Rice Baseball was an Omaha regular not that long ago. Now, another blue-clad, small school program is there to bring hope to those outside the big leagues.
A small university outside of the so-called “power” leagues is heading to the College World Series Championship Game. In an ever-changing collegiate landscape dominated by the biggest brands with the biggest wallets, a blue-tinted, avian-endorsed program looks every bit like the juggernauts from the SEC, ACC and elsewhere it’s gone through to this point, despite having an enrollment right around 10,000 students.
The year? 2025. The school? Coastal Carolina. But if you squint just a little bit, the not-so-Cinderella run of the Chanticleers mirrors another program readers of this site might have more familiarity with: Rice baseball.
If there was ever a doubt that a small school can hire great coaches and build a team with enough talent to contend for a national championship in college baseball — and to do so on a recurring basis — The Chanticleers should serve as a proof that the dream is vey much so still alive.
Unlike these teal-colored birds, the darker hued Owls were fixtures in the College World Series, making seven appearances in Omaha from 1997 to 2008, winning the national championship in 2003. Coastal Carolina, by comparison, made one appearance in 2016 — when they took home the title — before making a return trip this year where they await an SEC foe.
More: Rice Baseball and the Transfer Portal
In a world dominated by gaudy NIL budgets, superstars and 10,000 seat stadiums, schools like Coastal Carolina (and Rice) have proven it can be done. But it takes investment, recruiting, talent retention and even a little bit of luck. Coastal wouldn’t have ripped off 26 consecutive victories without some good fortune. It’s a hard recipe to master, but it’s possible.
While Rice baseball didn’t make the trip to Omaha this year, Owl fans might want to tune in to the championship anyhow. The Chanticleers are there to offer up some hope that the glory days might yet have some life in them still.
