Vanderbilt baseball like ‘rock stars’ at College World Series

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Lots of fans are lined up to meet Vanderbilt’s baseball players in the autograph line at College World Series in Omaha.
Adam Sparks/The Tennessean

Adam Sparks, asparks@tennessean.com 10:48 p.m. CDT June 12, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. – It took kids chasing Dansby Swanson through Vanderbilt‘s team hotel for coach Tim Corbin to coin a nickname the star shortstop would love to shake.

“Bieber,” Corbin said. “They’re calling for you, Bieber.”

Swanson, Corbin and pitcher Carson Fulmer ducked into the tunnel at TD Ameritrade Park on Friday afternoon, as kids screamed for the trio to autograph a baseball, a cap or even a sliver of paper.

One kid tumbled on top of Vanderbilt’s dugout, a prohibited area for fans, just trying to reach Fulmer.

Another kid tossed a ball at Swanson as he jogged to the dugout after practice, hoping security guards would overlook the rules.

One boy even pleaded with a media member, “Can I borrow your pass, please? I just want to meet Dansby.”

It’s the crazy scene the defending national champion Commodores are growing accustomed to as the main attraction at the College World Series, which begins for Vanderbilt on Sunday (7 p.m./ESPN2) against Cal State Fullerton.

“Branding is a very powerful thing with young kids because they look up to these kids like they’re rock stars,” Corbin said.

THE TENNESSEAN

Carson Fulmer to start Vanderbilt’s CWS opener

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Adam Sparks takes in the sights and sounds of Day 1 in Omaha at the College World Series.
Adam Sparks/The Tennessean

Vanderbilt — which touts nine Major League Baseball draft picks, including No. 1 overall Swanson — did not arrive on the field for practice until 3 p.m., but kids wearing Vanderbilt shirts and caps already were scattered throughout the stadium at 9 a.m. And the most surprising thing was that they’re not from Tennessee.

“I got my first Vandy hat yesterday,” said 13-year-old Derek Ruiz, who traveled from Seminole, Texas, to watch the College World Series. “We come here every year, and I started really liking Vandy last year. So I got the hat as soon as we got here this time.”

Collin Morrisey, a 15-year-old Omaha resident, bought his Vanderbilt cap after the Commodores won the national title a year ago, and he wore it proudly in the seats along the left-field line on Friday.

Noah Darling, a 16-year-old from Omaha, got a black cap with a gold “V” at TD Ameritrade Park last year. On Friday, he returned to buy a 2015 College World Series Vanderbilt T-shirt to add to his collection.

“And you couldn’t buy a Vanderbilt hat back in 2002 and 2003,” Corbin said. “I remember going to a sporting goods store and asking, and there was just a lot of (Tennessee) orange. There was nothing black and gold. So I think that part has been fun to see.”

When Vanderbilt’s practice ended at 4 p.m., the stadium seats cleaned out and fans of all ages piled into the concourse to await the Commodores for an autograph session. While other teams worked out on the field below, a line formed that stretched about a third of the way around the concourse and was as wide as a dozen people deep in some spots.

“It’s awesome to see that Vanderbilt is a national thing, and not just the Southeastern Conference,” Swanson said. “This is pretty special.”

One errant branch of the autograph line wrapped back around to the Vanderbilt players’ tables, where a boy caught enough of a glimpse of Fulmer that he threw a baseball over the line of fans and at the pitcher.

Fulmer heard the boy yell, quickly caught the ball and politely set it aside as security intervened and told the child’s mother to wait their turn.

“This is what makes this game cool,” said Fulmer, the No. 8 draft pick of the Chicago White Sox. “Coming to the field and seeing all these kids like this is great. And it’s not just a few guys; it’s for everybody.”

Indeed, many young fans surprisingly had deep knowledge about the Commodores. Some kids could even name the team’s relief pitchers and role players.

Leadoff man Ro Coleman’s ears were lit up by screams when he came out of the stadium tunnel, and clean-up hitter Zander Wiel delayed his exit by answering the requests of dozens of autograph seekers yelling his name.

“We’re kind of the small school in the SEC,” Wiel said. “To see more national exposure and kids here wearing Vandy stuff, it’s a great feeling. It lets you know that we had a big part in giving our school more attention.”

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

VANDERBILT vs. CAL STATE FULLERTON

Where: Omaha, Neb.

When: 7 p.m. Sunday

TV/radio: ESPN2/560-AM, 95.9-FM