Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Lets Talk About It with Pat McEvoy, the Jell-O Shot Challenge in Omaha & Eric Borba, living a CWS dream with his son, Casey Borba
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We head to Omaha with two angles you can’t ignore: the Jello Shot Challenge at Rocco’s and a Texas baseball family living out a long-shot dream. Pat McEvoy breaks down how the shot count turns into real charity, then Eric Borba shares the full-circle moment of watching his son Casey reach the College World Series stage.
• Why Omaha feels like a baseball pilgrimage from Rosenblatt to Charles Schwab Field
• How Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge started and why it exploded on social media
• Where to go for first-timers and what makes downtown Omaha work
• How the challenge raises money for charity, including food banks and veterans support
• Thoughts on reseeding and why the bracket should play as-is
• Which fanbases are built to win the shot race if they stay late
• Eric Borba’s COVID-era detour that reshaped recruiting and exposure
• How Texas entered late and what sealed the commitment
• What it means to have lineup depth when a proven bat hits eighth
• The Disch-Falk outfield traditions that turn fans into family
• A father-son story that makes Omaha hit different
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Austin Roots And Omaha Preview
SPEAKER_04The Saxton name resonates in Austin. Jim's late father, James Saxton, is a Longhorn legend, a Heisman finalist, while playing for Daryl K. Royal. And Jimmy is a UT football legacy from Westlake. He has been insuring Austin for decades. He and his staff will give you old school hospitality when servicing your insurance needs. One of the most special times of the year, so to speak. The week in which the College World Series up in Omaha, Nebraska began. It's kind of hard to put in perspective the historical perspective of this. The 79th College World Series in Omaha. It is one of the special places. I have two very special memories from the old OG location, Rosenblatt Stadium. Of course, now downtown Omaha. And it uh transitioned to that location in 2011, but still very special event and city this time of year. We've got two very special guests coming up here. The Jello Shot Challenge, right across the street from the stadium in downtown Omaha. He called out Texas Longhorn fans because, you know, he says everything's bigger in Texas, but not a lot of Jell O Shots were purchased by Longhorn fans. We'll talk about that Jell-O Shot Challenge uh with our guy from Rocco's in Omaha and a member of Team Borba from the Longhorn Baseball family. The College World Series in Omaha. Let's talk about it.
The Jello Shot Challenge Explained
SPEAKER_02Everything is bigger in Texas except the jello shot count. We're hoping your fan base shows up. We're hoping you guys win some games. We're hoping that we can raise some money for your on-campus food bank. Please, for the love of God, Texas, do something better than 319. We'll see you next week.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely hilarious. My buddy McAvoy, I like to call him. That's his last name. Up in Rocco's and Omaha. They started this Jell O Shot Challenge not too long ago. About five years ago. And it is taking off on social media, and there's a competition between each of the eight fan bases that make it to Omaha. Of course, the SEC fan bases dominate uh that Jello Shot Challenge at Rocco's. I believe over 18,000 jello shots were consumed alone by one specific SEC fan base. And we're gonna learn more about that. Hey, before we move on, follow us on each of our social media platforms and subscribe to us for free on our YouTube page. And big thanks to each of our sponsors and partnerships with Honest Plumbing and Air, Hardgrove Roofing, Jim Saxon State Farm, uh Boulevard Bar and Grill, and Dirty Martin's Place, and of course, Spirit Dress, Mercer Blocks Company. All ladies go visit spiritdress.com and of course our friends at Northwest Hills Liquor. Hey, let's bring in our very special first guest of this episode.
Pat McAvoy On Rocco’s Origins
SPEAKER_04All right, here's my guy. He's now a two-time stories inside the Man K VIP alumni. Uh, Pat McAvoy, one of the two genius men in America who came up with this Jell O Shot challenge in Omaha every year. It's become a mainstay. It is a good follow on social media, and it's a good visual for any piece of video. Uh, Pat, first off, first time in four years, Texas has been to Omaha. They've been, this will be the 39th trip to Omaha for the Longhorns. You called out the Longhorn fan base, and rightfully so. I I was shocked to know that statistic of the small amount of jello shots that were consumed with you at Rocco's in Omaha four years ago.
SPEAKER_02I and and a lot of people were, and a lot of people took great offense. Uh, Texas fans know that I have nothing but love for you. I've been to Austin uh a number of times, and I love your love your fair city. I just and I know that in 2022 it wasn't as big of a deal it was now. That was that was the first year we started the social media for it and really pushed it. You know, that was the year that that old miss went on to to barnstorm through the tournament and win it and bought 18,777. It the it wasn't uh a dig at you, it was more just shock and awe that that was the case. And my favorite part about it was the Texas Longhorns official media said challenge accepted with a jello shop post. So I was like, Bring it, I love it. This is exactly why we do this, is because we want people to come and and again, like you know, every all this money is going to charity, you know, that you know that we're we're you know, we're making a little off the top, but you know, we're we've raised $533,000 for for you know charitable organizations. So that's it's it's fun to to have the friendly banter, and it's fun to do that. And then you know, I got a lot of hate mail from Texas fans in the inbox. Apparently, some kids driving all the way here just to punch me in the face. So get to me, but we'll see what happens. I don't know, you know. So, but it's all friendly, it's all fun, and and we're looking forward to having having them back.
