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Today marks an historic moment as legendary former Texas A&M Baseball Coach Mark Johnson will coach at Olsen Field for the first time since he was fired following the 2005 season.
Who could forget that classic moment in MJ's last ever game at Olsen...Aggies win it in 10 innings with Cliff Pennington scoring on a bases loaded wild pitch by J. Brent Cox. It gave Texas A&M an 8-7 win in one of those "Olsen Magic" type of games.
Now, oddly enough, Johnson will wear that No. 7 jersey for the team in the first base dugout -- an orange, blue and grey uniform in the third base coaches’ box. It's certainly a special evening and one that Mark will never forget.
One thing is for sure...Coach Johnson has the respect of the head coach in the third base dugout, A&M Coach Rob Childress.
"Coach Johnson is a living legend, both in college baseball and here at Texas A&M," Childress expressed. "I'm honored to have him back. We had a great game last year with them that came down to the last inning. I know Sam Houston has been playing well, and it ought to be a great night Tuesday. I hope we have a lot of fans come out and show their support and appreciation for him. We are looking forward to him coming in."
Upon Childress' arrival to College Station during the summer of 2005, Mark Johnson did something that a lot of men in his position would not have done...he extended a hand of friendship to the man that took the job he still desperately wanted. Johnson called Childress up very early on to just say congratulations and to tell him that he has Johnson's support. Mark and his wife, Linda, made Rob and Amanda feel more than welcomed and the two couples actually became close friends. That gesture went a long way with Childress and the two coaches have remained close, even through Johnson's time at Sam Houston State.
"He's not been just a friend to me but a mentor," Childress said. "I'm honored to call him a friend, and he's been more than helpful to me since the day I got here at Texas A&M. I truly appreciate him and everything he's done for me...and not just for me, but for my family as well. He's obviously an incredible baseball coach, but he's an even better human being and a better man. I can't wait to get him back over here. I hope we have 8,000 people here to show their respect for Coach Johnson."
It will certainly be a fun night at the ballpark and I wouldn't be surprised if A&M dusted off the old videos and rolled out some footage of Mark Johnson's great moments in an Aggie uniform. But once that first pitch is thrown and until the last out, it's down to business and both teams are out there to compete and to win this game.
"Once the game starts it's on and he's going to want to beat us just as bad as we want to beat him," Childress said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him out there and visiting with him during batting practice but once the game starts, we're all playing for something and it will be a great Tuesday environment. Hopefully the college baseball fans and fans of Coach Johnson will come out, pack Olsen Field and support the game of baseball tonight."
Clayton Ehlert throws for Texas A&M. Daniel Nottebart tosses for Sam Houston State.
It would be great to see a sold out Olsen Field tonight to show their support to Mark Johnson while watching the Aggies in their effort to get a big mid-week victory over a pretty good baseball team.
Here is information on how to get tickets to tonight's contest:
Tickets are available at the gate or online at aggieathletics.com. Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a paid adult (limit four kids per adult) for both games as part of the Take Me Out to the Ballgame ticket promotion. Gates open 90 minutes prior to first pitch for all home games. Fans can listen to all the action on WTAW-AM 1620. Free live video will be available on aggieathletics.com, and fans around the world can also listen free of charge at radioaggieland.com.
Thanks guys...see you at the ballpark!
[This message has been edited by gabe_bock (edited 5/5/2009 11:52a).]
Today marks an historic moment as legendary former Texas A&M Baseball Coach Mark Johnson will coach at Olsen Field for the first time since he was fired following the 2005 season.
Who could forget that classic moment in MJ's last ever game at Olsen...Aggies win it in 10 innings with Cliff Pennington scoring on a bases loaded wild pitch by J. Brent Cox. It gave Texas A&M an 8-7 win in one of those "Olsen Magic" type of games.
Now, oddly enough, Johnson will wear that No. 7 jersey for the team in the first base dugout -- an orange, blue and grey uniform in the third base coaches’ box. It's certainly a special evening and one that Mark will never forget.
One thing is for sure...Coach Johnson has the respect of the head coach in the third base dugout, A&M Coach Rob Childress.
"Coach Johnson is a living legend, both in college baseball and here at Texas A&M," Childress expressed. "I'm honored to have him back. We had a great game last year with them that came down to the last inning. I know Sam Houston has been playing well, and it ought to be a great night Tuesday. I hope we have a lot of fans come out and show their support and appreciation for him. We are looking forward to him coming in."
Upon Childress' arrival to College Station during the summer of 2005, Mark Johnson did something that a lot of men in his position would not have done...he extended a hand of friendship to the man that took the job he still desperately wanted. Johnson called Childress up very early on to just say congratulations and to tell him that he has Johnson's support. Mark and his wife, Linda, made Rob and Amanda feel more than welcomed and the two couples actually became close friends. That gesture went a long way with Childress and the two coaches have remained close, even through Johnson's time at Sam Houston State.
"He's not been just a friend to me but a mentor," Childress said. "I'm honored to call him a friend, and he's been more than helpful to me since the day I got here at Texas A&M. I truly appreciate him and everything he's done for me...and not just for me, but for my family as well. He's obviously an incredible baseball coach, but he's an even better human being and a better man. I can't wait to get him back over here. I hope we have 8,000 people here to show their respect for Coach Johnson."
It will certainly be a fun night at the ballpark and I wouldn't be surprised if A&M dusted off the old videos and rolled out some footage of Mark Johnson's great moments in an Aggie uniform. But once that first pitch is thrown and until the last out, it's down to business and both teams are out there to compete and to win this game.
"Once the game starts it's on and he's going to want to beat us just as bad as we want to beat him," Childress said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him out there and visiting with him during batting practice but once the game starts, we're all playing for something and it will be a great Tuesday environment. Hopefully the college baseball fans and fans of Coach Johnson will come out, pack Olsen Field and support the game of baseball tonight."
Clayton Ehlert throws for Texas A&M. Daniel Nottebart tosses for Sam Houston State.
It would be great to see a sold out Olsen Field tonight to show their support to Mark Johnson while watching the Aggies in their effort to get a big mid-week victory over a pretty good baseball team.
Here is information on how to get tickets to tonight's contest:
Tickets are available at the gate or online at aggieathletics.com. Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a paid adult (limit four kids per adult) for both games as part of the Take Me Out to the Ballgame ticket promotion. Gates open 90 minutes prior to first pitch for all home games. Fans can listen to all the action on WTAW-AM 1620. Free live video will be available on aggieathletics.com, and fans around the world can also listen free of charge at radioaggieland.com.
Thanks guys...see you at the ballpark!
[This message has been edited by gabe_bock (edited 5/5/2009 11:52a).]
