Blogging from Inside the Walls of Troy (SBC Tourney Day 2)
Ah, the first round is here. 4 games...action packed baseball from 9am to 10pm...(or midnight, depending on your average thunderstorm)
The day started with a game between both of the GSU's. A few Panthers fans did make the trip today, but there were far more Georgia Southern fans. Within 5 minutes, an Eagle fan approached me and asked if I was Chiefsfan. Turns out it was a relative to a player who is a regular lurker, but non poster over here. I think they appreciated the qualify of my posts. Yes, we'll go with that. For most of the game, I sat among the Eagle faithful discussing baseball and Georgia Southern Athletics. They all seemed a very friendly people. Quick side note: That hate between these two schools is very real. Evan Challenger started, who I was excited to see, but he was ineffective. The last 3 innings were a lesson in what I think Eagle fans call "Hennon ball" His substitution patterns in the bullpen are strange. Pulled their best reliever after a scoreless 7th despite the Eagles coming back to tie the game. Georgia State promptly got 3 hits and a run off his replacement. As expected, Georgia Southern struck out A LOT.
Game 2 did happen, but it shall not be spoken of on here. Worth mentioning...the South/Troy rivalry is still very real. South Players refer to Troy as "The Enemy" Mostly smaller crowds for both AState and USA. AState is expected because of the drive and the seed. I'm going to give South another benefit of the doubt because of the time, but I still wonder.
SBC Drops the Ball: It was very hot today. Like scorching, and Troy's park does not offer much in the way of shade. After the first game, with an hour before the AState ame started, I decided to go cool off in my car for a bit. Only to be told that there was NO RE-ENTRY! In a Conference Tournament. If you show up for the 9am game...you have to stay until the session ends about 3:00 without leaving the park if you plan to see both games. WHO IN THE HELL CAME UP WITH THIS RIDICULOUS POLICY! I mean, there are like 100 people there tops...it's not like anyone is going to sneak in and steal seats from the others. It is far too hot to sit outside for 2 straight games without being able to cool off. It's a stupid policy, and needs to change.
Because of that ridiculous policy, I chose to skip the Texas State/Cajun game today primarily because I wanted to cool off. Shame I missed it. Did end up meeting several Texas State fans around town already. Good group of people. Last time that happened to me and I wished their team luck at the tourney, that team won the title. A Good Omen for the Bobcats for sure:
Game 4: It rained. The reality is, most of the enjoyment of the game itself was the rain delay theater put on by the players while we waited out the Thunder showers. I had not witnessed one of those in person before, but got plenty of video of it. I hope to share later.
I got a lot of strange looks from Troy fans. A couple even asked me why the heck I came to TROY all the way from Jonesboro, Is this...usual for this town? Instead of hey, welcome, glad you are here, its "WHY DID YOU COME HERE?!?" Perhaps it was my stunning good looks that had them off guard. Yeah, we'll go with that.
Long Day was capped with a nice conversation with a set of UTA fans who drove 12 hours from Arlington for the tournament. They were very down to earth people. Troy fans piled out very quickly as the game got out of hand. It was a tough break for their fans. They really messed the bed today. Just a poor game at a bad time. Put them in a mess, that might end with the host going 2 and Q for the 2nd straight year. Sadly, the same might happen to AState tomorrow as well. It's been a long season. Hopefully Georgia Southern has a poor game and we figure something out.
Final Note: If you are ever in Troy...eat dinner before midnight. Because of the crazy late game, I found myself driving around town looking for something open, and finding my choices limited to Waffle House...and uh...Waffle House. So Waffle House it was. Another College Town where places close early. Odd thing.
Tomorrow starts with 2 elimination games and concludes with today's winners playing. It will be mostly a play oriented post tomorrow, with my chance to go exploring around Troy on Friday since games don't begin till 3.
Till Tomorrow everyone!
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Blogging from Inside the Walls of Troy (SBC Tourney Day 2)