SPEAKER_04Let's let's talk about first timers to Omaha. First timers to well, not maybe not Omaha, but first time to the college world series. Please tell people where to go because Rocco's is not hard to find whatsoever, even in the new location with TD Ameritrade.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm I'm literally as I'm sitting here behind me is is the Jell O Shot bar. The only place in the whole bar you can get jello shots. We had to build a whole room specifically for for the jello shots, so they're all back here. Now, last time you were here, we were selling them behind the main bar, Texas. Just letting you know that the the jello shot room. I'm looking at the stadium from here, but there's plenty of places. I mean, it the the move the move kind of uh upset a lot of people from Rosenblatt down to you know what is now Charles Schwab field. Uh but it's so much more accessible. Um, there's so many, you know, so many bars and restaurants and and you know, everything is walkable. The whole there's multiple hotels. Granted, these hotels are a little pricey this time of year, as you might think, but it's just so much more accessible. There's so much more parking down here. You're not getting caught in someone's yard or doing some, you know, like so. As much as I love old Rosenblatt and have very, very fond memories of that, it is one of those things that it's so much easier now. But yeah, it's not, you know, Rocco's is is right across the street from Gate 2. That's that's impossible to miss for sure. You'll you'll see the lines and you'll see the crowds and you'll see the people hanging over the patio. But there's so many other places. I mean, the blatt, the mat, the slowdown. I mean, there's so many other places, you know, the happy bar. I mean, there's uh tons of places that you can go. Uh, even if you start to walk downtown, you're gonna find places and run into things. So try all the food, try all the drinks. You know, don't don't just sit and and uh and and try to punch me in the face all day. You know
How To Do Omaha Right
SPEAKER_02what I mean? Just yeah, go go go see the rest of what Omaha has to offer for sure.
SPEAKER_04Is there anything new? Are there new colors that are I know you try to incorporate colors for the eight participants in the CWS? What's new this year?
SPEAKER_02So this year we uh we raised $25,000 for a veterans organization. We thought because it was uh because it was cool that that you know um you know America's 250th this this summer, uh, we decided it would be a really cool deal to to raise money on the side. We'll still give to the food banks when the thing is all over, but on the side we raised $25,000 uh for Team Red, White, and Blue, which is a veterans organization that helps uh you know veterans reintegrate into the community and gives them you know give some positive outlets. And so this year for the jello shots, there won't be any team colors. We're all one team, and that's red, white, and blue.
SPEAKER_04I I love that. You're not wrong, you're absolutely right. This is a special year for our country and you know, uh old school Americana baseball. Absolutely pastime, and it is Omaha's a great place because it is middle of America, and if you've not been to Omaha, it is a very special two weeks and to spend it with the Jell O Shot Challenge and at Rocco's. But uh Pat McAvoy has seen a lot of baseball, he's seen all these some of these small programs make a name for themselves in Omaha, great marketing for all these universities. But if you look at this year's field, you've got one program making their first appearance. And and and you before we uh started this recording this interview, you and I were just talking about how special this year has been for regionals with the mid-majors, and there were so many opportunities for the smaller schools, so to speak. But when you look at this, it's no surprise half the field is from the SEC, including one bracket. Actually, there's five. Five of the but all SEC on one side. I have to ask you just two questions. One,
Charity, Veterans, And One Team
SPEAKER_04should the CWS ever reseed in the future? And what do you love about the fan bases you see who are about to make their way to Omaha?
SPEAKER_02I I've I've seen so many of these debates, the seed, seed, reseed debates, and I'm I'm on the side of let it play out how it's played out. I think that you know, I I know that that you know that that Georgia game is gonna be tough. You know what I mean? That that's that's that's a tough first one to have, and the winner of that might win the whole thing. I think those are the you know, betting odds looks looks pretty strong, but uh I think once you get here, you can't, you know, you can't start with 64 and then reseed and reseed. I think I think you just have to do what it was meant to be. And the winners have won, you know. Maybe not the people we thought were gonna win, but the people that were supposed to win won. And that's that's what we know because that's what's that's what's in Omaha now. So I think everyone has the same opportunity once they get here. You know, regardless of the draw. I think everyone, you know, you take care of business. If you can't beat a team, you can't beat a team. It doesn't matter if you beat them in the first game or in the fifth game. If you can't beat a team, you can't beat a team. So I think that's uh that's why I'm very anti-Reseed in in the in the tournament format. But yeah, it and that what it what it does for us too is it guarantees at least one SEC team in the you know in the championship, which which we love. You know what I mean? It's uh we love all the programs, but we know those SEC schools, some of those ACC schools, like they they travel a little bit better, they bring a lot more rabid fan base. We've heard good things about Troy, honestly. Like the the people from down there and some of the other people that we know that have covered baseball for a long time are like don't don't sleep on Troy. They they have some baseball fans and they're willing to travel, so we're looking forward to meeting them.
SPEAKER_04Um West Virginia, first time I believe. Are you going to lock arms with anyone shoulder to shoulder and sing Country Road Take Me Home to a Place?
SPEAKER_02I I would bet I mean this is this is actually like uh an all like we got a lot of good chants and a lot of good songs coming out of this. I mean, we got deep in the heart of Texas, we got you know, we got you know, those boys from Oklahoma, we know how that song goes. I mean, we got West Virginia, we got Country Roads. There's a lot of we got even the old mischant, the Hottie Tadi Gosh and Mighty Man, you got a lot of stuff going on here that I'm uh that I'm that I'm a fan of. So uh yeah, definitely at some point in time. It's a it's a big song in in the bar for like family reasons too. So it is one of those things that at some point in time that'll that'll be playing, and we will be we'll be hand in hand, arm in arm, and swaying and singing that. Maybe after one too many jello shots for me. I don't know. We'll see what happens.
SPEAKER_04Quick before we let you go. Of that eight, that field eight. I know it depends on who are the final two standing. Um, who's your projection to of that eight to consume the most jello shots?
