(03-24-2014 06:15 PM)Hardball Owl Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 04:49 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 04:32 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 03:50 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 03:16 PM)I45owl Wrote:  Wow. That can't be allowed to stand - either Astros or CUSA should give in. Both Rice and UH belong in that tourney.

I don't think there is a snowball's chance of either of those happening.

Not for next year, I assume that's a done deal. But, for 2016 and beyond, I have to think that the tournament will suffer without both teams being there on a yearly basis.

It's just Rice that's out in 2015. UH is still a participant. The line-up for 2015 includes A&M, Houston, Baylor, Nebraska, LSU, Mississippi State per J. Duarte.

So what's the real story?

1.Astros had no choice but to move tourney a week later, and because of CUSA schedule, Rice got left out?

or

2. Rice effectively had a choice, and chose not to be in Minute Maid tourney?

or

3. Astros chose for their own reasons to leave Rice out?

or

4. Astros chose to move tourney back for their own reasons, and that just happened to leave Rice out?

I suspect the Astros view the Minute Maid tourney (Houston College Classic) almost entirely through the lens of what is most likely to encourage fans to show up for Astros games. I'd think a later date would promote that, and having college teams that will draw the most fans to the tourney would also promote that.

Or, if you want to believe in conspiracies...

5. Jim Crane, the current Astros owner, who pitched for Central Missouri State University, was irritated with Wayne for not regularly scheduling the Mules, so he moved the tournament date so Rice could not participate due to their CUSA commitments.

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