Texas Begins College World Series Play Against UC Irvine

The reviewing has been reviewed, the previewing has been previewed, the time has finally come for Texas to take the field in the College World Series for the first time since 2011. Texas is also going for its first CWS victory since Taylor Jungmann's complete game in the 2009 championship series.

To be honest, it's still a bit shocking to see Texas back in Omaha after the trials and tribulations of the last three years. As fans, if we were playing with house money in the Super Regional, what should the Omaha games feel like?

Though this particular trip to Omaha has been unexpected, the appearance in Omaha is a tad more routine for the Texas player and fan than it is for the fans and players of all of the other schools that make up this year's CWS field. Check out the chart below and see if you can pick out the school that doesn't belong:

We've been here many times before.

That's cool.

Let's hope the 35th appearance also brings the 7th national title for Texas and marks the 5th straight decade in which Augie Garrido has won a national title. To get there, Texas will probably have to beat arguably the most intimidating pitcher they've seen in Omaha since beating Arizona State's Mike Leake in 2009.

Andrew Morales is 11-2, has three complete games, 136 strikeouts in 129.2 innings, only 30 walks, and opponents are only hitting .182 against him. Oh, and he just threw a complete game shutout of Oklahoma State to eliminate the Cowboys last weekend. Morales will face off against Nathan Thornhill in a battle of sub-2.00 ERAs.

It's been a pretty incredible ride these past few months and hopefully it'll last another two weeks. Here's the full schedule of CWS games:

First pitch is at 2 PM. Here are some Omaha videos to watch to get the positive mojo going. We've got:

2002 Texas baseball

2005 Texas baseball

Chance Wheeless walk off

Rupp Rowe

Vince Young Scores

Game is on ESPN and this'll be your CWS open thread.

Hook 'em!