When I woke up this morning after a tough Cajuns loss to the Arizona Wildcats, this gem popped up in my news feed. After watching it, it got the creative juices flowing early on a Tuesday.
M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field is the full name for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team and within that ballpark, some great moments have happened. It feels I’ve been around the Tigue for most of my life, but my family can probably account for that. My family and I have loved baseball ever since I can remember. I may not have been around it during the early days, but I’ve been there for some time. Countless weekends were spent watching baseball at the Tigue. The games were always fun and the crowd was always into it. In recent years thanks to the guys over at Section A, the energy of the crowd has been even better.
One of the memories that sticks out to me the most is the 2000 NCAA Regional. Back then, the coverage for college baseball was not what it now is so it was a lot different. Sure the rules the NCAA has against walk-up music and whatnot were there, but you didn’t have the mothership and tons of beat writers around. This regional was fun as the Cajuns went on to the College World Series that year (as almost everyone knows). But it also felt like this team was very special. I can remember after the last game of the regional and all the fans that were out there lined up where the players came out at shaking their hands and getting players to sign baseballs before they headed out on the road. Little did we know that this team would make it to Omaha and have a play that lives on through highlight reels.
I missed out on the Regional and Super Regionals back in 2014 due to previous obligations, but I was able to part of this year’s regional, the final weekend at the Tigue. It was such a memorable weekend being there covering it and watching some of the final games at a place where so many memories are.
Almost a day after the last game ever at the “Old Tigue”, thanks for the memories. Coach Tony Robichaux, the Ragin Cajuns, and the fans deserve the stadium we’re getting. This is a long time coming and well deserved for a stadium that has needed a major facelift, but will keep the Ragin Cajuns spirit of the Old Tigue.
-Clint Domingue