Macey’s in Providence to the south. When? This Friday against the University of Utah. Why? Glad you asked. Here are the top nine reasons why you just found your next favorite Aggie athletic event.
1) There’s only one reigning national champion in this town, so you better get out and see them. This year’s team started the year ranked No.1 as the favorite to repeat. They currently reside at No. 8. In the nation.
2) The team boasts last year’s national home run champion, Matt Stranski, and All-Americans Brad Singer and Gavin Johnson, who would love to put on a show for you. Players hail from as far away as the Dominican Republic to a small walk from the ballpark.
3) They’re more fun than you think. Take it from me, who generally only watches baseball during the MLB playoffs. When you’ve got a team this good, you’ll find yourself wanting more than the seven innings they play. Who doesn’t love beating up on in-state rivals, like the Aggies did by a combined score of 27-1 this past weekend?
4) They play seven innings, making it a quicker game to sit through so the action never stops. They make it so there’s no complaining on not having time, blitzing through action in about two hours.
5) It’s free. Not just student ID card free, but open-air, put-your-chair-down-where-you-want-with-whoever-you-want free and cheap hot dogs on the side. Easy date option, young men.
6) It’s great way to get outdoors. As long as this dementor-esque weather steers away, the ladies may as well tan behind the outfield fence. Though I did see a windshield get nailed by a deep Stranski foul ball recently, so position yourself wisely.
7) We’re Aggies, and Aggies support. If the word “club” was thrown out of the baseball conversation, droves would probably be in attendance. Don’t miss out on your last chance to belt the Scotsman this year.
8) Since in America baseball means summer, that means you’re one step closer to being done with finals and moving on from the semester. Or at least you’ll feel that way.
9) I’m personally guaranteeing free autographs for all adoring fans at this Friday’s contest. If the team won’t, you can at least get your favorite Statesman reporter’s.
-Mark is an obsessive Aggie fan who moonlights as an almost unbiased Statesman writer. He is majoring in business administration and preparing for medical school. Comment at m.hop@aggiemail.usu.edu or his blog, www.spectrumagic.blogspot.com.