A lifelong passion of mine has been the butt of many office jokes in the last few days.

In the middle of Tiger country, with a husband who graduated from Southern Mississippi and three staff members with MSU on their diplomas, my office is no place for a Rebel.

But that hasn’t stopped me from loading Rebel Vision online to watch streaming video from Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field lately.

Friday and Saturday went well. Ole Miss won the first two games of their NCAA Regional — the first steps on the road to Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series.

Sunday night was rough. The Rebs gave up a six-run lead in one inning, later losing to the lower seeded Western Kentucky team.

But all was well Monday night as the Rebel baseball team took the win and the Regional title on the back of an outstanding pitching performance.

Success in the postseason is nothing new for the Rebels of late, but for those of us who weren’t born yesterday, these late-season wins are something special.

My dad started taking me to Ole Miss baseball games when I was 8. And from 1989 to 2003, there were some not so good years to be an Ole Miss baseball fan.

As a child I sat in an often nearly empty stadium watching the Rebs play — and lose.

Children in Oxford these days don’t know that sorrow.

For as long as I can remember, my family has planned summer vacations around the SEC baseball tournament, regional play and the hope of the College World Series.

My parents still attend every home game, and if I-55 weren’t so long, I would too.

Luckily, through the wonders of Internet technology, I can now sit in my Natchez office and watch the games live. It’s almost as good as being there, just ask the MSU grads in our office who heard every Hotty Toddy and roar from the crowd Monday night.

Monday’s game was great. But it’s what happened after the game that made me proud of my alma mater.

After the teams greeted each other offering handshakes and sometimes hugs, the Rebel players set about to do something you don’t always see in sports.

The winning athletes pointed fingers of praise away from themselves and into the booming — and very large — crowd.

The entire team started near the first-base line and walked all the way around the perimeter of the field offering high-fives and applause for the fans on hand.

They pointed to the crowd as if to say, “This is your win too.”

They clapped for the fans, just like the fans had done for them.

And they waved their appreciation to a packed house of supporters.

What if we all did that?

Chosen employee of the month at work — it isn’t your honor; it’s a reflection of the team with which you work.

An elected official lands a major car manufacturer for the county — no doing of his own, only possible because of the great workforce in town.

A high school senior is valedictorian — thanks only to great study partners and friends.

It could be a different world.

Idealistic? Sure. But for a kid who planned a trip to Omaha, Neb., at the start of every college baseball season, well, it’s par for the course.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.