SEC fans get ready for 6 days of baseball at Hoover Met

HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — It’s day one of six for the SEC baseball tournament. Fans from all 16 SEC teams flocked to the Hoover Met to take in college baseball.

“We have nephew that plays for Alabama,” Alabama fan Norman Brown said. “He’s the first in my family and everything that ever did anything like this collegiately. Means everything to us.”

Fans are met with some new changes at the SEC baseball tournament this year. All 16 SEC teams are at the tournament which is now single elimination. These changes are making for some long days at the ballpark but these baseball fans are far from mad about it. Some are even looking forward to the new rivalries it could bring.

“Great programs in all sports so it’s just, especially this year with baseball, both Texas and Auburn have had top 10 teams so it’s just made it exciting and fun to watch,” said Auburn fan Nick Miller.

However, not every SEC fan is thrilled about the new tournament format.

“I wish they’d go back to the top 8 teams and double elimination, sure do. But, you know, I don’t know, I guess it’s a good thing for some of them, they get to play,” LSU fan Donnie Odom said. “But what I don’t really like is any team up here can beat you on any given day, so if you lose one game, you’re gone but it gets you prepared for regionals and super regionals.”

In true southern fashion, long-standing SEC fans are welcoming the new additions, Texas and Oklahoma.

“The rivalries that you kind of develop over the years, it’s not just necessarily in-state rivalries, it’s other rivalries. But just being a part of the premier conference in the country,” said Ole Miss fan Brian Rigby.

“We’re excited about Texas and Oklahoma being here, probably more so about Oklahoma than Texas for our position, but no, it’s great. It’s great for the game,” Mississippi State fan Nat Grubbs said. “We were just talking about how the format has changed this year for the first time, it’s single elimination all the way through so it’s going to be a little bit different but it’s going to be wonderful.”

People might have a different team logo on their chest but it doesn’t stop them from making friends, especially in the RV park next to the Finley Center.

“We got Mississippi State fans down here that we befriended last night and what a party that was,” Texas fan Phil Boyd said. “Eric won the cooking contest, he’s LSU, then I got Kevin over here, LSU, so the hospitality’s been great.”

This is Boyd’s first year making the trip to Hoover from Dallas with his wife for the SEC baseball tournament.

“Susan and I have been to Omaha for the College World Series a couple times and that’s very cool, but this is a College World Series,” Boyd said. “Every team here is going to be at the College World Series so why not come here.”

Games will continue at the Hoover Met through Sunday afternoon.