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The Field of My Dreams



Because this blog will be mostly coming from a fantastical basis, and the prompt was not contrived by myself, I will take the liberty of making the most of this day dream (or dream day) by changing some things about the athletic department here at Southern Utah University.

If you have read any of my earlier posts, it would be clear that I grew up playing baseball.  In fact, it is my favorite sport.  My grandfather and I would show up nice and early on the crisp Saturday mornings at SUU's baseball field in Cedar City, Utah.  Watching both teams go through their warm-up routine was exhilarating and filled my whole body with a desire to one day play on that very same field, wearing that very same black and red Thunderbirds jersey.

Image result for Suu baseball field

Sipping a Pepsi and eating sunflower seeds, we would sit behind the guy with the radar gun who was keeping track of how fast each pitch was coming in.  Every time that radar gun registered a pitch that was over 90 mph I would turn and grin and my grandpa, who would return my excitement with a similar expression.  The ping of the bat, the wind blowing in from center field, the mountains that towered over us and Centrum Area behind the left field fence all seemed to add a hint of glamour to the stage.

Sadly, with SUU's entrance into the Big Sky conference, baseball was no longer required.  With the program not being one of great financial worth, it was cut and now the glorious field that I dreamed of playing on is now a dreaded soccer field.  I don't have anything against soccer, but it just doesn't compare to baseball in my mind.

That would be my one single move as the Athletic Director of SUU.  To bring back my baseball team and help fulfill those dreams of the local high school players that are similar to what I was.

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