By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Let’s just go ahead and get this out in the open; I know next to nothing about college baseball and I am perfectly fine with that.

I don’t watch any games during the regular season. I don’t follow it at all during the tournament. I’m not even sure I could name a current player or coach. I’m about as knowledgeable about college baseball as and member of Metallica is about playing the piccolo.

So, why in the hell would someone who has absolutely no interest in a particular sport spend his time writing about it? Because, even I can appreciate when something extraordinary is happening.

Like most people who seem to get their information off social media, I found out about the success of the Florida State baseball team through Twitter. More specifically, I realized the Seminoles were a part of their own 40/40 club; at least 40 wins per season over the past 40 years.

That’s like Georgia winning 9 football games, or Duke winning over 30 basketball games, every year since Episode IV of Star Wars was released.

From 1980-1991, the Seminoles even scoffed at 40 wins by never winning fewer than 50 games in any of those seasons.

I know Florida State is viewed as a football school because college football is “king” and all, but can’t some guys who don’t play in the rain get a little love.

I do have a question though: Why has Mike Martin, Florida State’s head coach for the past 37 years, never been offered a Major League head coaching position? You would assume that someone with his track record would be a hot commodity at the next level.

Is it a Mike Krzyzewski/Dean Smith situation where Martin just doesn’t have any interest? Could it be that Major League Baseball is the one professional league that doesn’t poach coaches from the college ranks? Seriously, I’ve never cared enough in the past to find out, but I’ve got to know.

Besides the longevity of their success, which really is incredible, there is one other stat that makes this streak even more unbelievable. During this stretch the Seminoles have never won a College World Series. Not a single championship. You would imagine that over the past 40 years they would’ve accidentally stumbled into winning at least one. I mean, even Coastal Carolina has won a title over that period.

This isn’t an “always a bridesmaid maid, never a bride” type moment, either. This is more like being engaged 40 different times, only to be left at the altar for every single occurrence.

I was originally going to write about the Miami Hurricanes streak of 44 consecutive years in the playoffs coming to an end this season (thank you again, Twitter), but I think what Florida State has been able to accomplish- and in some cases, not accomplish- is even more impressive.

I can’t think of any program, on any level, that has sustained that level of winning over such a period of time, and never reach the pinnacle of their sport.

I have no idea if they will finish this 40th season off with their first title, or if they’re even favored to win it.

Truth be told, it doesn’t matter. It’s been a long time coming for the Seminole faithful and while I woke up today having no earthly idea who Mike Martin was, I’m rooting for them.

You’ll just have to let me know how it turns out.