The Titans Take Omaha

By Carlos Leija '90
Executive Director of Alumni Relations

June 28, 2004
Triumphant Titans Return to Fullerton!

The public is invited to cheer the 2004 College World Series Champion Titan baseball team at a homecoming parade in Fullerton at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 29 at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue, heading north to Wilshire and east to Museum Plaza. Presentations by Fullerton Mayor Mike Clesceri and Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby will take place at the plaza. Athletic Director Brian Quinn is master of ceremonies at a 3:15 p.m. campus rally that follows on Goodwin Field at Titan Stadium, where refreshments will be available for sale.

The Titans Take Omaha!

June 27, 2004

Editor's Note: This is the last of several reports from the Titan House in Omaha, Nebraska, a home-away-from-home for Titan alumni and fans in town for the College World Series.

OMAHA, NE – It was insanity. Titan fans in Rosenblatt Stadium were crying and laughing, hugging and hopping up and down. Some of them were doing it all at once.
"When we got the last out my wife called and when I heard her voice, I started to cry," said Carlos Leija, executive director of alumni relations. "We're so happy. How immense and huge this thing is. Then I left the stadium and went to open Titan House, and everywhere I went along the street and through the stadium, people were hugging us and congratulating us."

"We Are The Champions," the Queen song from the 1970s, rang through the streets as the 2004 Titan baseball team members made their way through the cheering crowd and into Titan House following their College World Series victory Sunday over the University of Texas Longhorns.

The team bus had parked with permission in neighbor Tony Aliano's yard three doors up from the house, disgorging the team as strangers and fans alike celebrated, hugging each other and weeping. While the players signed autographs, President Milton A. Gordon, Coach George Horton and Vice President for Student Affairs Bob Palmer welcomed the start of another era in Titan sports.

The efforts of Alumni Relations, University Advancement and Athletics over several weeks culminated in a blowout celebration on Sunday night that attracted more than 300 people to the brick house on 13th Street, where banners outside chronicled the university's three previous national championships in 1979, 1984 and 1996. After sweeping Texas 3-2 for the national championship on Sunday, Cal State Fullerton must make a new banner.

On Monday, the Omaha World Herald described the party in a story titled, "Titan House rocks after title; Fullerton fans say they had a blast at their new home away from home."

"Everyone was there Sunday night celebrating, hugging each other," Leija recalled. "We were selling the championship t-shirts at the house and barbecuing in the backyard. It was so emotional. It was wonderful."

June 24

Editor's Note: This is the fourth of several reports from the Titan House in Omaha, Nebraska, a home-away-from-home for Titan alumni and fans in town for the College World Series.

OMAHA, NE — The weather's not cooperating. Rain has forced barbecuing activity inside Titan House, patchy clouds are on the northern horizon and it looks as it the wet conditions will last right up until game time at 6 p.m.

"There are about 25 die-hards in the house," says Carlos Leija, executive director of alumni relations, at around noon on Thursday. "Tonight's game is a do-or-die situation. Our bats need to wake up. Last night's game was a disappointment. But there was a pizza party with the team after the game, and the players were there, signing autographs and feeling good.

"We've got a great team and everyone's staying pumped up."

Still, on the day following a tough 5-3 loss to South Carolina's Gamecocks, the Titan House mood is as subdued as the chilly, wet weather. Inside the house on 13th Street, a crew of Titan alumni, fans and families watch the hours tick toward game time and wait for the rainy skies to clear.

One of the highlights at Titan House on Wednesday afternoon was a surprise visit by legendary USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux — known to Titans in Omaha as the "John Wooden of men's college baseball" and the 1984 Olympic team coach. Dedeaux happens to be the grandparent of one of the Titan men's soccer student athletes, says Pam Jones, director of development for athletics.

"He was gracious and seemed to enjoy everyone here, and people enjoyed meeting him," Leija said. "Titan House is a gathering place for everyone."

June 23

Editor's Note: This is the second of several reports from the Titan House in Omaha, Nebraska, a home-away-from-home for Titan alumni and fans in town for the College World Series.

OMAHA, NE — Tension is building and spirits are high going into tonight's game against South Carolina, a team with powerful bats that has dominated its past two opponents, says Carlos Leija, executive director of alumni relations.

But optimistic fans and family members gathered at Titan House believe colorful signs, painted faces and lots and lots of tasty barbecue consumed before and after the game will counter any Gamecocks advantage.

