The level of excitement the home crowd at Baum-Walker Stadium will have on the weekend will be higher than any non-Regional or -Super game Fayetteville has seen in years.
Tony Vitello is bringing his 12th-ranked Tennessee baseball team to play No. 6 Arkansas. First pitch on Friday, the opener of a three-game weekend set in the SEC, is set for 7 p.m.
But the rankings aren’t the reason for the fervor. The last time the Vols were in town, Vitello and Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn had an animated exchange that left both fan bases on edge. Arkansas, especially, considering Vitello was Van Horn’s assistant less than a decade ago and was often considered his heir apparent.
Instead, Vitello, who likely understandably didn’t want to wait 15 or more years on Van Horn to retire, exited for his first head coaching job in Knoxville in June of 2017. Last year he had the Vols at No. 1 in the nation for most of the season before they fell in the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams will almost certainly be in the postseason again. This particular series will only bolster – or slightly lessen – where they end up in the Regional.
The two men remain friends and good ones at that. But for the fans? Expect the passion.