Is NCAA baseball "one-sided"?

[Keener98]

Sorry if this has been discussed somewhere before, but I dont recall seeing it. Apparently teams from the Midwest and the North are complaining about how NCAA baseball is "one-sided" towards warmer weather schools. Here is the 1st article in a series of articles regarding what the schools are trying to do do even out the playing field a little. Pretty interesting topic in my opinion and I definatly see why some schools are complaining.

 

“If you want to address equality, 80 percent of the Division I schools that play baseball are north of the Mason-Dixon Line,” said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, an active lobbyist for change.

 

"Basically, Division I baseball is in control by 20 percent of the schools in the west coast and the south. The NCAA doesn’t offer any other sport that’s so one-sided."

 

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1194180058/NCAA-baseball-is-one-sided

[OleMissCub]

"The only way to create true equity amongst college baseball is to start in June and end in August,” Keilitz said. “It’s not going to happen.’’

 

Exactly. End of discussion.

[fromthestretch]

While I agree with the complaint, I do find it odd that the Ohio State coach is the one quoted out of all the Big Ten schools. They're typically at or near the top of the conference standings. They have a very nice stadium that's only about 10-12 years old. They get good crowds for their games. Plus, they're the furthest south of any Big Ten school besides Indiana. That doesn't mean his complaint is invalid, but it might hold weight coming from the coach of Minnesota.

[Keener98]

While I agree with the complaint, I do find it odd that the Ohio State coach is the one quoted out of all the Big Ten schools. They're typically at or near the top of the conference standings. They have a very nice stadium that's only about 10-12 years old. They get good crowds for their games. Plus, they're the furthest south of any Big Ten school besides Indiana. That doesn't mean his complaint is invalid, but it might hold weight coming from the coach of Minnesota.

 

 

While you are right about Ohio State getting good crowds to games and being at or near the top every year, I think this statement says it all.

 

LSU averaged 7,590 fans in 41 home dates last season to lead the nation. Ohio State led the Big Ten by averaging 1,863 fans in 19 home games.

 

When you look at those 2 numbers right there I can understand why the Ohio State coach would be the 1 quoted. Almost a 6000 person difference in average crowds. I mean if Ohio State is only averaging 1800 a game and they are one of the better Big Ten schools, thats pretty sad.

[fromthestretch]

While I agree with the complaint, I do find it odd that the Ohio State coach is the one quoted out of all the Big Ten schools. They're typically at or near the top of the conference standings. They have a very nice stadium that's only about 10-12 years old. They get good crowds for their games. Plus, they're the furthest south of any Big Ten school besides Indiana. That doesn't mean his complaint is invalid, but it might hold weight coming from the coach of Minnesota.

 

 

While you are right about Ohio State getting good crowds to games and being at or near the top every year, I think this statement says it all.

 

LSU averaged 7,590 fans in 41 home dates last season to lead the nation. Ohio State led the Big Ten by averaging 1,863 fans in 19 home games.

 

When you look at those 2 numbers right there I can understand why the Ohio State coach would be the 1 quoted. Almost a 6000 person difference in average crowds. I mean if Ohio State is only averaging 1800 a game and they are one of the better Big Ten schools, thats pretty sad.

 

Fair enough. That's definitely a big difference.

 

Let's say they push the start date of the season to April 1. For many teams, any increase you have in attendance would be minimal the second half of the season. The bulk of the student population is gone by the first or second week of May, so you're really counting on the locals to come out and support the team after that. After several years, you might be able to build up more of a local fan base, but initially, you're not going to see much as far as fan support. On top of that, the month of April isn't exactly warm for a lot of northern schools. You're still going to have some games in brisk weather, although a lot of the northern schools would probably still play some early season games further south. That leaves the bulk of the home games for the second half of the season, when again, the students are gone.

 

As far as recruiting, you would still see the best players going to schools in warmer climates, at least for the foreseeable future. One reason is the tradition those schools have. Another is that you can still practice outdoors during the offseason in a lot of those places. To me, that's a really big selling point.

