NCAA® 2007 Men's College World Series - Omaha, Nebraska

(OMAHA, Neb. – June 12, 2007) – A full day of activities awaits fans attending this year’s NCAA® Men’s College World Series® Opening Celebration and Opening Ceremonies on June 14, according to Jack Diesing Jr., president of CWS of Omaha Inc.

“We want people to come out early to Rosenblatt Stadium to enjoy individual team practices and autograph sessions, or to experience all the Fan Fest activities and live concerts going on outside the stadium throughout the day,” Diesing noted. “All of this leads up to our Opening Ceremonies, where we welcome the student-athletes and their coaches participating in this year’s Series.”

The first team to practice will hold an autograph session from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the stadium’s concourse. Thirty minutes following each practice, a half-hour autograph session powered by Pontiac will be held for that team in the Rosenblatt Stadium concourse. The first 60 children under 12 will receive a free baseball at each of the eight autograph sessions.

“We tried this format for the first time last year, which seemed to work well for the student-athletes and coaches, as well as the fans,” Diesing noted. “The autograph session has been a tradition at the Series for years and is a great way for fans to meet players up close and personal.” Several activities will be sponsored by NCAA Corporate Champions as part of the College World Series Fan Fest in the southwest parking lot of Rosenblatt Stadium.

Several activities will be sponsored by NCAA Corporate Champions as part of the College World Series Fan Fest in the southwest parking lot of Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Coca-Cola Spirit of Champions interactive area will be open free to the public daily throughout the Series. Specific activities include:

• The Sports Dome, which can be used as a batting cage as well as an interactive lacrosse and golf test of skills.
• The basketball court, used for basketball-themed contests.
• The Field of Champions, a multi-purpose court used for sports-themed contests.
• The Photo Op, where fans can get their pictures taken during their Spirit of Champions experience.
• A video game van, where fans can play their favorite NCAA video games.
• The Prize Bottle, where fans enter a giant Coke bottle for a chance to win prizes.

From 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 14, two local bands and national recording artist Rodney Atkins will perform during The Road to Omaha® Jam Powered by the Pontiac Garage. Atkins, winner of the 2007 Academy of Country Music award for top new male vocalist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. He has released two Top 40 singles. In 2003, the single Honesty (Write Me a List) climbed to the Top 5 of the Billboard country airplay chart. However, his real breakthrough came in 2006 when his catchy single, If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows), gradually climbed all the way to No. 1 on Billboard's country airplay chart. His album of the same name made its debut at No. 1 and his follow-up recording, Watching You, also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country airplay chart.

Preceding Atkins on stage at 5 p.m. will be country singer Jimmy Weber, followed at 6 p.m. by Prairie Cats, a country, rock and swing band.

Also, don’t forget to visit Pontiac’s Designed for Action interactive display featuring the hot new lineup of GXP Performance Series vehicles, to receive a commemorative credential holder and lanyard courtesy of Pontiac, Official Performance Machines of the NCAA.

For the third consecutive year, AT&T is providing fans with an opportunity to donate new and gently used athletic equipment, including baseball and softball gear, at its Championship Experience Tent in the Fan Fest area. All donated items will be given to Boys & Girls Clubs in Omaha to assist the organization’s athletic programs. The AT&T tent will be open throughout the Series with interactive games and activities, including a mock TV set where visitors can provide play-by-play commentary for pre-recorded sports events, then view a videotape recording of their experience.

On Friday, AT&T will host autograph sessions with Fred Lynn, a former centerfielder for the Boston Red Sox and the first player to win Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year award in the same season. Lynn will be available for autographs from 11 a.m. to noon and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 15 at the AT&T Interactive Tent in the Fan Fest area. Other major league players who will be signing autographs at the tent include:

• Ozzie Smith, the acrobatic former shortstop for the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals. This 13-time Gold Glove Award winner was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Smith will be available for autographs on Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Crossroads Mall and from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the AT&T Interactive Tent.
• Steve Carlton, a Hall of Fame pitcher and former Philadelphia Philly, was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards. This left-handed pitcher had 4,136 strikeouts, second only to Nolan Ryan. Carlton will be available on Sunday, June 17 for autographs from 11 a.m. to noon and from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the AT&T Interactive Tent.
• Andre Dawson, a former outfielder for the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs. Dawson was named Rookie of the Year in 1977 and MVP in 1987. Dawson will be available at the AT&T Interactive Tent on Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from noon to 1 p.m.

This year, the NCAA has invited one of its partner organizations, TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management), to have a tent in the Fan Fest area. TEAM works nationally and locally throughout the U.S. and Canada to promote safe driving and responsible, courteous behavior at large public events. They have been involved with other NCAA Tournaments such as the Men’s Final Four for several years.

The Fan Fest merchandise tent will be expanded and a second tent added to provide fans with a greater selection of NCAA-licensed gear to choose from. It will allow fans to see a wider variety of graphics and styles.

The NCAA also is sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity home-build for an Omaha family affected by Hurricane Katrina. The house will be framed on the southwest parking lot of Rosenblatt Stadium on June 14 and will remain on display throughout the Series.

Opening Ceremonies inside Rosenblatt Stadium will start at 9 p.m. with an Olympic-style introduction of the eight qualifying teams by the NCAA, City of Omaha, Creighton University and College World Series of Omaha Inc.

Following the introductions, the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team will deliver flags to each of the participating teams. The Leap Frogs, which last performed at the 2005 Men’s College World Series, consist of nine jumpers who parachute out of an aircraft at an altitude of 12,500 feet. The show will be accompanied by music and narration.

Next, NCAA Awards for Academic Excellence will be presented by NCAA Managing Director of Baseball and Football Dennis Poppe, Division I Baseball Committee Chair Larry Templeton and Creighton University President the Rev. John Schlegel. Evening activities will conclude with a fireworks display.

College World Series of Omaha Inc. is a non-profit organization and the local organizing committee for the annual NCAA Division I Men’s Baseball Championship. This year’s event gets underway with Opening Ceremonies on June 14 and concludes June 24 or 25 with the final Championship game. For more information, visit www.CWSomaha.com.