He still can remember the song to which Fresno State celebrated its first national championship, in any sport, on the Rosenblatt Stadium grass in Omaha, Neb., last summer.

He still can remember staring blankly into space, with tears in his eyes as Fresno’s “Wonderdogs” celebrated on the field and his teammates laid downtrodden on the dugout floor.

Although some teammates let go of the disappointment of Omaha, Georgia closer Dean Weaver is reminded of it everyday. His locker is plastered with front pages of newspapers proclaiming Fresno’s victory, including the front page of The Red & Black that showed a teared-up Weaver watching Fresno celebrate.

“I was just watching them lift the trophy and I remember seeing Gordon Beckham, Ryan Peisel and the other veterans whose careers were over,” Weaver said. “It’s something I’ll never live down I took that loss personally. It haunted me the whole summer, I couldn’t go to bed, and it motivated me to do everything I can everyday to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.”

This season Weaver, somewhat reluctantly, stepped into the closer’s role left void by graduated Joshua Fields and hasn’t missed a beat, posting a 1.01 ERA with nine saves in nine opportunities.

“Every good team that we’ve had here has had a good anchor at the end, and I knew at the end of last season he would be the guy,” head coach David Perno said. “It was just a matter of me getting him to buy into it, and it was a little tougher than I thought. But at the end of the day, we came to the conclusion he was the man for the role, and he has taken it and run with it.”

Weaver, who finished 6-1 with a 4.24 ERA last season, has performed above and beyond expectations in his new high-pressure role, which is a testament to his competitive mentality.

“I guess you could say I’m intense like [Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan] Papelbon,” Weaver said. “I don’t look nearly as fierce as he does by any means, but that’s my mental aspect. I take it personally against hitters because they are trying to ruin my numbers and win the game, and when they step into the box, I’m not backing down.”

And because of his intensity on the mound, his teammates and coaches have the utmost confidence he will put the opponent away.

“He’s the most intense guy on the field and you don’t talk to Dean when he’s on the mound, I learned that last year,” senior catcher Bryce Massanari said. “He’s a competitor and he’s really hard on himself because he’s a perfectionist and wants to throw good every outing and he doesn’t want to give up a run, ever, or give up a hit, ever. And that’s what you want from your closer.”

But off the field, Weaver’s personality couldn’t be any different.

“He is probably one of the most sarcastic people I have ever met,” said roommate Rich Poythress. “He’s just a funny guy and could not pull more of a 180 when he gets off the mound.”

“There was one time he turned everything in our other roommate’s room upside down,” he said with a laugh. “I walked in there and he had everything in his room upside down … and left him a note saying ‘happy upside down day.’”

Weaver likes to have fun away from Foley Field, something he said comes easy for him.

“I always have a smile on my face off the field,” he said. “We need to focus on enjoying our college experience.”

Except when the time comes to get on the mound.

“When I get that call to the bullpen, I have to turn the switch,” Weaver said. “It doesn’t matter what the score is, I just have to go out there and do my job because I take it personally if the other team scores against me.”