Wednesday's 6 p.m. game will be preceded by the usual pre-game festivities at Titan House, 3464 13th Street mere steps from Rosenblatt Stadium, and followed by post-game celebrations. Hundreds of visitors are expected to drop by the house throughout the day and night.

On Monday, "it was insane,"as boosters, parents, alumni and players' families greeted the team bus as it passed by the stadium prior to the game, Leija says. "Once the game was over, everyone came back to celebrate, and the barbecue got sparked up again," he says. "It's just tremendous that we had our location here. When the bus left the stadium, we went out in front with all our signs, yelling for the team, and the guys were able to see and hear it all. It was great."

Titan House is doing more than bringing alumni and friends together, Leija says. It is attracting well-earned attention to Cal State Fullerton as well. "It shows that we have a strong Alumni Association, that we are doing this for everyone in the Titan organization," he adds. "It makes the team and the coaches feel good that this kind of effort is going on. The parents and families see their sons going by in uniform. It creates feelings and emotions for all of us connected with Cal State Fullerton. These players are going to be our alumni. We want to keep all of them connected with us."

Player Justin Turner's uncle, who has been barbecuing meat at Titan House all week, told Leija and his assistant, Jeff Gilstrap, how meaningful the home-away-from-home has come to be for the players' families. "He took us aside and told us thanks for all that we are doing," Leija recalls. "It's been awesome."

People are beginning to pitch in, Leija adds. "They see that things need cleaning or that the trash needs taking out. It's making our jobs a lot easier."

"Alumni are coming from all over to Titan House: They're locals from Omaha, they're driving in from Southern California and from the Bay Area. Titans are returning from last year and coming from the stadium — you can't miss the house as you're coming to the stadium. "

On Saturday, June 19, about 150 parents, friends and alumni visited the temporary Midwest home to the Alumni Association. "The energy was tremendous," Leija says. "People came before the game to barbecue and afterward to celebrate the victory. Most of the fans watched the other games to check out the competition on our big-screen televisions in the house and in a tent in the backyard."

Pam Jones, director of development for athletics, reports that parents, friends and alumni gathering at Titan House have been unfailingly generous. "We thank everyone who continues to support the efforts of our student athletes on and off the field."

One gentleman who played baseball with Coach George Horton, stopped Leija Saturday to say it was the best day he'd had in a long time. Then an alumni couple with an 8-year-old son were separated at the game, and the son made his way to Titan House, where the family was eventually reuinited. The parents thanked Leija profusely, grateful their son had a safe place to stay while waiting for his family to find him. "He couldn't thank me enough. I think that's what Titan House is all about — providing a safe haven, a family atmosphere, for Titan alumni in Omaha."

June 17, 2004

Editor's Note: This begins a series of reports from the Titan House in Omaha, Nebraska, a home-away-from-home for Titan alumni in town for the College World Series.

OMAHA, NE — A sea of orange and blue engulfs the unassuming private home at 3464 13th Street mere steps from Rosenblatt Stadium, a sure sign that it is this year's temporary home to Titan alumni in town for the College World Series.

The three-story house is tricked out with various Titan memorabilia throughout, thanks to the efforts of several dedicated alumni and the staff of University Advancement, led by Carlos Leija, Cal State Fullerton's enthusiastic new executive director of alumni relations. Orange and blue sheets cover three sides of the house and a giant, 20-by-8 foot banner will be hoisted from the roof on the front of the house tomorrow, in time for the first game of the series. The entire Fullerton baseball team visited the house Thursday and signed the banner for good luck.

"Our house is a giant improvement from last year's building, which drew alumni and friends from all over the country," Leija says. "It's fully furnished with hardwood floors throughout, two refrigerators and a stove and other amenities. We've already had visitors stop by, including some Omaha natives and our coaching staff. The buzz has already started. If alumni are coming to any of the games we invite them to drop by — it's a tailgate mentality. Bring something to barbecue, bring ice, it's all good. "

Leija emphasizes the goodwill generated during the Titans' trip to the 2003 CWS. "We made such great friends here last year that many of the items we received free of charge," he notes. "Both big-screen television sets and the table and chairs were free, and the rental fellow said he wanted his children to meet a some players and get a couple of signed baseballs. " He adds that the Titan players welcome the opportunity to meet with their fans.

"Right now, the weather is about 75 to 80 degrees and a bit muggy with a nice breeze and scattered clouds," Leija notes the night before the Titans face their first opponents."It might rain. But it's nice. Friday we'll open up around 12:30, just in time for the first game at 1:30 p.m. We'll be making Titan signs and doing face-painting for the kids and barbecuing food. It's really, really great."

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