Right Field Ragers Building Special Connection with Rob Vaughn

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Through all the ups and downs to the start of Rob Vaughn's tenure in Tuscaloosa, from Zane Adams' eight shutout innings to clinch a series win over No. 1 Arkansas in 2023 to going two-and-out in Hattiesburg last summer, the Right Field Ragers have been here through it all.

The Alabama Baseball student section, colloquially known as the Right Field Ragers, has built a uniquely special bond with Vaughn—a rarity in the days of NIL and the transfer portal.

"Rob has made it pretty clear from the jump that he really loves us being out there and that it really is truly earnest that it does mean the world to him." The Right Field Ragers X/Twitter admin, who requested to be anonymous, told Tide 100.9, "No shot to any other coaches on campus, but the way Rob specifically engages with us and has a familiarity with all of us that are out there for every game is truly one of one."

One way that Vaughn has connected with the students in the right field terrace is by writing them a handwritten note on a baseball before each game.

"We do it every game," said Vaughn, following Saturday's double header sweep, "I started doing that my first year. I give it to the right fielder before the first inning of every game, and he tosses it up there."

Following Friday's 19-4 blowout victory over Rhode Island, Vaughn complimented the Ragers commitment to showing up despite the season opener loss to Washington State the previous Friday and an embarrassing yet winning effort against Alabama State on Wednesday, even pointing out the wall of beer cans the Ragers built in right during the win.

"Did anyone see that beer wall in right today?" Vaughn noted to the media in the closing remarks of his postgame presser, "That thing was electric. The Ragers were unbelievable. They showed up on Friday night, and we laid an absolute egg. And I was wondering, like, 'alright, we'll see what they do tonight'. And man, they packed that thing out again. And anytime you've got a beer wall I can see from the dugout, I'm all in on that. So, shoutout to those guys and girls out there."

Tasked with a twin bill on short notice Saturday morning, the Ragers still showed up.

"Those guys have been incredible, even today in game one," said Vaughn following the Saturday double header, "Just showing up [...] that thing was rocking in the first game. And then you have the diehards, man, they stuck it out with us the whole time. [...] It matters. They matter. And they impact the game. That's what I want to make sure they know, it's not just 'hey, it's cool you show up, and it fills it up out there'. They play a role in us winning. I think it's a huge thing for them to take a lot of pride in."

When asked to describe right field, the Ragers said that they have two jobs on gamedays: "drink as much as we can bring in, and make whatever poor soul they [the opposing team] send into RF hate his life for nine innings."

But right field is more than just another place to party with friends; it represents what they love about college athletics and the University of Alabama.

"Right field feels like one of the last bastions of the college athletics we grew up with," the Ragers told Tide 100.9, "Yeah, we use NIL and the portal like everyone else, but more than any other major sport, it feels like our baseball team is here because they love 'Bama. As a student section, it feels like we're as much a part of it because we're out there supporting guys who love this place just like we do, and it feels like we help shape the identity of the team and culture."

And in Vaughn's tenure, the fun has been in the winnin' in Sewell-Thomas for the Ragers. Across Vaughn's first three seasons in Tuscaloosa, the Ragers have helped the Crimson Tide to a 53-13 home record, which works out to 75 percent.

The cherry on top would be a Tuscaloosa Regional in June. The University of Alabama's class of 2026, the seniors, were part of the 2023 Tuscaloosa Regional, where the Crimson Tide swept the competition en route to their first Super Regional appearance since 2010.

To the Ragers, it would mean everything.

"There's just nothing like hosting, and it's impossible to explain, without experiencing it, what that energy is like."

The Crimson Tide returns to Sewell-Thomas Stadium on March 3 to take on Jacksonville State following a four-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Southern Miss.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.