Walk Off Home Run

I know most of you reading this don't know it, but Mississippi State baseball is currently in the post-season. We swept a series of games last weekend in the Atlanta Regional, which moved us into a Super-Regional this weekend against #2 Florida. The Gators are a great team. We played them four times this year, and only won once. The winner of this weekend's best of three series heads to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. We got killed Friday, losing 11-1. On Saturday, Florida was leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning (just three outs away from winning the series), when Nick Vickerson hit this amazing game winning home run off the first pitch he saw. I couldn't see it live, but watching the replay is a lot of fun. Just when it looked like our season was over, one swing of the bat kept us alive for one more day. The winner of today's game will head to the College World Series. Mississippi State is the underdog, but there's a good chance we could win today. Everyone who's a MS State fan should wear Maroon today for a special Maroon Sunday. I'll be following the score live tonight. GO DAWGS!

Superfans

One thing you should know about me: I'm a superfan. A superfan is someone who goes beyond just going to athletic events and marginally following their favorite team. Superfans read daily blogs about their teams, watch YouTube highlights of their teams, and constantly talk about their favorite teams. I used to think superfans were super annoying, until I evolved into one. Does being a superfan border on obsessiveness? Yes. However, for me it's all about having fun and participating in a shared experience. I try not to take losing too seriously, and I don't hate fans of other schools.

At Mississippi State, we have something called Maroon Fridays. If you're a Mississippi State fan, then wearing maroon on Fridays is a fun tradition and a way to support your school. Yesterday was Friday, and we were making a brief stop in Pisa to see the Cathedral and the famous leaning tower. I've gotten to know the students on this trip fairly well so far, and I've discovered one superfan even crazier than me when it comes to Mississippi State: Sam Krusee (in the center below). He's the kind of guy who paints his chest for football games. Sam wanted to have a great photo in front of the leaning tower of Pisa for Maroon Friday so badly, that he brought 4 EXTRA MAROON SHIRTS just for some of the other students to wear. For a superfan like me, Sam is just my kind of guy.

After Pisa, we rode a 2 hour train to Genoa, which is where we'll stay for the rest of our trip. We're living in a villa owned by Clemson University. Essentially it's a large house, with many rooms and bathrooms, classroom space, a library, and a garden. It's lovely, and I'll post pictures of it soon. Class starts Tuesday, so for now, I'm just trying to settle into my temporary home. Even though it's really nice, it doesn't beat my real home.

Maroon Fridays

It's 12:30 am, so let's make this post quick. Today is Friday, and for us Mississippi State faculty and students, that means it's Maroon Friday. We're encouraged to support our school by wearing the MSU colors, so I did just that. Only one individual was brave enough to join me today, and that's Sam, pictured below. Our entire day was spent visiting the Vatican Museums, the interior of St. Peter's Basilica, and as you can see, the top of St. Peter's as well. The trip is going really well. I had never met half the students on the trip, but because of our shared experiences, I already feel like I know them pretty well. Now, I need a shower and some sleep!