SPEAKER_02I, you know, it again, it definitely depends on who makes it deep into the weekend. Obviously, old Miss, uh, you know, former record holder at 18,777, you know, in 2022. And that was still when we didn't have a jello shot bar for it. I mean, that was just we were, you know, so you're ordering jello shot and your drink and your girls' drink and your buddies' drink and your second drink because it took you so long to order the first three drinks. So, like, you know, like that that's the thing is is that you gotta stick around. But but Ole Miss, I mean, I know the West Virginia fans are are rabid. Um, you know, they they might get some they might get some help from uh some from some people showing up in Omaha. We're not positive yet, but there's uh we know that there's gonna be a pretty good, pretty good amount of them coming in full force again, first first time ever. So um West Virginia, Ole Miss. I mean, that's gonna be that's gonna be, I think, the two that are gonna be to beat. But again, they have to make the championship because you get an extra, you know, three, four, five, six days if you make the championship of of slinging jello, and it, you know, it eight thousand shots a day. That really adds up. Wow.
SPEAKER_04Wow. So you are seeing Pat McAvoy behind you in the actual jello shot room. Those of you watching, listening, wherever you may be, uh, we are in Longhorn Nation. When you make the trek up to Omaha, go visit Pat and the Rocco's crew, the family. They have done just they have reinvested into this. It's all a family type atmosphere there in Omaha by the stadium there downtown. Tell them if you see this that you are a part of the Man Cave fam, so to speak. Stories inside the man cave. Pat, I appreciate you, man, and I can't wait to see you up there. And uh, best of luck over these next two weeks. We'll check in and see how things are going. I I we uh love following you on social media as well.
SPEAKER_02I'll uh yeah, I'll try
Reseeding Debate And Fanbase Energy
SPEAKER_02not to I'll try not to irritate the fans of Texas so much in the future, but I'm still gonna talk my talk. I'm just saying it's just it makes it fun, it's sports, but uh obviously we'll check in. I'll I'll have the bags will be significantly bigger if we check in midweek, and I'll be a little bit more pale, but we'll figure something out for sure.
SPEAKER_04This part of the country, a lot of boomers sooner and hook them horns. You'll get a lot of that, and uh the SEC pride is strong as usual.
SPEAKER_02Oh, I'm playing up, I'm playing up the Red River rivalry. I'm making sure that that yeah, I'm absolutely playing that up on social media. Someone's got to come out ahead in the jello shot challenge.
SPEAKER_04That's uh there there's a lot of angles for you to take, and it uh I'd look forward to it, man. Brother, rest up. Uh, the the coffee will be flowing, uh, the energy drinks will be as long as the jello shots. Mac Vol. I appreciate you, and man, I love what you guys do.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, man. Thank you so much for having me on, and we'll check back in for sure. Let me know when you get up here. We'll uh we'll rip the first jello shot, you and I.
SPEAKER_04Keep it in the freezer, chill it, whatnot. Brother, appreciate
Who Wins The Shot Count
SPEAKER_04it. Uh, we're gonna take a quick break on the other side. We're gonna meet Team Borba with the Longhorn family. We'll see you on the other side of this break.
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Texas Returns And Team Borba Arrives
SPEAKER_04I've only been to Omaha twice as a fan, once as a media member, and it is something that makes a lasting impression on your life. And this is the first time Texas is going back, as you heard me and MacAvoy from Rocco's and the Jell O Shot Challenge. You know, Omaha is a better place when Texas and the Longhorn fan base is able to make that trip as a team participating in that uh the Elite Eight, if you will, of the CWS. And he called out the Texas fan base, you gotta do better than 300 plus jello shots, which I think there will be another zero, and that figure will probably be ten times the amount, and maybe reach the level that Ole Miss fans reached not too long ago. Um, I've got a a friend, a special guest, uh a father of a longhorn, and this may I just want to show this. This is one of the one of the players that I think embodies what the Longhorn fan base is all about. Casey Borba, it it seems like he was a freshman last year. Three great years, his family even better, and there's a special story tied to him, his father, and this is going to be a first for the two to experience. Let's bring in Pops. Man, it's uh we've talked about this for a year, we finally got things aligned. You're on the eve of about to go back, but it's gonna be a little different. You're uh an achieved high school coach, team USA baseball. You've been to Omaha, you coach teams, but not a college world series team. First off, man, thanks for being here. I know this is special for you, your wife, your daughter, and of course, Casey.
SPEAKER_00Of course. Thanks for having me. Really looking forward to it. This has been this has been unbelievable, and just looking forward to this week and you know, uh meeting a lot of great people along the way through Casey's experience at Texas becoming a Longhorn and us becoming a Longhorn family. It's been really special. So the opportunity to talk with you on this is is something that I really look forward to, and we're gonna have fun. Let's get after it.
