***Competition with wrestling?
I haven't seen recent stats, but wrestling was the third most watched sport on Big Ten Network.
http://www.win-magazine.com/2011/11/can-...wrestling/
Full disclosure, I'm biased as a former wrestler and if you don't understand wrestling in the midwest, I can't explain it to ya.
Either way March Madness crowds out any possible interest in baseball until it's over except for the deadhards.
***Pushing the season back means kids who are MOSTLY not receiving a full ride scholarship are obligated to finish the regular season in the second summer term and have to give up participating in the elite summer leagues where they face even higher competition to bolster their chances at a pro career. You can't push it back without hurting the players.
I could be wrong, but I fully expect that with the push for autonomy that the P5 will add more schollies. MLB has even brought up possibly funding a scholarship. If schools see that they can turn a profit they'll commit resources.
***Attendance? Come on, there were six programs to average more than 5,000 per game in the last records available on the NCAA website. Only 32 averaged more than 2,000 and 1,211 put you in the top 50.
Exactly my point, those are lousy numbers. The name brands of some of these institutions suggest they should easily outdraw minor league teams.
***Baseball is a revenue sport at a tiny smattering of schools.
It would be at more if half of the country didn't have to play the first third of the season on the road. No reason that baseball shouldn't be a revenue sport, but you have to do what is right for everybody, not just those below the Mason Dixon Line.
***I've read just about everything Delany has said on the topic and my all-time favorite is going to a true regional format in order to guarantee a northern team makes the CWS.
It was that way prior to 1984ish. I am in agreement with you on this point. I don't agree with affirmative action for northern schools. The college world series must be earned the same as the final four, I just don't think its fair or financially astute for the northern half of the country to play baseball in February and March. Knowing that the those that are blessed with good weather will not change the system that provides an unfair and continuing advantage, I support secession. (An Ohio boy talking secession, LOL!!!)