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 'Omaha Welcome' Opening ceremony kicks off 50th College World Series
Posted: Wednesday June 09, 1999 11:45 PM
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- On Wednesday night, it didn't matter which team was your favorite. All eight baseball teams who made it to the 50th College World Series received an "Omaha Welcome" from the 3,000 fans who went to the series' opening ceremonies. The crowd's cheers echoed as they welcomed the teams -- Oklahoma State, Alabama, Rice, Miami, Florida State, Texas A&M, Cal State-Fullerton and Stanford -- onto the Rosenblatt Stadium field. But the crowd yelled the loudest and stomped their feet when members of the two teams who played in the first College World Series in Omaha, back in 1950, joined this year's players on the field. Seven former Washington State University players and 10 former University of Texas players walked out onto the field where they played once, 50 years ago. The fans with the most heart, though, were the children in the audience, who screamed in excitement between bites of cotton candy and soft pretzels as the night got under way. Some, like 13-year-old Mike Sueper, hoped to pick up a few pointers at this year's series. The Omaha teen, his parents and 7-year-old brother Matt braved gray skies that threatened a downpour to be among the other fans. Sueper, who plays third baseman in Omaha Little League, said he hopes to someday join the baseball teams who compete at Rosenblatt Stadium for the coveted title of College World Series champion. "I'd want to play for Stanford," he said in between bites of a hot dog. "They're my favorite."
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