SPEAKER_04Let's get it going. So, Casey, he is I I think that really accurately describes because uh the fan base here is well, there's several
COVID Baseball And Finding The South
SPEAKER_04in the country, but there's a handful that like Texas, the LSU, the Floridas, uh the Miamis, FSU, Georgia, they know baseball. And I feel like the Borbas, and in particular your son, just represents what this Texas fan base is all about because it plays so hard, play blue-collar, selfless, humble. And then for you watching, that's pretty much what Eric, that's what you are like. Very humble, and I I see where he got it from.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you very much. You know, yeah, it's it's special. You talk about the fan bases being at Texas is you know unbelievable. Uh growing up, being born and raised in California, coaching in California throughout my life. Um, you know, I kind of saw baseball outside and what it was like, but never really experienced it. Um, you know, I went to school in Southern California, uh high school, and then played ball at Division II school in Northern California. Always wished I had that big school experience, which I never had. So from the time I had kids, you know, we my wife and I, Cindy, uh really pushed our kids to go look about and see what's out there. And you know, Casey worked his tail off and fortunately was a good enough player to be recruited. And funny quick story here to go off topic, but how this all kind of came together and why my kids, my daughter's at Auburn now. So why we left to go to FEC schools and big sports programs is because COVID hit in 2020, and you know, in California, it's probably the worst place to be when that's going on. You're basically on lockdown and can't leave your house. And you know, here Casey's I don't know, 14 or 15 years old. I don't remember. He's a freshman. In high school, it's right in the middle of his freshman season. And uh all of a sudden the the state shut down. There's no baseball. I mean, it was it was crazy. But you know, um, good Lord willing the relationships that I met through USA baseball, I became pretty good friends with Adam Mosley, the head coach at Hoover High School in Alabama. And uh I noticed on social media that there were travel teams playing in in Alabama. So I made a phone call, I don't know, April or May of that freshman year for Casey, and and ended up that Adam Mosley connected us with the East Coast Sox, a great travel program in that area. And and we moved to Alabama. We rented a house in Tuscaloosa so he could play. And with that schedule, you know, we got to see several schools, ACC, SEC schools, and just you know, it really opened Casey and my my eyes to the facilities and just what it really means and the fan bases, everything else, everywhere you go, there's college stickers. You know, in Southern California, it's it's a lot different. I mean, there's just so many things going on. You don't have the diehard college fans dedicated to one team. I mean, I know a lot of people that are UCLA baseball fans, USC football fans. Like, there's not the rivalries like you have in the South or anything else. And so, you know, really um just getting a feel for what it was like really, I think drove Casey to want to go play big time baseball in it in a program that embodies all of those things that you know we raised him to be and and the opportunity to come to Texas, albeit Texas was the last school to recruit him in his whole recruiting process, you know, turned out to be absolutely amazing. So that's a whole nother story we can get into at some other time or or whenever you want. But you know, it's uh pretty amazing how this all happens and what God's plan is to end up where we're at. But we couldn't be more blessed to be, you know, part of the Texas baseball family, the University of Texas family. It's been absolutely amazing. We've met so many people, just so many great people, and uh you know, we love it. We had the the privilege, I guess, of of being able to rent a house and move out here this year and be here for the whole spring, which has been just absolutely amazing. And like you said earlier, I mean it feels like I was dropping off at school about two weeks ago, and now here he is finishing his junior year.
SPEAKER_04So the just a backstory, I got to meet Eric and his wife, and and and um, so for those of you who have never been to Austin or have never been to Dishfalk Field, or you have, and you never experienced the two outfields, you've got left field, occupied left field, and the right field there's two buses. This is where I met Eric finally. It was on top of one of the buses, and it's they they intermingle these groups, these fans, they embrace the fan the families, the parents. It is a special, special just a group, and they make you part of the family. He is not over exaggerating that that's really the truth. But I yeah, I definitely before we get into this year, you talked about how it is fate took over from you had COVID, and we all know the recruitment uh these guys in baseball really starts your freshman year and sophomore years you and it brought you where you guys had to move out and go to the south and Hoover, Alabama, and in baseball country. And this is not to take away from USC, UCLA, Fullerton, Pepperdine, uh, Irvine, or anybody, but it does mean a lot more in this part of the country. Um how did Texas enter the picture for
Recruiting Story And Choosing Texas
SPEAKER_04you guys? When did that happen?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so you know, back the rules were a little different when Casey was younger, where coaches had contact and were committing kids at you know 14-15 years old. So actually, it had started kind of that year, his freshman year of high school. It had started and he was recruited by several other schools. Um, you know, I I remember I'm I've I've become pretty good friends with Kirk Sarlos over at TCU, and he was an assistant back that had to be 2019. I think it was too uh, I guess it was 2020 because it was COVID. Right before that, um, in the fall of his freshman year, he played in Florida, and Kirk Sarlos called me and invited Casey to come to a camp at TCU that he really liked him. And I thought, man, this kid's not ready for that stuff. You know, he's my son, and he's he's too young to be thinking about colleges. Well, that was the first phone call and invitation of many that would happen over the next couple of years. And you know, we were always I was always the coach that that told my players or encouraged my players to wait as long as they could to commit, even though it was cool and they wanted to post it on social media. I just there's so many changes that happen between the ages of 14 and 17, and whether it be coaches moving or you know, things happen, just whatever it might be. Players change, they grow and develop, their skill set changes, and you know, you got to find the best fit. And I just think it's I always thought it was hard. So, tribute to Casey. He decided to pass up on several scholarship offers when he was younger. He really wanted to wait to be able to do his official visits because the official visits you can't take until after I think it's September 1st, um, October, August 1st, September 1st, whatever it might be, um, of your junior year, and he decided he was gonna wait. So um, funny thing, and sorry, sorry, make a long story longer, but that's that's okay. And bringing it all full circle, he was recruited by probably 12 to 15 Power 4 schools, um, and he had narrowed it down to a few to do some visits, and it just so happened that at the beginning of August, I was actually coaching uh in the national team development program with 14-year-olds um for a week in North Carolina, Kerry, North Carolina, and it just so happened that Troy Tulowitzki was coaching with me. He was one of the other staff members, so we worked together all week. Well, the first night, all the coaches kind of get together and have dinner just to eat introduce each other, kind of map out the week. And you know, Tulo's sitting right next to me in the chair, and he leans over and he goes, Hey, is Casey Borba your son? Because we had never met.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_00And uh I said, Well, yeah, as a matter of fact, he is. He he goes, Well, we've all watched a lot of video on him and we really like him. Does he know what he's gonna do for college yet? And uh I said, Well, to be honest with you, he's got he's got a few visits set up for the next few weeks, you know. Um, but he hasn't made any any decisions. He's still open, he wants to wait and see and meet staff. He says, So Tulo replies with, Well, Sean Allen, our recruiting coordinator, is gonna be coming to Southern California next week for the area code games, and he specifically is going out there to watch several players, but Casey's one of them. He said, if he's interested in Texas, you know, maybe I can pass that along, and maybe at some point there can be some conversation. So sure enough, the next week happens, and uh, you know, uh they're interested. So Sean Allen calls after the area codes, and and uh you know, is it there they were kind of in limbo again? Scholarships were different at that time too. So it was 11.7, and Sean says, Hey, we really like you. Um, we really would love to have you on a visit. We're trying, we have an offer out to a kid right now that hasn't accepted, we don't know what's gonna happen, but um basically we'd love for you to schedule us to be your last visit if you could, and by then we should have a better idea of money. And so we did. So Casey went on uh three official visits, uh, and Texas being the last. And you know, as parents, I mean, you go on these trips, and these guys obviously are putting a great sales pitch, and these schools are beautiful, and you know, we had no real ties to any of them. Um, so we go to the first one, and and uh we fell in love with it. I mean, we we were just like, man, this is awesome. But we had all kind of said you're doing at least two trips before you make your decision because you're gonna get wowed by the first one no matter what it is.
