All signs say Coastal Carolina athletics ready for bigger stage

Streamers, confetti and more than a fair amount of fans turned Downtown Conway teal on Friday, the horde making sure it was in attendance for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Coastal Carolina’s name will forever be in college baseball lore, the Chanticleers bringing home the 2016 College World Series title. The Chanticleers lost a total of three games in the NCAA tournament en route to earning the ultimate dog pile, meshing a unique brand of power and aggression with absolute brilliance courtesy of the team’s pitching staff.

A few days after CCU climbed to the top of college baseball, the unlikely story of a school of 10,000’s journey to the throne remained the talk of those around the Palmetto State.

“(Coastal Carolina) got their Cleveland on,” said a friend of mine this past weekend, referring to the Cavaliers’ recent NBA Finals win over Golden State. “They lost that first game but won the final ones that mattered most, even as they stared elimination square in the eye.”

The CWS title put a bow on quite the fortnight for the Chanticleers and their fan base, still giddy as a result of CCU alum Dustin Johnson’s U.S. Open win mere weeks earlier.

Guess the only thing that would’ve made the occasion more perfect was if the masses didn’t have to work hard in an effort to see the team’s crowning achievement.

Faced with the dilemma of placing the season’s most important game in the middle of the afternoon or in a more deserved prime time slot, the NCAA – not ESPN as widely blamed, albeit prematurely – opted for an early start.

The decision pitted the title game against the cherished Wimbledon tournament and the opening quarterfinal soccer match of the European Championship. But where there is a will, there’s a way – and just like their team, Chants fans are not going to miss out on such a historic moment.

Now, as the enormity of the moment settles and reality again comes into focus, what’s next for CCU?

Already a done deal is the move from the Big South Conference to the Sun Belt, officially stamping the school’s place among Division I’s big boys. Add that Coastal Carolina will be outfitted by Under Armour and I’d say the Chanticleers are on the right path.

Of note …

As millions of dollars vanished into thin air courtesy of citizens of the United Kingdom’s choice to leave the European Union, Brinks trucks are lined up at the homes of NBA free agents as they cash in on lucrative deals.

In response, some have opted to voice their concern, calling it everything from a “travesty” to “insulting” that one can make that much money courtesy of their talent to put a ball into a hoop.

My response: Be jealous.

These men are merely taking advantage of the atmosphere presented them, including an increased salary cap allowing such contracts to become commonplace.

Certainly, we can debate whether some of these guys are worth the money they were given. But if presented with that boatload of money, wouldn’t you take it as well?

On deck …

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans will be on the road the entire week, heading to Winston-Salem for a four game set, followed by another in Wilmington … Europe’s top soccer teams take aim at the title of best team on the continent, as Wales takes on Portugal and Germany matches wits with host France. Winners of those two matchups will face off in Sunday’s Euro 2016 final. … Speaking of finals, Wimbledon heads into its second week without the almost annual participation of Novak Djokovic. Could this be the year Roger Federer adds to his already record-setting wins total in tennis majors? On the women’s side, top-ranked Serena Williams has looked vulnerable, but continues her match through the tournament. With a few more wins, she can rewrite tennis history books and make a solid claim as the best ever to play the game.

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 6:00 AM with the headline "All signs say Coastal Carolina athletics ready for bigger stage."