Randy Smith: Needless Drama At The College World Series

  • Tuesday, June 29, 2021
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith
In addition to close competitive games in Omaha, Nebraska last week, there was some needless controversy as the North Carolina State baseball team was disqualified, sending Vanderbilt into the championship round. Why was the Wolf Pack squad sent home? Because at least 15 of their players tested positive for the new Delta variant of Covid-19. Most of those who tested positive had not been vaccinated, which brings up a serious question. Why? Why were there that many players making the trip to Omaha without a shot preventing this terrible disease? That fact alone shows a total lack of responsibility from officials within the NCAA and, quite possibly, N.C.
State.

With the disqualification of the Wolf Pack, defending national champ Vandy moved to the finals to host Mississippi State in a best two of three series to determine the national championship. On Monday night, the Commodores rode the strong right arm of Jack Leiter and a seven run first inning to beat the Bulldogs 8-2. That leaves Vandy just one win away from a third NCAA Title. With the 2020 season being cancelled due to the pandemic, it remains to be seen if the black and gold could have prevailed in last year's CWS, but Vandy fans would like to think that another win over MSU would be three in a row. 

Had N.C. State just made it mandatory for their players to be vaccinated, all this needless drama could have been avoided. It had been a miracle run for the Wolf Pack and all they had to do to advance to the finals was beat Vandy once. With just 13 players in the dugout, N.C. State lost a heart breaker to Vandy 3-1 and in the wee hours of Sunday morning, the NCAA  announced that the 2021 season would come to a screeching halt as N.C. State  was forced to leave Omaha 'just a tad short of a championship.'               

How could this have been avoided? N.C. State head coach Elliott Avent, who also has not been vaccinated, could have encouraged his players to get the shots, but he chose to allow them to make their own decisions. Protocol at N.C. State allows for all students to make their own decisions about vaccinations.  That's okay for the general student population, but for student athletes competing against other student athletes, that is unwise.

Just when we thought that we had COVID-19 under control, and sports was almost back to normal, the coronavirus rears its ugly head and causes more heartache and resentment. It's sad for the players, but if the NCAA had made it mandatory for all athletes to be vaccinated, like mandatory drug testing, N.C. State could be facing Mississippi State for the national championship.
 

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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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