SPEAKER_04Absolutely. Oh who who were the three?
SPEAKER_00So uh North Carolina was the first official visit, um, you know, and I had spent a lot of time there. He had spent some time there with me being USA, doing USA stuff and being out there a lot. I mean, North Carolina was always kind of a dream from the time he was young. Coaches were amazing. I loved the coaches, and and you know, I was like, man, how are you gonna pass this up? And he says, Well, I we said we're gonna do two at least, and I really want to see Texas, so we're gonna do all three. So my wife and I um, you know, we came home the next weekend, we flew and and he did an official visit at Clemson. And to be and to be honest, my wife and I fell in love with Clemson, just like me. I mean, beautiful campuses. Um, and we had no idea how he wasn't accepting anything, but you know, I think again, it goes to the maturity of Casey. He he kind of had a vision and he wasn't checking all the boxes, whatever it was. I still don't know to this day. I know you know Clemson and North Carolina are far from home. I think that had a piece to do with it, uh bit to do with it, but he also had that lure of Texas going, man, it's the Texas Longhorns, I'm gonna go check that out for sure. And so a couple weeks went by. We end up coming out to Texas later on, and I think it was October, middle of October. And you know, we we come and they the first thing we did is have breakfast with with Troy Tulowitzki. And uh we got done with breakfast and we kind of had a minute away from the coaches. And Casey turns to me and he goes, This is where I'm coming to school. He knew made an offer yet or anything, he just fell in love with it right away. The conversation he had with Tulo, just being there, I think, just you know, sometimes you just know love at first sight can it can happen, I think. And I think that he fell in love with it right away. We still didn't have an official offer from Texas, so we didn't even know if they were gonna give him any money. But he's like, This is where we're coming. So mom and I are looking at each other like, hopefully, we get some kind of scholarship money so we can afford it because it'd be pretty cool.
SPEAKER_03It'd be nice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so you know, you go through you go through the whole, you know, the weekend that you get 48 hours or whatever it is, and we go to um we go to dinner the night, you know, the first night, and we just all really hit it off with the staff. As a matter of fact, my wife and I are still really good friends with Sean and Stephanie Allen, who was recording coordinator at the time. We actually rented their house for a while last year.
SPEAKER_03That's okay. I forgot about that part.
SPEAKER_00And Sean Allen actually lived with us when he took the job at USC. So um, anyway, again, another story for another day, but baseball's crazy. Uh so we hit it off, and and then the next day, you know, we we went to lunch before we left, and and they made him the offer. And um, I mean, basically signed, sealed, and delivered. He didn't accept it right then on the spot. He, you know, I think he wanted to just go home and sleep on it for 24 hours, but within 48 hours, he was committed to be a longhorn. And man, it was it was an unbelievable decision, and we've enjoyed every minute of it since.
