Of course, a lot of our memories revolve around Dudy Noble Field at MSU, and all the teams that have been through that stadium over the years. Then we flashed forward to 1997, and what turned out to be a run to Omaha. Georgia Tech came to town that year, and went 2 and out. But some of their fans, in particular a guy by the name of Eric Slipp, decided to hang around with our gang the remainder of the tournament. THe next year, we wound up in College Station, TX where we renewed relations with the U of Washington which had visited MSU in the regional the previous year. We also hooked up with a pack of Aggies and wound up not only making some lifelong baseball pals, but also winning the trip back to Omaha.

Since then, there have been trips to regionals in Columbus, Ohio and Miami, Florida, and of course a trip two years ago to Georgia Tech and renewing our friendship with the Techsters. Seems like every year, whereever we go to participate in a regional, we get to see some great baseball, and also get to meet great pals for life. Some of the teams I have watched include Michigan with Barry Larkin and Jim Abbott, Texas A&M, Miami, UNC, Tulane, Notre Dame, South Alabama, Brigham Young, NC State, and countless others.

As we drove from Starkville, we passed through Tuscaloosa where a regional starts tomorrow, through Atlanta, where Tech kicks off their regional tomorrow, past Athens, where UGa cranks things up, and into Seneca, where we rest until the morning. Our day has ended. It is Christmas Eve for Snoot, and Raz, and Robert, and Cuz, and me. We will get up in the morning, drive the 15 miles to Clemson's Doug Kingsmore Stadium, find a place to set up camp, and begin the post season ritual known as the Regional. Friends will be met, BBQ will be consumed, stories will be told. And baseball will be played.

So, to Clemson, Elon, Mississippi State, North Carolina-Ashville......let the festivities begin.