OMAHA, Neb. — North Carolina’s Scott Forbes had just wrapped up a College World Series news conference Friday when Oklahoma’s Skip Johnson walked into the room.
He was there so they could pose together for a picture of the head coaches next to the NCAA Division I baseball championship trophy, a longtime annual tradition that takes place the day before the start of the national finals.
“Hey, buddy,” Forbes said, beaming and extending a hand to his counterpart.
“You thought we were going to fight?” Johnson said, turning to reporters.
The college baseball lifers have known each other for decades, since they spent long days and nights scouting the same talent showcases and engaging in recruiting battles during lengthy runs as assistants.