A sea of maroon flooded Omaha, Neb., this week in support of Mississippi State playing for a national title for the first time in school history. Despite being swept by the UCLA Bruins with last night’s game, many fans from Brookhaven made sure to give the team all their support

     A school that was touted by ESPN commentators Monday night as having one of the best stadium atmospheres in college baseball was determined to turn the TD Ameritrade Stadium in Omaha into Dudy Noble Field.

     Gary Blair, a longtime State fan who is in Omaha, estimated an approximate 10,000 to 15,000 MSU fans at the game Monday night and even went on to say that UCLA was outnumbered about 50 to 1.

     “It was almost like taking the Mississippi State stadium and putting it in Omaha,” said Blair, who made the 14-hour drive  at the beginning of the week.

     Everyone seems to be saying the same thing about the droves of fans who traveled to Nebraska.

     “It almost seems like we’re in Starkville,” Sandy Winborne said Tuesday afternoon. “It is a home game atmosphere. It feels like we’re one big family.”

     “Because there’s so many Mississippi State people, it’s phenomenal,” said Jamie Gatlin. “We have painted Omaha maroon.”

     Gatlin said while standing in line, he heard crowd control comment that they have never seen crowds that large supporting their team.

     “Ninety percent of everything is maroon,” Rhonda Posey said.

     “Everywhere we go there’s a maroon and white fight song going on,” Jason Snider said.

     These are certainly not bandwagon fans that have made the trek from Brookhaven to Omaha.

     “I don’t know any other life,” Gatlin said, claiming a lifelong dedication to the Bulldogs.

     Being a Mississippi State fan isn’t always the easiest, but the dedication these fans have shown to their alma mater grew into a frenzied atmosphere in Omaha.

     “I’ve been following the Bulldogs since I’ve been in the first grade, and this is their first chance at a national championship,” said Terry Pendley, a Starkville native.

     With this baseball team making it further than any other athletic team in school history, this has pushed many people to make it to the game.

     “We’re huge Mississippi State fans, and we thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Winborne said.

     For some this was more than just a game, or even just a chance at a championship. Gatlin made the trip to Omaha for the second time with his 77-year-old dad. Gatlin and his father first made the trip to Omaha in 1998, and it has been special to share that again 15 years later.

     The Omaha experience has been great, and what helped many enjoy it was the kind nature of Omaha natives.

     “The people of Omaha are so nice,” Posey said. “It’s kind of like it’s Mississippi people.”

     Posey also remarked about the city itself, “Everything is so clean, and they’ve done everything first-class.”

     As Mississippi State fans begin to travel back home, they will continue to support their team despite an 8-0 deficient last night.

     “We’re just proud to be here,” Todd Adcock said before the game Tuesday night. “Win, lose or draw, we always will be.

      Editor’s Note: Terry Pendley is writer Julia Pendley’s father.