College Baseball to Move Season Start Back

[MylesKnight]

After years of complaining from the northern schools, with the Big Ten being the most visible (they aren't mentioned in this article though), the NCAA has approved the starting of the college baseball season to be pushed back.. Beginning in 2008, practice will begin on February 1st for all D-I teams.

What I find mildly amusing is schools such as those in the Big Ten claiming unfairness in any respect.... You want to talk about a reason to gripe, how about the Bowl Cartel Series...

Anyway, here's the story link

[Pumpy Tudors]

Does anyone in the Big Ten even care about baseball? As far as overall records are concerned, the Big Ten isn't much better than the Sun Belt. Are any of their teams a serious contender for making the CWS each year? Maybe Michigan?

Anyway, I went to a school in the south (if you want to call New Orleans "the south"), and I always wondered about how the northern teams dealt with it. I mean, it's rare to see a team from the northern half of the US be dominating or even competitive. Out of the top 30 teams from last year, only Oregon State and Nebraska could really be considered "northern," and Corvallis is relatively mild weather-wise. If this schedule change helps the northern teams develop, maybe we'll actually see the dominating teams come from somewhere other than the SEC, ACC, or the state of Texas.

Perhaps I'm dreaming, but maybe if there were better competition, it could help build nationwide interest in college baseball.

Yeah, I'm probably dreaming.

[dawgfan]

Washington has been a pretty strong program for the last 10+ years, making the post-season on a regular basis and coming very close to the CWS multiple times. Pushing the season back some will definitely help the Huskies play on a more level ground with the southern latitude schools like ASU and USC, and might be that extra little bump that gets them into the CWS in the future.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Perhaps I'm dreaming, but maybe if there were better competition, it could help build nationwide interest in college baseball.

Yeah, I'm probably dreaming.

I think it will happen. I think in 25 years, college baseball will be almost as big as college basketball.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I think it will happen. I think in 25 years, college baseball will be almost as big as college basketball.

Maybe. I really want to be a bigger fan of college baseball, but there's one little problem that nags at me...

*TINK*

...i.e. the sound an aluminum bat connecting with the ball.

What would be incredibly cool is if the EA college baseball game had an option to switch the bats from aluminum to wood...

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Does anyone in the Big Ten even care about baseball? As far as overall records are concerned, the Big Ten isn't much better than the Sun Belt. Are any of their teams a serious contender for making the CWS each year? Maybe Michigan?

Anyway, I went to a school in the south (if you want to call New Orleans "the south"), and I always wondered about how the northern teams dealt with it. I mean, it's rare to see a team from the northern half of the US be dominating or even competitive. Out of the top 30 teams from last year, only Oregon State and Nebraska could really be considered "northern," and Corvallis is relatively mild weather-wise. If this schedule change helps the northern teams develop, maybe we'll actually see the dominating teams come from somewhere other than the SEC, ACC, or the state of Texas.

Perhaps I'm dreaming, but maybe if there were better competition, it could help build nationwide interest in college baseball.

Yeah, I'm probably dreaming.

Ohio State and Minnesota have the best programs in the Big Ten. Minnesota used to play some games in the Metrodome early in the year so I'm not sure the early start date has ever been a problem for them. Michigan won a National Championship back in the early 90's or late 80's but it was taken away due to some NCAA violations. I think they have recovered in recent years and have been in contention for the Big Ten recently

Ohio State was 23rd in the NCAA in average attendance and no other Big Ten team was in the top 50. Even though the early start in the South puts Big Ten teams at a competitive disadvantage, I don't think this will have any impact on fan interest.

Here's the list of the top 25, how is Nebraska able to play so many home games? I know Omaha is the site of the CWS but it can't be any warmer than most Big Ten cities can it?

2005 Division I Baseball AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE
Team Dates Total Average
1. LSU 36 270,300 7,508
2. Arkansas 28 200,378 7,156
3. Miss. St. 33 203,276 6,160
4. Texas A&M 26 153,533 5,905
5. Texas 39 204,414 5,241
6. Nebraska 35 174,435 4,984
7. Florida State 36 163,029 4,529
8. Mississippi 39 170,152 4,363
9. Alabama 33 137,671 4,172
10. Rice 34 141,104 4,150
11. Clemson 32 129,553 4,049
12. Tulane 39 145,084 3,720
13. Wichita State 39 141,927 3,639
14. South Carolina 33 112,984 3,424
15. East Carolina 27 87,261 3,232
16. Southern Miss 34 109,449 3,219
17. Baylor 36 109,621 3,045
18. Auburn 35 105,720 3,021
19. Hawaii 36 97,268 2,702
20. Arizona State 32 84,933 2,654
21. Houston 32 83,484 2,609
22. Florida 43 112,110 2,607
23. OHIO STATE 18 46,266 2,570
24. Texas Tech 31 73,236 2,362
25. Miami (Fla.) 38 88,990 2,342

[sovereignstar]

I imagine that there is quite a climate difference between Minneapolis and Lincoln, especially during March/April. I'll see what I can find for weather numbers.

[sovereignstar]

About a 7 degree temp difference in each of months. Snow is double though.

[Craptacular]

This will really help the Wisconsin program.


Oh, wait.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Craptacular

This will really help the Wisconsin program.


Oh, wait.

[Craptacular]

I can sort of understand why the Badgers figured they had to drop baseball to comply with Title IX, especially given the financial condition of the athletic department at the time. However, if the other 10 schools in the conference can find a way, why can't we, especially since the department is in MUCH better shape now. We should be able to afford a few more women's sports now, such as gymnastics and fencing, and be able to maintain the ratio. Otherwise, they could try making a case for the other two ways to satisfy Title IX.

[sovereignstar]

Goes to show how much I know about Big Ten baseball. I knew that Ohio State and Minny were the powers of late, but had no idea that Wisconsin had dropped their program.

It wasn't but 2-3 years ago that Minnesota was considering dropping the sport as well because of Title IX issues.

[Craptacular]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Goes to show how much I know about Big Ten baseball. I knew that Ohio State and Minny were the powers of late, but had no idea that Wisconsin had dropped their program.

UW dropped it in 1991, when Barry was just about to bring the athletic department out of the dumps.

[sovereignstar]

Well that was quite awhile ago then. :/

[st.cronin]

I believe that Paul Quantrill was the last Badger in the Majors.