Pat smiled. He was grinning ear to ear. What a year 2025 was. He had killed the villain of the story. That made him a sort of hero, right? Sure the sound of the gong rang in his ear as the California sun set on his season. But it was a bittersweet noise. A conclusion to an unexpected but incomplete triumph. As the last reverberations faded, Pat thought, "I like that gong noise...I can't wait to hear that noise again next year".
Silence.
Kirk grimaced at the sound of the gong. It was essentially an annual tradition for him, and with his buddy Jim, he rang the gong for many others. But to hear it after only 2 games? That didn't sit well with Kirk. "I wish that I could go at least a full year before I hear that stupid noise again." Wish granted.
Silence.
Compared to the sound of the gong, the roar of the Omaha crowd hardly registered as noise. "I love these silent years," Jay shouted through a mouthful of corn dog. "Maybe we can geaux another year without hearing that obnoxious sound!" Enjoy, Jay.
Silence.
Last year we learned not to take the gong for granted. It was a lesson learned in recent memory, but lost in a vortex of elation, defeat, and betrayal. But it has been remembered. Along with 63 others, we've completed the first work, and while laughing at the others now enjoying the Silence, can strive for the same quiet fate. What in the aftermath of the selection show is currently a point of ridicule, will shortly become the goal. For one team, a year of silence. A silence that reverberates far longer than any gong, and that records itself in baseball immortality. But for everyone else, it will end the same.
Gong.
The gonged:
63 - LIU
62 - Binghamton
61 - Tennessee
60 - Holy Cross
59 - Missouri State
58 - UIC
57 - Alabama State
56 - (9) Southern Miss
55 - South Dakota State
54 - NC State
53 - Yale
52 - Lipscomb
51 - Rider
50 - Virginia Tech
49 - Lamar
48 - Coastal Carolina
47 - Wake Forest
46 - Miami
45 - VCU
44 - Boston College
43 - The Citadel
42 - Tarleton State
41 - Northeastern
40 - Cincinnati
39 - (13) Nebraska
38 - SC Upstate
37 - Virginia
36 - Washington State
35 - East Carolina
34 - (1) UCLA
33 - Texas State
32 - Liberty
31 - UC Santa Barbara
30 - Arkansas
29 - UCF
28 - Northern Illinois
27 - Arizona State
26 - Louisiana
25 - Oklahoma State
24 - St Mary's
23 - Oregon State
22 - Jax State
21 - (10) Florida State
20 - (2) Georgia Tech
19 - (8) Florida
18 - Kentucky
17 - Milwaukee
16 - (12) Texas A&M
15 -
14 -
13 -
12 -
11 -
10 -
9 -
8 -
7 -
6 -
5 -
4 -
3 -
2 -
1 -
National Champion -
Silence.
Kirk grimaced at the sound of the gong. It was essentially an annual tradition for him, and with his buddy Jim, he rang the gong for many others. But to hear it after only 2 games? That didn't sit well with Kirk. "I wish that I could go at least a full year before I hear that stupid noise again." Wish granted.
Silence.
Compared to the sound of the gong, the roar of the Omaha crowd hardly registered as noise. "I love these silent years," Jay shouted through a mouthful of corn dog. "Maybe we can geaux another year without hearing that obnoxious sound!" Enjoy, Jay.
Silence.
Last year we learned not to take the gong for granted. It was a lesson learned in recent memory, but lost in a vortex of elation, defeat, and betrayal. But it has been remembered. Along with 63 others, we've completed the first work, and while laughing at the others now enjoying the Silence, can strive for the same quiet fate. What in the aftermath of the selection show is currently a point of ridicule, will shortly become the goal. For one team, a year of silence. A silence that reverberates far longer than any gong, and that records itself in baseball immortality. But for everyone else, it will end the same.
Gong.
The gonged:
63 - LIU
62 - Binghamton
61 - Tennessee
60 - Holy Cross
59 - Missouri State
58 - UIC
57 - Alabama State
56 - (9) Southern Miss
55 - South Dakota State
54 - NC State
53 - Yale
52 - Lipscomb
51 - Rider
50 - Virginia Tech
49 - Lamar
48 - Coastal Carolina
47 - Wake Forest
46 - Miami
45 - VCU
44 - Boston College
43 - The Citadel
42 - Tarleton State
41 - Northeastern
40 - Cincinnati
39 - (13) Nebraska
38 - SC Upstate
37 - Virginia
36 - Washington State
35 - East Carolina
34 - (1) UCLA
33 - Texas State
32 - Liberty
31 - UC Santa Barbara
30 - Arkansas
29 - UCF
28 - Northern Illinois
27 - Arizona State
26 - Louisiana
25 - Oklahoma State
24 - St Mary's
23 - Oregon State
22 - Jax State
21 - (10) Florida State
20 - (2) Georgia Tech
19 - (8) Florida
18 - Kentucky
17 - Milwaukee
16 - (12) Texas A&M
15 -
14 -
13 -
12 -
11 -
10 -
9 -
8 -
7 -
6 -
5 -
4 -
3 -
2 -
1 -
National Champion -
