NEW ORLEANS — The announced paid crowd of 18,319 (actual attendance 16,243) at the Louisiana Superdome for the LSU-Tulane game failed to live up to the record-breaking 27,673 fans who enjoyed the same matchup in the Dome last season.
But to the players and coaches of both the Tulane and LSU baseball programs, the support shown Tuesday for college baseball in Louisiana still is as strong as ever.
“It’s unique, and it’s special,” said Tulane coach Rick Jones. “To be on national TV and let the country see how special it is, is a big positive for every program. Certainly it helped us tonight.”
Usually when the Tigers and the Green Wave meet up for a game of pitch and catch, a big crowd is attracted to the contest.
“It’s like a dream when you’re a little kid, and you get to go out and play in front of all those fans,” said Tulane first baseman Michael Aubrey. “It gets a little rowdy in the stands sometimes, but you’ve just got to remember to keep calm, play your game, don’t get out of your element and play hard.”
On March 11 against the Green Wave at Zephyr Field in Metairie, the contest drew 10,870 fans and was the largest crowd to watch an LSU baseball game until Tuesday night. A combined 36,900 fans have watched the three LSU-Tulane games this season.
In the 2001 Super Regional at Zephyr Field, which Tulane won two games out of three over LSU to go to the College World Series, more than 33,000 fans jammed the stands to watch the oldest rivalry in intercollegiate athletics.
For LSU, which won five national championships from 1991 to 2000, playing in front of big crowds is nothing new. LSU leads the nation in paid attendance annually and is averaging 7,562 fans per home game at Alex Box Stadium this season.
The Tigers have taken to the diamond before crowds of 20,000 fans or more. Seven of those crowds were at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Tulane’s baseball following is not as big as LSU’s, but the Green Wave have their own stable of loyal support for baseball.
The Green Wave averaged 2,383 fans going into Tuesday night’s game and because Tuesday’s Superdome matchup counts as a Tulane home game, that number will go up after the crowd of 18,319 is added to the year’s total attendance.
Regardless of which game gets credit for the attendance, both teams feel the game is good for college baseball in Louisiana.
“This was a great game, great atmosphere,” said Tulane center fielder Jonny Kaplan. “I really enjoyed it tonight. I enjoyed it last year, but this was much better.”