Lineup Depth And Competing At Texas
SPEAKER_04Last year was disappointing for everybody because it ended at home against UTSA in the regionals at the dish uh off season in Slosh's second season. He upgraded that lineup and pitching. So Casey, and correct me if I'm wrong, goes from high in the lineup to now still producing the same double-digit home run production. Great hitter with mid-on base, and he's eighth in the lineup. So, what does that tell you as a father, coach, and a former player, when you have a guy like Casey that far down in a lineup?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh, it's amazing. And I tell it's funny because I ask Casey this all the time when he asks after a game or something. He, you know, I said, You want the coach answer or do you want the dad answer because they're two different ones? You know, and with this question you're asking, it's it it really is the same, right? The dad answer is holy cow, he's hitting eighth and playing every day on one of the best teams in the country and going to the College World Series, right? The coach answer is, man, you should be hitting in the middle of the lineup so much, and you're not producing like you should be. You know, uh, I mean, that's that's the reality of it. And and no, he's had a great year. When you when you look back at it, I mean, you know, he's got 18 home runs in the SEC of the shoot. That's unbelievable. You know, we always I think I'm probably his biggest critic, um, you know, and that separation from coach to dad is obviously different at the college level than it was at the high school level, and there's learning processes, but no, I couldn't be more proud of, you know, I mean, what he's gone through with coaching changes, you know, the head coaching change, the competition, you know, he knew. And one of the things that you worry about as a parent when you're making the decision to go to the University of Texas is, man, can you play there? Like you know, the competition is fierce, and and you know that you're gonna have to compete every single day. And you know, Coach Sloss's reputation, you know, why he's so successful is he's he's paid to win, and he's gonna go out and get the best players he can to win. If you don't perform, you know, he's gonna look for somebody better. And if you do perform, he's still gonna look for somebody better. And so it I think that was a motivating factor for Casey, too. You know, he and again, dad moment, really proud of him because he's endured through all of that and and really, you know, become kind of a household name at the University of Texas, which is just again, you have to pent yourself because it's it's hard to believe. Again, it feels like this all just started, but now you know, you see little kids that know him, you know, he gets recognized in a restaurant now, and it's like, man, that's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_04I'm gonna pause this real quick, and on the other side of this quick break, um this is a special trip to Omaha, not only because Texas and your son are playing, this has a lot of meaning to you. And we're gonna show, we're gonna talk about the reason why, but you know, coming up with the College World Series, a lot of people aren't gonna be able to make the trip to Omaha. And and and one thing you need to do if you're having CWS watch parties or just hanging out at home with uh your family, you've got to stay hydrated. And I know of the the ideal place to take care of that, uh, you know, to keep your supply up to speed during the CWS. Are you planning a night in or hosting the crew? Hey, don't stress about running out to grab drinks. My friend Dave Ramirez over at Northwest Hills Liquor has been completely covered. They will literally bring the party right to your door with fast delivery. Remember, you must be at least 21 years of age to order. So go check them out. Northwest Hills Liquor, where you're a guest and not a customer. You heard Eric mention he's been to Omaha many times as a coach and for younger youth baseball, and now he gets to go back. But one of the times that you got to make that trip, uh, your son Casey, the Texas Longhorn Casey Borba. This is special,
The Father Son Omaha Moment
SPEAKER_04Eric, and this is a good father-son moment right here. You tweeted this out. This is you and Casey when he was uh six years old. And and I know when I saw it, it it hit me a little bit for you, for you guys as a family. For you right now, you're about to go up there and watch your son play at the place that you had hoped would happen. I don't want to say how does this feel, but describe this for those who don't get to have a moment like this.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'll tell you, it's it's tough to describe. It it really is. And I mean, I'm having to hold back tears right now. Uh, you know, I had I had dreams. Obviously, I was a I was a baseball guy, and you know, from the time I came out of the womb, I just loved baseball, watch baseball all the time. I wasn't I wasn't good enough or you know, probably didn't work hard enough to get to a level like this. Um, but watching every level of baseball and paying attention to baseball, and the baseball's been my life even to this day. Um, you know, so we all have a bucket list. So as a baseball guy, I've had several bucket list items. You know, one of them was going to the Yankee Stadium before they closed that down, you know, and so I flew out, my wife and I flew out with some friends, and we went to Yankee Stadium before they they closed that down. Um, but one of the biggest ones was getting to Rosenblatt. And so this picture here um is 2010, I believe was the last year at Rosenblatt. So I was a high school coach at Orange Lutheran in Southern California, and you know, as a high school coach, funds aren't very easy to come by to make stuff like this happen all the time. But it was just one of those things where I said, Man, I gotta I gotta take Casey to Omaha. We gotta go to the College World series. He probably doesn't even really know what's going on at five years old, but um we'll have fun, it'll be a great father-son trip. And uh so I put together a team uh to play. There's a a tournament, uh travel tournament out here, and so I just sent out an email to all my families at the high school and said, Hey, I would I have a dream of going to Rosenblatt. I would love to take a group of guys out there so we can offset some costs, and and you know, we play in a tournament that gives they actually give tickets to the World Series away to each of the players and coaches, so it would save us some money there. And and so we did. We ended up actually bringing two teams out. Um, I think we had like a 16-year-old team and uh I don't know. We had two teams from the high school that we put together to put in this tournament, and we came out and I brought Casey and you know, he bat for bat boyed for me during the day, and then we went to the College World Series games of the night for the first weekend. And you know, just going to Rosenblatt was I mean, it there was nothing nothing better. Just the you know, the the way it was, the special feeling that you had at Omaha, you know, you're parking in grass yards, and you know, being a guy that grew up not far from Cal State Fullerton and kind of experiencing those traditions and seeing the house that was like home of the Titans in Omaha, basically, and you know, seeing all the little shops that I mean it was just like unbelievable to be there and experience it, but it was better than I even expected. You know, you said this off-air, but you know, the colored seats, the blue and yellow seats I think they had, and we waited in that line in the outfield for the general admission just to get in. I mean, just it was amazing. And then obviously I enjoyed it so much I had to come back the next year to see the new stadium and see the differences, and so I brought a group of guys back um to that, and you know, completely different way, but it was you know, people would ask, like, uh man, Rosenblatt, like it can't be the same. And I was like, it's definitely not the same, but I'll tell you what, it is still very, very special. Um, you know, and then fast forward, so I think those were the only two times I I went before I ended up having some summer stuff that didn't allow me to go coaching with USA. And uh never went back until 2024. Um and that wasn't for the College World Series, but I am fortunate enough to coach uh a team, Team California, which is a team comprised of rising seniors out of the state of California that that play for a national championship, unquote, quote unquote. It's called the high school baseball national championships. It's moved around locations, but the last three years now it's been at Charles Schwab Stadium. So in 2024, I got to coach the high school you know team in the summer there in the dugout. And fortunate I'll be going back there again, actually, you know, the 30th of June. So a week after the College World Series, I'll be going back to coach there again. But just a special, special place. Um, but you know, going back to 2010 when Casey was there, I you know, I remember specifically saying, man, at least you know, in my head, I was saying, man, if I ever got the chance to watch my son play here, how cool would that be? And you know, making the decision to come to Texas, that was definitely one of his goals. I think it sat with him. You know, he had the choice to sign professionally or go to college, wanted to go to college for the opportunity to play in the College World Series, pick the University of Texas because hey, if you go to the University of Texas for three or four years, there's a pretty strong chance you're gonna get the experience Omaha. And then coming up short his first two years um, you know, to get this opportunity now is just like it's it's still unreal. I don't know that it's actually gonna hit me until I step foot in there, and then you know, I'm sure it's gonna go by too quick, just like every other great thing in this in this world. But you know, you kind of put everything else on your in your life on hold to be able to experience this. And I just I can't wait. It can't come fast enough, but at the same time, I'm okay with it, you know, taking its time because I don't want it to be gone too soon. So just you know, emotional. I the hug, Casey, you know, the Texas staff was awesome to let us all go down on the field after the game on Sunday to celebrate. And uh tell you what, that hug with my son on the field after they won was uh probably the best hug I've ever had in my life. So it just, you know, I think it all just hit like, hey, all the work, all the time, everything that we've done to get him here. And now we're actually getting to go to Oma to play in a College World series. And so just yeah, there's nothing better.
