twk said:
W said:
Luke The Drifter said:
It's all relative. By national standards, Olsen is one of the best. By SEC West standards, one of the worst.
definitely truth here
One of the worst might be overstating it a bit. I haven't been to Oxford for baseball, but I've been to Fayetteville, Starkville, and Baton Rouge. They have their moments when they really get up for the game, but it's not like you saw on TV for the super regional every weekend. I was in Starkville in 2016 when the series coincided with their spring game and had 15,000 in attendance for the Saturday game. Even with the big crowd, they weren't all that amped up. LSU can get wound up when they are rallying, but get ahead of them, and that place becomes pretty quiet.
I was really frustrated a few years back with the Raggies and what they were (or weren't) doing to rally support from the team, but they have responded in a positive manner. I think any lack of atmosphere that we've experienced the last several years has been down to the anemic offenses. A team that can score a lot never seems to be out of the game, and can get the fans revved up. On the other hand, and team that relies on pitching, with anemic hitting, always seems to be on the edge, and rarely gives the fans a chance to feel positive energy.
As there are only 7 teams in the SEC West, I would say Olsen is one of the worst. You could easily make an argument that Arkansas, LSU, MSU, Ole Miss, and Auburn have better facilities/atmospheres than we have at A&M. Hence, Olsen is one of the worst in the SEC West.
However, on a national scale, you could only add maybe 2 or 3 (or less) facilities/atmospheres to the list.
A&M/Olsen is probably the 5th or 6th best facility/atmosphere in the SEC West...and probably the 7th or 8th best facility/atmosphere in the nation.
And all of the things you used to describe MSU and LSU atmospheres (amped up at big moments, quiet at other times), is *EXACTLY* how I would describe Olsen. To. A. Tee.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)