LINCOLN Dave Van Horn said he enjoyed his return to his old stomping grounds Tuesday. However, the man who now coaches the Arkansas baseball program admits he probably would've liked it even better if it wasn't his team that got stomped.
Nebraska got a complete-game five-hitter from starting pitcher Dan Jennings, timely home runs from Nick Sullivan and Mitch Abeita and turned four double plays as the Huskers beat Arkansas 6-1 for their 14th consecutive victory. The listless Razorbacks made three errors and advanced just one runner into scoring position after the second inning.
While a 10-minute post-game team meeting in right field made it evident that the fiery Van Horn was less than thrilled with his ballclub's performance, he admitted taking a few moments out prior to the game for nostalgia's sake.
And why not?
After all, it was Van Horn who put Nebraska baseball on the map. He took a Big 12 also-ran and made it a top league contender and guided the Huskers to college baseball's Promised Land a.k.a Omaha qualifying for the College World in 2001 and 2002.
Without Van Horn and his attitude-changing five-year run at Nebraska, there probably wouldn't be a Haymarket Park and the program most likely wouldn't be held in the same regard as it is today.
"It felt really good, coming out here, walking through the office area and seeing the ballpark," said Van Horn, who was 214-92 from 1998-2002 with the Huskers. "It just brought back a lot of memories because it was such a great experience and that's what probably made it such a neat thing to come out here and just see the facility again."
Credit Nebraska baseball fans for knowing their stuff. While many might have felt jilted when Van Horn left the Huskers to return home to Arkansas, the Boss Hog received a warm ovation from most of the 3,417 fans when he was introduced Tuesday.
Obviously, Van Horn hasn't forgotten the kind of support he and his Nebraska teams received, going back to the days when the Huskers first started opening eyes nationally, playing at old Buck Beltzer Field.
"When the fans started coming in and talking a little bit and yelling stuff at you and whatever most of the stuff was good that was fun," Van Horn said. "It was a little emotional, but really more than anything, I was just kind of proud of the whole situation here."
Nebraska coach Mike Anderson, who was an assistant coach under Van Horn, said he figured it would be impossible for Van Horn not to have to fight through at least some emotions.
"I know Dave very well and I'll tell you this: He's very businesslike and he's doing everything he can to make sure his team's ready to go," Anderson said. "But at the same time, I know there are a lot of things here this crowd's here, this stadium's here and we're having success because of things that Dave Van Horn did.
"I hope he has some emotion that way and feels the pride and feels that because, obviously, he was the orchestrater in the whole thing."
As for competing against Van Horn, Anderson admits he doesn't like it one bit.
"I prefer being a friend to him instead of competing against him, but I think it's good for them and it's good for us," Anderson said. "I think it's good competition, obviously, and we wouldn't do it unless it was good Nebraska baseball."
While still good friends, rest assured that the competitive fires inside Anderson and Van Horn still burned Tuesday.
"You always want to win," Anderson said. "He taught me that and when you step on the field, he's trying to beat me just as bad as we're trying to beat them."
While Van Horn's return to Lincoln created buzz among members of the media and fans, Anderson said he tried to downplay the series with his team. After all, Van Horn has been gone for six years now and only the Nebraska natives on the Huskers' roster probably knew anything about the Arkansas coach.
Anderson said he intentionally tried not to convey to his team that the Arkansas series carried with it any added importance or pressure. Never mind what he might have felt inside.
"I tried to calm way down," Anderson said. "It was exciting, but again, these kids don't know that."
Anderson is 229-102 in his sixth season as head coach. He led the Huskers to their third CWS trip and their first CWS victory in 2005, but to some fans, he has yet to fully emerge from Van Horn's shadow.
If the Huskers can get a series sweep Wednesday, maybe it will help Anderson's cause. Van Horn said he certainly thinks his former protge is on the right path.
"It's hard to win ever year," Van Horn said. "With the draft and 11.7 scholarships, you have to be good, you have to be a little lucky, but you also have to have a plan and I think coach Anderson has a great plan.
"His kids play hard. They played a lot harder than our guys today. To me, that was obvious."
Terry Douglass is sports editor for The Independent.
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