June 15, 2007

Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed downtown ballpark
BY STEVEN PIVOVAR
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The stadium on the hill holds a special place in Cal State Fullerton coach George Horton's heart.

That's why Horton would like to see Omaha and NCAA officials do everything possible to keep Rosenblatt Stadium as the home of the College World Series.

"This stadium on the hill we've all grown up with this dream in mind, this goal in mind, this vision in mind," Horton said. "It would be sad to see it move from this piece of property."

But not as sad as if the NCAA would ever decide to move the CWS, held in Omaha since 1950, away from the city.

"That would be ridiculous," Rice coach Wayne Graham said. "This is one of the greatest events in baseball. Not just college baseball, but in baseball."

In order to do everything they can to keep the CWS, city officials are studying proposals to build a new stadium north of downtown. If they'd ask Horton, he'd tell them not to bother.

"This piece of property is very, very special," Horton said. "If things can be fixed, and if the NCAA and the city of Omaha can accomplish everything they want to here, then I say keep it right here. It's not broke. In fact, it's almost perfect."

Mississippi State coach Ron Polk also said he would prefer that Rosenblatt remain the home of the CWS.

"At the same time, if it helps college baseball and the city of Omaha feels like it's a good move, then I don't think anyone has a problem moving it," Polk said. "As long as they keep the name Rosenblatt so they'd make it feel like college baseball."

Polk made his first trip to Omaha in 1966 as a 22-year-old graduate assistant with Arizona. He's brought eight teams to the CWS, and he's made the trip here almost annually as part of his responsibilities with the American Baseball Coaches Association.

"I don't think anyone wants to see this place (Rosenblatt) go," Polk said. "I know they want to make some improvements to the surrounding areas and the concourses and bathrooms. Well, let them try to do that, and see if they can get that done.

"The stadium on the hill is college baseball and let's see if we can fix it up."

Rosenblatt was built in 1948. The city has made more than $35 million in improvements to the stadium since the late 1980s.

"I had the pleasure of playing here in 1975, and it's a lot different now than it was then," Horton said. "But coming to this place never gets old. Today, when we drove from the freeway to 13th Street, and I saw it again, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest."