Time Out for June 27, 2009

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jun 27, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Earlier this week, the LSU baseball team proved itself the best in the nation.

Its fans, well, they’ve been doing that for years.

So when LSU coach Paul Mainieri popped out of the dugout Thursday afternoon, he probably wasn’t terribly surprised.

A crowd that school officials estimated at 3,000 had gathered to welcome the champions home.

“We must have 9,000 fans in Omaha,” Athletic Director Joe Alleva said. “They’re not even back yet.”

Most baseball programs are lucky to draw 3,000 fans for a big conference game. LSU got that for a celebration.

The past 14 years, the Tigers have led the nation in attendance. Warren Morris was a sophomore the last time they didn’t.

“You’re the No. 1 fans in the country,” pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, a New Jersey native, said at the celebration.

LSU fans would tell you they’re No. 1, period.

In baseball, the discussion begins and ends off Nicholson Drive.

Or in Omaha, when the Tigers happen to be playing there.

Last week, as LSU surged to a 2-0 start in CWS play, Omaha World-Herald sportswriter Tom Shatel wrote a column that began like this:

“This just in: The College World Series is better when LSU wins.”