Baseball: What visiting fans should expect at The Tigue

Kristin Askelson, The Advertiser, June 1, 2016

 

UL Ragin Cajuns celebrate after wining the Sun Belt Conference title Sunday against Georgia Southern.(Photo: Courtesy Sun Belt Conference)

 

Two years ago, in its first time hosting an NCAA Super Regional tournament, UL was in the national spotlight for its talent on the baseball diamond. The city and Ragin’ Cajuns fans were also in the spotlight.

ESPN baseball analyst Ben McDonald, a former LSU All-American pitcher from Denham Springs was in town covering the 2014 Super Regional, in which UL hosted Ole Miss. He said the support for baseball in Lafayette is "just as huge" as LSU’s "but totally different from LSU hospitality toward visitors."

Other announcers said they had never seen a better atmosphere for college baseball.  "Nobody in Super Regionals has a better home-field advantage than Louisiana-Lafayette. … Ole Miss is taking on a whole city."

McDonald said the atmosphere at Tigue Moore Field that weekend would have "gumbo flying everywhere" — "You won’t even know what you’re eating, but it will be good."

Here’s what some other visiting fans had to say:

Lee Wooldridge: On behalf of myself and all Ole Miss fans who made the trip, I just wanted to say that we had a great experience in Lafayette this past weekend during the Super Regional. The UL fans were very gracious and hospitable. Every time I turned around I was offered more outstanding food by complete strangers. When the games started, UL fans were as loud and passionate as any fans I’ve ever encountered, but they were never mean-spirited or rude and were even gracious in defeat. I’ve spoken to numerous other Ole Miss fans who all had the same experience. While I’ve always loved everything about Oxford, Mississippi, I must say that after three days of eating like a king and enjoying all that your fine city has to offer, Lafayette is right up there with Oxford as one of my favorite cities.

Sy Easterling: NO DOUBT @ULRaginCajuns are for real. Heck of team. Hell of an atmosphere. Congrats on a solid season!

OleMissEvie: You have a phenomenal team and your fans couldn’t have been nicer.

Scott Oakley: Much respect to #ULL and their fan base! A great team, great fan base and one heck of a venue!

Taylor Dillon: Very impressed with the hospitality of everyone in Lafayette. Y’all are hands down the best team we beat this year.

Elton Richardson:  ULL tough place to play!!

@RFHater: Be courteous to your hosts on the way out Rebel fans. We all know how they feel right now. Great team with great fans.