NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) - Skip Bertman passed away at 88-years-old Friday morning, but the five-time College World Series champion's legacy will live on through his players, including Brother Martin alum Blair Barbier. The former Crusader played four years under Bertman, and during in both his first and final seasons in the Purple and Gold, Barbier helped the Tigers win national titles. "It's funny, I go back to that opening call. I asked him that question. I said 'how is this going to work? Do I have to redshirt it? I come in, how do you do it?' and the answer was 'I'm looking to win national championships. I'm going to put our best nine out there, bit necessarily our nine best players, but I'm gonna put our best nine out there. If you're in it, I'm going to put you out there to go,'" Barbier. recalled when Bertman recruited him to LSU. The Skipper's impact went beyond the diamond though. Barbier and fellow former teammate would frequent Bertman's house, after their playing days, and the time in close quarters was what stood out most. "My favorite times really weren't at the baseball field. They would have been in his kitchen, where we stayed late. We were cutting up to the tune where Mrs. Sandy would eventually yell down 'hey, Skip send the boys home! It's too late!'" Barbier recalled. The joyful memories have helped Bertman's former player throughout the early stages of the grieving process, but when the time comes to hold a procession, Barbier wants his head coach to have the best sendoff possible. "This man should be celebrated. We need to find the biggest spot in Louisiana to have this funeral because he deserves it," Barbier finished.
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