OmahaNebraska.com interviewed Chairman and President of the Board College World Series of Omaha Inc. , Jack Diesing Jr., after the College World Series Pre-Game Press Conference.
How long have you been involved in the College World Series?
I’ve been on the board of the College World Series as a volunteer for the non-profit since 1985 and I’ve been president of the board since 1989.
I took on the chairman role when my dad relinquished it back in late nineties. So, I’ve been involved somewhere in neighborhood of 37 years.
What do you think the biggest changes have been here in Omaha or in the College World Series in general?
I think the biggest change in College World Series has been the switch from Rosenblatt to the now Charles Schwab Field in downtown Omaha.
We were at Rosenblatt for six years, Rosenblatt served as a foundation and set the stage for taking the Men’s College World Series to the pinnacle of baseball.
Then it was time to take it to the next level and make sure we had a venue that would stand the test of time and was a top quality venue. It was bittersweet for some, but it’s turned out to be an absolutely marvelous result, not only for the players, but the fans for everybody.
The biggest change for me has been really taking it to one level of Rosenblatt then the successful transition to next level of carrying us into the future with Charles Schwab Field.
What is one of the changes here that you like the best?
Well the best about the Charles Schwab Field is that it is all new.
I liken it to… Do you remodel house for the same amount of money or do you get a new house?
The best thing is . . . the combination of things that are the best about Charles Schwab Field.
I’d say number one turns out the location was fabulous because we are downtown.
They can see the ballgame.
They can sit and enjoy the atmosphere of the College World Series.
It’s easy to get around downtown and do what they want to do before or after.
In the venue itself, we have:
Wider concourses
Newer restrooms
Better seating
Better sound systems
Better video boards (even though that can be improved and we are working on it)
The bottom line is it’s everything.
The location and experience once you are in the stadium is all a wonderful venue for the people of the College World Series.
Please tell me something special in baseball for you.
There’s a couple of events that have stuck with me the most, like the Warren Morris home run [1996] at Rosenblatt at the of bottom of the ninth inning.
It’s more about my father. My father…so we recognize my father in two ways. One is the award for players. Two is at the end of the series, we have in bugle fashion “take me out the ballgame” as the College World Series flag drops down and that’s what we did for my father father’s funeral when he left the church.
So I have very wonderful memories of what he meant to me personally and what he meant to the College World Series.
That’s so beautiful.
Thank you.
