The Northern climate and the NCAA's unwillingness to alter seasons to marginally assist northern schools, would it be in WMU's best interests to shut-down its baseball and softball programs?
The funds could be used to re-establish men's track and cross country and to possibly create a women's lacrosse program. Or possibly something else (men's & women's swim & dive would be great, too!).
Interest and participation in baseball in Michigan is dwindling rapidly, anyway, and with the NCAA rules, northern teams are at an outrageously unfair disadvantage.
We sure have a nice, underused stadium
(10-09-2015 12:00 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote: [ -> ]We sure have a nice, underused stadium
And that "nice" space/location may be better served with a lacrosse field, or indoor track.
Fantastic newly renovated baseball venue with a lot of history, and a hot bed of softball talent in SW Michigan. Terrible idea.
(10-09-2015 12:51 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote: [ -> ]Fantastic newly renovated baseball venue with a lot of history, and a hot bed of softball talent in SW Michigan. Terrible idea.
SW Michigan is also a hot-bed of track talent, swim talent and, given the rapid growth and popularity of the sport, lacrosse talent.
And NCAA rules for those sports seasons don't handicap our teams.
They should tear down both fields and build a massive monument in honor of Nacho.
They should dig it up, put in a water park in the image of Gull Lake.
(10-09-2015 01:34 PM)rtletterman Wrote: [ -> ]They should dig it up, put in a water park in the image of Gull Lake.
Naw. Couldn't use it enough because there are so few warm weather months...
(10-09-2015 01:03 PM)GullLake Wrote: [ -> ]And NCAA rules for those sports seasons don't handicap our teams.
How so? If you're referring to climate, I don't see it being a major issue. Teams in the north simply travel south for pre-season baseball/softball tournaments. There are a lot of positives to this. The travel allows for great team bonding, and the tournaments themselves provide good competition and an opportunity to play a variety of contrasting styles of teams. Not to mention, if you push back the season any later, then it goes way beyond the academic calendar and into the summer months.
(10-09-2015 01:54 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote: [ -> ] (10-09-2015 01:03 PM)GullLake Wrote: [ -> ]And NCAA rules for those sports seasons don't handicap our teams.
How so? If you're referring to climate, I don't see it being a major issue. Teams in the north simply travel south for pre-season baseball/softball tournaments. There are a lot of positives to this. The travel allows for great team bonding, and the tournaments themselves provide good competition and an opportunity to play a variety of contrasting styles of teams. Not to mention, if you push back the season any later, then it goes way beyond the academic calendar and into the summer months.
Unfortunately, climate is a major issue when the season begins in February and northern schools have to schedule so many games away.
In general, northern schools don’t even try to schedule home games before the middle of March due to the climate. Even if the field is generally playable, the health risk to the players is an even greater concern. And, of course, fan support isn’t there since they don’t want to travel and then sit for three hours in miserable conditions. It’s just reality. Northern teams lose the chance to play a more balanced home and away schedule.
The NCAA, led by the Southern/Western schools have strongly opposed pushing the season back a few weeks, or even shortening it by 10 games or so. They clearly are not interested in growing the sport in the north.
And for northern schools, why put millions into field/stadium maintenance and renovations when the facilities will be effectively abandoned as soon as decent weather arrives?
In short, we're not competing on an even field with teams from the south and they don't care. Maybe it is time to consider using those resources for other sports.
With the popularity in soccer, and success of our soccer programs, it would be great to have a centralized soccer complex on or near main campus. It's currently located in the Parkview campus.
Track isn't coming back. Ever. Well, check that...if a donor gives enough money to fully fund a program they would consider it.
I don't see any "new" programs starting up that aren't at the very least revenue neutral. Could lacrosse be that program? I don't know.
Makes sense, build up the baseball stadium, sink millions and drop the sport.
Don't laugh, that is exactly what happened with swimming. Gubment work.
Climate change is on our side.
I would rather keep baseball than gain track. But all a matter of perspective.
(10-09-2015 07:44 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote: [ -> ]Climate change is on our side.
Lol. You are still MVP stampede member Hiller.