I thought this was an interesting enough topic that I emailed a question in to Skips Scoop. He answered it in the 3/5/2012 Edition (follow link below)
Basically:
1. We are in this thing to play in the NCAA College World Series. Anything that would "upset the apple cart" would not work. He supported the idea of the 14 Fall games that would count towards the Spring RPI.
I'm with him on this one. I just was excited about the thought of attending more IU games in the brand new Kaufman Stadium on a beautiful summer night.
happen. It's taken right from the article itself ... "the fall games would be optional and the trick would be to lure teams from the power conferences to come north in the fall."
So ... as an "option" ... the SEC or ACC schools are gonna spend extra money operate their baseball teams in the fall ... in competition with their football programs ... and then spend still more money to travel north ... again in competition with their football programs ... to perhaps lose ... all to make things more equitable for the northern teams? Ummm ... I don't think so.
The real solution will probably come in 25 years ... when global warming gives us the same climate that Mobile, Alabama or Gainesville, Florida have now. That's probably what it will take to end the inequity IMHO.
Posted on 3/2 1:48 PM | IP: Logged
Agreed - that is not likely - but Cal State Fullerton did visit Vanderbilt for a fall series this past fall - so maybe even a "northern" southern school sees the benefit of it.
Posted on 3/2 2:23 PM | IP: Logged
BCS conference.
Not that all good baseball teams are in the SEC, ACC or even down south ... but some or all of these schools have to buy in for Fall baseball to have any real chance to succeed IMHO.
The real secret is to show those schools that Fall baseball has a benefit to them, which might be tough since much of the Fall down south can be hot, humid and miserable for them.
Posted on 3/4 11:40 AM | IP: Logged
Very interesting article.
From my perspective as an IU Baseball fan, what this would mean to me:
1. More Home games 2. More Home games in the brand new Kaufman Field. Summer night games. 3. Better weather and less rain outs at the home games 4. If they DID have other conferences join in, more post season opportunities that I would enjoy following.
Don't get me wrong, IU making it to the College World Series in Omaha would be an absolute dream. But from my selfish perspective, I would enjoy more IU Baseball Home games during the Summer/good weather.
Thanks for the article link. Its an interesting conversation piece.
Would you mind sharing your reasons for being against this possibility ?
Posted on 3/1 2:32 PM | IP: Logged
the BTN summer games at a time when their programming is dead. Fans could follow teams home and away. I'd be surprised if the BTN is not leading the charge for Summer Ball.
Posted on 3/2 1:42 PM | IP: Logged
Absolutley Rex...
First of all I agree with all your positives - more IU baseball at home under much better weather conditions. Better weather - night games = more fans!
However - I am just not one to give up. I don't want to give in to the southern schools that run NCAA D1 Baseball. I'd rather fight them - along with other conferences to do simple things like - push back the start date - MLB doesn't start until April for a reason - CAUSE it's too COLD to play before then. How slanted would their schedules be if all the northern MLB teams played all the southern/west coast teams on the road the first 6 weeks of the season - AND the northern teams were not allowed to practice in FL or AZ but must instead use "indoor facilities?"
Pretty preposterous isn't it? But that's exactly what NCAA baseball has defacto mandated.
Why the heck do we start in mid February?
Later start date - forces Southern teams to travel because they won;t be able to get all the northern freebies anymore
Later start date - means less classes missed for student athletes.
All conferences limit their oversigning like the B1G - huge disadvantage when you don't know how many kids will sign pro - or leave otherwise.
More regionals held by more Northern Schools...right now the NCAA barely ackowledges there are college baseball Stadiums north of Nashville, TN
But just the thought of "throwing our hands up" and saying - oh we can't compete with the big boys down south so we are gonna form our own leageue really freaks me out.
While the playing field isn't remotely level - I've never been one to take my ball and go home!
Posted on 3/1 3:04 PM | IP: Logged
Hi Mike-
Thanks for the response. I agree with everything you said. From what I have gathered from other articles (and I am linking one below), Big Ten Commissioner Delaney has tried to to exactly what you suggest:
1. Change the Start Date 2. Add 2 teams to the College World Series, giving "Northern" teams 2 regionals, 2 super regionals and 2 guaranteed spots in Omaha.
The NCAA's response was No. and No.
Knowing that we (the Big Ten) did not just give up without a fight, I am O.K if the B1G decides to do this. It would make the IU Baseball Season more enjoyable for me personally. It would mean better attendance and better fan support for IU Baseball. And it would give me more chances to see the Hoosier Baseball team.
I wonder what Coach Smith's opinion on this issue is ?
Now that makes some sense, Rex...I like the additional teams added with regionals and super regionals added - and yes guaranteed 2 Super Regionals for the "northern" teams.
Or here's an idea that will be shot to hell...Geographic Regionals and Super Regionals
Teams actually play in playoffs versus teams in their own actual geographic region.
That way TCU, Rice and Texas can battle for their spot Alabama and Georgia can battle for theirs instead of Quinnipiac and Miami of OH traveling to Texas to battle the longhorns and Arkansas...on some 1975 astro turf...but that's another story...
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