SPEAKER_03Eric man, I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm I'm I'm trying to keep my keep my cool right here. Um I'm with you.
SPEAKER_04Um yeah, because I've I didn't have that moment with my but my dad, but we used to watch the Cows Rule series early 80s together. Um I always wanted to see those big lights in the in the in the in the outfield and see all those great Texas teams, and you know and then when I like I told uh Eric before we started this episode, the first time I got to walk through the the tunnel to get in. Up there. It hit me all the sensory overload of smells. It was better than I ever imagined. It was like I was in some type of heaven. And then I met people like you, meaning fathers, sharing this moment with their sons for the first time. And it's all over the place. It's like they talk about it, talk about it, and then it finally happens. But this to me is one of the best stories I've heard involving the Cosmo series. This is so rare. A father who got the coach gets to see his son make a dream reality to watch his son play in the Cosmo series. He thought it into existence. The percentages were slim. And it's happened.
SPEAKER_00Just like winning a lottery. Yeah, again, it is surreal.
SPEAKER_04I love this, man. And I I can't wait to hear what it was like. And I hope you guys get to experience the whole two weeks there. Shoot, you you leased a house in Austin for six months. You should be able to stay two weeks in Omaha.
SPEAKER_00Right? Wouldn't it be nice if everything worked out the way it was supposed to?
SPEAKER_04I believe in it. Um I guess you're so close to everybody back at Texas, right field, left field. Is there truly a better side to at the dish? I'm not asking you to pick
Disch Traditions And The Outfield Families
SPEAKER_04sides. Is this a debate or is just where your heart goes each game?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, I can't put me in a tough spot there. I mean, I I love both these groups, right? I mean, again, just to tell the you know, tell the background of Texas and the welcoming families and people that are there, you know, there's there's part of me that says, you know, Leftfield's got this special place because it was the first thing I was introduced to, right? I didn't know coming in about the bus and right. I knew that the buses were out there, but I didn't know you know that it was open and they you know welcome families out there. And I didn't really know it was kind of that unknown area of the stadium. So I don't think his freshman year, and again his freshman year I was still coaching high school baseball, so I only got out for a few series. So I don't think I ever went on the bus his freshman year. But the left field guys, every time I was there, I mean they they went out of their way to um you know introduce themselves and have me there. And again, it's not saying anything you know that separates the two. It's just that was my first, my wife and I's first experience. Um and they took us in right away, and it was just awesome. And I know there's always a little bit of a I don't even know what to say, like you could call it a rivalry, but man, how awesome! Like good people in both spots. I mean, both awesome, right? Like there's times, and trust me, there's been plenty of times where I've said I'm just gonna stay out in one of these things just to hang out. But as a parent, you want to be inside, as a coach, you want to be inside. You know, there's it's really easy to get distracted with all the extra extracurricular activities going outside the field. I mean, Truman in right field and those families that are on those buses. I mean, they are just awesome, awesome people. Um left field, obviously, the the traditions there. They're the yeah, they're I can't take anything away from either one of them. I love both groups of people, and you know, I I just very appreciative of everything they do for us as families and and making it such an awesome environment to go watch Texas baseball because it is special. And you know, I have a I have a little tradition that that started last year. So sophomore year is the first time, and so I think one of the other parents actually told me, hey, Truman needs you to go up on the bus in right field. And I was like, Truman, like, and they said, Yeah, the guy with the long beard or goatee, you know, go out there and just ask, tell Truman who you are. And uh so I went out there, went up the bus, introduced myself, and you know, ever since it's just felt like home. So I start in right field on the bus, go to left field, go to the game, and then uh we started a little tradition last year um where you know every time Casey Homers at home, I go out go out and have a little social time with each of those groups, and then I gotta get back into the stadium before his next event, if you know what I mean. Um so stay hydrated. Yeah, I gotta get my steps in and stay hydrated. So I go out and and get hydrated with them, walk around the stadium to the right field, go up with Truman and have a little sprite up there, and then back down to my seat and you know get back to my seat before Casey hits again. And you know, hopefully I'm getting out of my seat and walking back to do it again, his next at bat. But it's just yeah, it's just a really cool tradition. I know Truman posted about it. I mean, Occupy left field, Mark Pena, Jeff Cross, those guys are just unbelievable um people in the way they've taken taken us in. And you know, uh I'll tell you just again, you know, Mark Pena's daughter has a Casey Borba jersey that she wears, and it's just like it's unbelievable. You know, it really is the impact that that he's been able to have on people and just the fact the to the support that the fans of Texas show, you know, for for these kids is is unbelievable. And you know, I don't know if they understand how impactful it is on them right now. I don't know at 21 years old how much he really sees it. I know he really embodies it and appreciates it, but he's gonna appreciate it even more when he's my age. And you know, what a special, special time for him and for our family.