 

Furthermore, many tournaments held during the week of spring break would take a big hit. I believe there are a few in Florida and California. Schools probably aren't going to pay to send a team down to Florida for a week to play in games that don't count, and it becomes more difficult to hold those tournaments during a week when classes are going on.

[NewUserName]

they can do whatever they want to make the schedule more equatable. The southern/western teams would still have an advantage. Without looking it up I would imagine that most recruiting is predominately regional(yes I understand there are exceptions, but I would bet that a large majority of players are going to schools in their region of the country). Younger players in the south and west have much more time for practice and games. My nephew who lives in California is just about done with his spring season(about 20 games). They are going to take a little over a month off for vacations and stuff and than have a fall season(another 20 games). My kids are just starting their only season(18 games) and it will be over by early July so families can have time for summer vacations. Needless to say, all this extra time playing and developing when they are youngsters will only lead to a much larger talent pool to chose from when they are HS seniors. I think this is also why the SEC, Southern Cal and southern Big 12 teams seem to dominate College FB.

[jersey cubs fan]

they can do whatever they want to make the schedule more equatable. The southern/western teams would still have an advantage. Without looking it up I would imagine that most recruiting is predominately regional(yes I understand there are exceptions, but I would bet that a large majority of players are going to schools in their region of the country). Younger players in the south and west have much more time for practice and games. My nephew who lives in California is just about done with his spring season(about 20 games). They are going to take a little over a month off for vacations and stuff and than have a fall season(another 20 games). My kids are just starting their only season(18 games) and it will be over by early July so families can have time for summer vacations. Needless to say, all this extra time playing and developing when they are youngsters will only lead to a much larger talent pool to chose from when they are HS seniors. I think this is also why the SEC, Southern Cal and southern Big 12 teams seem to dominate College FB.

 

I don't think the weather plays a factor at all in football. You don't need sunny skies to practice football. There's a lot of reasons why certain schools dominate, but it's not like USC has always been at the top, or those souther Big 12 schools. Northern schools have been quite successful in football.

[NewUserName]

they can do whatever they want to make the schedule more equatable. The southern/western teams would still have an advantage. Without looking it up I would imagine that most recruiting is predominately regional(yes I understand there are exceptions, but I would bet that a large majority of players are going to schools in their region of the country). Younger players in the south and west have much more time for practice and games. My nephew who lives in California is just about done with his spring season(about 20 games). They are going to take a little over a month off for vacations and stuff and than have a fall season(another 20 games). My kids are just starting their only season(18 games) and it will be over by early July so families can have time for summer vacations. Needless to say, all this extra time playing and developing when they are youngsters will only lead to a much larger talent pool to chose from when they are HS seniors. I think this is also why the SEC, Southern Cal and southern Big 12 teams seem to dominate College FB.

 

I don't think the weather plays a factor at all in football. You don't need sunny skies to practice football. There's a lot of reasons why certain schools dominate, but it's not like USC has always been at the top, or those souther Big 12 schools. Northern schools have been quite successful in football.

 

True, but I think you would have to agree the recent trend has been very southern and western. Florida is not dominating because they are bringing in a bunch of kids from Ohio and Michigan. Anyway, this is not a FB conversation.

[Coach C]

Well really, why stop at baseball? It's the same problem in football, IMHO as well. All of the big games are being played in a warm climate. I'd love to see how they match up in a near blizzard conditions.

[CubbieBum]

When I covered the Ball State team for two years I talked to the coach about this a couple times. He said it will never be equal or fair but it could be a lot closer to it. He said the biggest thing would be a uniform start date for when practices can start that is later in the year. As it is southern teams start getting real batting practice and probably more importantly fielding practice a couple months before any northern team can. Coach Beals told me that some years the first time they field a ball on grass is in the first inning of their first game.

[UK1679666180]

I'm ready for Florida A&M to complain about how there is an unfair advantage for the northern schools in regards to Hockey on how all the good hockey players almost always go up north.

 

Geography makes it difficult but there isn't anything that could be done, nor should there be.