Father's Day in Omaha: A thankful nod to my baseball-loving dad

OMAHA, Neb — Today, hundreds of father-son combos will take in a college baseball game together in Omaha.

I was lucky enough to do so when I was 12.

My dad and I attended a 2009 ballgame at Rosenblatt Stadium. LSU beat Virginia that night, and the historic ballpark was so packed that we sat on a stair in an aisle down the left field line. Somewhere, I still have the ticket stub.

Texas A&M wasn't in the Heartland that year, but that doesn't really matter 15 years later.

That the Ags are here now is actually keeping me from spending today with my father.

He's home in Flower Mound. I'm in Nebraska.

He's not mad that I'm over 600 miles away. He's extremely supportive of what I'm blessed to do for work, and covering the Men's College World Series again in my young career is another blessing.

TexAgs

My dad and I in the Vin Scully Press Box at Dodger Stadium in 2018.

It's the second time in three years we will be apart on Father's Day, and that's OK because it means the Aggies are playing well.

I'm constantly mindful of how big a role he played in my decision to pursue a life in sports media. After all, his love for baseball sparked my love for baseball. Today of all days, that's top of mind.

It's cliche, but my dad truly taught me (almost) everything I know about the game.

Since I was little (or rather, much younger), he'd take me to his Sunday morning softball games, where he taught me how to keep a scorebook in the dugouts. We'd venture to Arlington to see the big league games double-digit times each year. He often planned family trips around when he could catch his favorite club play in a different city (Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver and Houston, just to name a few).

Beyond passing down those Dodger Blue bloodlines, he coached numerous of his son's youth teams like his father before him.

Mom jokes that his three loves, in order, are as follows:

1. His two kids
2. Baseball
3. Her

Both of my parents graduated from Texas A&M University — Dad in 1987, Mom in '88.

Together, they led — not "pushed" — me toward falling in love with their alma mater.

In 2002, they took me to Kyle Field for the first time to see the Ags upset No. 1 Oklahoma. I was hooked.

Jamie Maury

Hayden Schott embraces his father after A&M’s emotional 3-2 victory over Florida.

We attended my first game at Olsen Field in 2008. A&M beat Rutgers on a chilly March night, 2-1. Again, I was hooked.

During my time as a student in Aggieland, my dad visited numerous times, and during the spring, those trips were planned around a home series so he could relive his glory days as a Raggie in 203.

We saw Michael Barash walk off Texas together in 2016.

After he presented me with my Aggie Ring in 2019, we walked over to Blue Bell Park to see the Ags blank Auburn, 4-0.

When I had car issues two summers ago, he went out of his way to bring his to Aggieland for me. That he got to take in Game 2 of a super regional vs. Louisville might have definitely made his decision to drive down a little easier.

When I graduated with my master's last May, we left commencement for a Saturday matinee at Olsen (I won't share which game or the score, it's not relevant or fun).

Last night — very, very, very early this morning — he texted from George Strait to request an Aggie victory for Father’s Day.

Mission accomplished.

So yeah, his love for baseball and our school is exactly why I am where I am. Much more than wanting A&M to win it all, I just hope to make him proud.

And I'll be looking forward to his in-game text messages tomorrow night when the Ags battle Kentucky, and I'll be incredibly grateful for each one.

But maybe next time, he'll join a trip to Omaha to make the third Sunday in June even more special.

Until then, I guess I'll get him a T-shirt or something.

Love you, Dad!

And Happy Father's Day, Ags!