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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – For Tanner Burns, Ryan Bliss and other members of Butch Thompson's first two recruiting classes in Auburn, it was a leap of faith, a visualization exercise. It was a vote of confidence in Thompson's ability to turn an ambitious vision into reality.
Burns and Bliss were prestigious recruits. they could have signed with another program that has proven successful after the season. Instead, they signed with Auburn, a program that had not gone to the College World Series since 1997. Because they believed in Thompson.
"The only reason I came to Auburn was to play for coach Thompson," Burns said Monday.
It was a strange echo of something Bliss had said about 15 minutes ago, between hugs and stunned team mates on the grass at Boshamer Stadium.
"Coach Thompson, he's probably the only reason I came to Auburn," said Bliss. "I saw that he was returning this program on a grand scale. When I committed, it was in 2016. They lost the last game. [of regionals] in Florida. The following year, they go to Florida and lose in a great regional match, the third. Now we won the third match and we are now going to Omaha. You can just see how it goes. "
Indeed, Auburn's four-year progression under Thompson's leadership has been remarkable. Thompson inherited a buzzing program in the late fall of 2015 and, without the benefit of a complete fall, the Tigers were 23-33 in 2016 A year later, they were in the regions. The following year, they won the regional title, but were never impressed by Austin Langworthy's dead-end landing in extra rounds at Gainesville Super Regional.
Now, Auburn heads to Omaha after knocking North Carolina 14-7 in the third game win of Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. After 22 years of drought, the dream has come true. …
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