Coaching Mishaps And Big Head Laughs
SPEAKER_04There's been some legendary man cave stories. Legendary, I'm shocked. I've been very fortunate since uh April of 2020 to have so many of these to listen to and remember. Is there one story that you can share or feel comfortable to share that is equally as amusing today as it was when it happened?
SPEAKER_00There's several times where I've either been on a podcast or I've been interviewed or I've done some something, spoke to a group, and and you know, I didn't know what I was getting into, and what I said was completely opposite of what it should have said. Always I happen to say, you know, I mean, uh it's kind of a personal one, but I got asked to go speak at Red Wibbon Week at one of the junior highs. I uh you know, I coached and taught at a Christian school in Southern California high school, and we have feeder schools, if you will, that are that are you know elementary schools in the Lutheran school system with Orange Lutheran, and uh I didn't get much details, it was kind of last minute because one of our other coaches um backed out and I was under the impression that I was gonna speak to a bunch of seventh and eighth graders about Red Ribbon Week, or you know, and uh I showed up and it was kindergarten through eighth grade. And if you're not used to talking to young kids in kindergarten, you know, and and it's embarrassing, but yeah, I mean my my talk was the seventh and eighth graders, and I was not my adaptability that day was not very good, and it was the worst 20 minutes, I think. That I mean, and then people after are like uh thank you for what it means. I mean yeah, there there's some it it's that wanna get away moment, right? I think it was Southwest Airlines had that commercial. Like I've had I've had several of those. I mean, from a baseball standpoint, I got another one that sticks out from a baseball standpoint. I you know, towards the end of my career, I had made a lot of friends in the coaching fraternity across the country, so I would host a lot of them in Southern California. Um, and we would just pair up games, you know, Hoover, like I mentioned earlier, and Marcus High School, Jeff Sherman up at Marcus High School was a good friend of mine in Coronadell Sol in Arizona. And so we'd all come out, they'd all come out to California, or we'd go there and we'd just set up games. And one of my last years coaching at Orange Lutheran a few years ago, um one of my buddies who coached a school out of state was coming into town and he asked me like to tell them a little bit about the schools, the teams that we they were playing against. And I didn't give a full scatter report, nothing was bad, but I replied on the group chat rather than the individual text. So I basically gave a sample of a scattering report to a coach about another team, and that coach was on the on the group chat. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah, I mean, it's funny now, but I was you know, I I didn't share a ton, but still one of the other coaches texts me on the side and he goes, Hey, stop texting, you're in the group chat. I mean, those those are the things that that come to mind, you know, for me. I think um uh you asked for one, I'm I'm rambling on here, but you know Casey and it kind of a cool story, and it's not really amusing per se, it is now, but you know one thing that little known fact about Casey is he was seven weeks premature and he was in an incubator for 11 days, and then he came out of the incubator and his head was probably as big as it is now. I think he was a seven and three-eighths head when he came out of the womb. So we all we always laugh about that because he had that big old head coming out, and you know, and then the fact that he was seven weeks premature to be where he's at now is is pretty cool.
SPEAKER_04So uh I don't know if that gives you what you wanted, but oh man, that's a great story. That you know, these I want to I love making entertaining, love people to hear stories that uh they can relate to or remember. That's hilarious. Uh, not not not the premature part, right? Something that a lot of people don't know, and how would they?
SPEAKER_00We all come from the bobble head when he was young, so I all three of us have big melons.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I'm a big seven and a quarter guy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm a three-eights now. I think Casey's a five-eights. I mean, uh I was always calling him like eight head. I thought he was gonna have like a gym bochi size head. He grew he grew into it well, and he's seven and five eighths now, which is a big head, but uh it's you know, he's worked hard in the weight room, so the lower half is kind of made up caught up to it, if you will, so it looks a little more proportionate.
SPEAKER_04Well, I've got a five-head and then the crow magnum man kind of look. I and you gotta embrace it, you know. Amen. Makes us unique.
SPEAKER_00That's it.
SPEAKER_04That's it.
Final Cheers For Omaha
SPEAKER_04We are uh absolutely ecstatic for the Borba family. Uh a dream come true for this family to be able to go back to Omaha not only to see the Calgary series, but man, it's just I almost lose words because I feel it for you guys. This is special. And I hope the entire country grabs a hold of this story and really lives it with you guys, the Borba family and the Longhorn baseball fan.
SPEAKER_00I really am gonna be fun. Something we'll never forget and we'll talk about for as long as we live. So we will, and thank you for being a part of it. Thank you for bringing this up. I'm blessed.
SPEAKER_04I've I've been blessed. You you you and you're a bit of character, a good human and a good friend through uh the Longhorn baseball legacy, so to speak. And uh I wish I wish Casey and the Longhorns a full two weeks stay.
SPEAKER_00Amen to that. Thank you very much. I hope so too. Uh it's expensive, but hey, well worth it.
SPEAKER_04It'd be worth well worth it. You can find a way to write it off as a tax, a tax purpose, right?
SPEAKER_03There you there you go.
SPEAKER_04We can't document that on a podcast, can we? Hey Eric, appreciate you and the family. And I'll and I'll say this if you you don't follow the college rule series, do so now. Follow Rocco's and the CWS Jell O Shot Challenge, and follow the Borba family and the Longhorns as they are about to embark upon their first-time journey to Omaha as following their son. And just follow college baseball for the first time. So, whenever you get the chance to talk about Casey Borba and his family, Borba bombs and UT baseball and going to Omaha, you know what? It's always good to talk about.