On Your Mark: Consistency has CCU baseball well on road to national prominence

“Omaha! Omaha!”

Before quarterback Peyton Manning used the term as part of his cadence at the line of scrimmage, making it to the riverfront town in America’s heartland for decades served as the standard for which college baseball players far and wide are measured by.

“Did your team make it to Omaha? ... Was your team able to advance to the College World Series?”

Despite the crispness in the air — and in some cases snow on the ground — nearly 300 teams toe the chalk in February with the same dream of witnessing an Omaha, Neb., sunset firsthand.

Certainly, the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing once all is said and done. But getting to Omaha sets a team aside from most — and certifies that club is truly special.

Following a rigorous trek through the regional and super regional rounds of play, eight survivors will write their own chapter in history by taking part in the 2016 College World Series.

The mere opportunity to play in Omaha is enough of a perk. However, walking in the same footsteps as legends such as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Buster Posey and Dave Winfield is darn near priceless.

While there is argument the Palmetto State puts football first, its success and devotion to baseball certainly cannot be ignored.

Clemson has made 12 trips to Omaha, while rival South Carolina has advanced to the College World Series on 11 occasions. Though making fewer trips, the Gamecocks have the ultimate bragging rights, claiming back-to-back national titles in 2010 and 2011.

In a state where competition on the diamond is rather heated, Coastal Carolina is certainly placing itself in the discussion as one of the Palmetto State’s best baseball programs.

If nothing else, it is its most consistent.

Since 2001, the Chanticleers have missed the NCAA baseball tournament three times, quite stout for a team hailing from the Big South Conference.

The large share of this success has come under skipper Gary Gilmore, who has led the program from relative obscurity to the cusp of national respectability.

It has been a beautiful ascension, one nearing its completion — particularly now with a College World Series berth under its belt.

With a move to the Sun Belt Conference just over the horizon, the Chanticleer baseball program one best suited for whatever level of play looms.

If nothing else, this season’s magical run has proven that to those both along the Grand Strand, and beyond.

Violence mars opening weekend of Euro 2016

Euro 2016 is underway in France, where the action off the pitch has been as worthy of headlines as what has transpired on it.

Still reeling from the terrorist acts of a few months ago, French authorities are on high alert, forcing all to stand in long lines and frisking them before entering match venues. It still did not keep British and Russian hooligans from causing a scene, with a number of altercations taking place before and after Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two sides.

Both national teams were warned Sunday that if their fans take part in any additional acts of violence, they will be disqualified from the event.

Though such would be disappointing, such behavior is unacceptable — particularly in a society where unnecessary acts of violence are becoming too much of a trend.

Of note...

In one way or another, the NBA Finals will draw to a close this week. The Golden State Warriors find themselves on the cusp of the greatest single-season run in NBA history, one win from earning the franchise’s second consecutive title — possibly being able to clinch it as early as Monday night. With his team again on the brink of falling short on the game’s grandest stage, can LeBron James and his Cleveland teammates stave off elimination? ... The Myrtle Beach Pelicans return home Monday for a brief three-game series against the Frederick Keys, before again taking to the road for five games in a four-day stretch against the Potomac Nationals.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 1:54 AM with the headline "On Your Mark: Consistency has CCU baseball well on road to national prominence."