Monday, May 9, 2011

Hawkeye Baseball: Does Anyone Care?

As Nebraska gets ready to join the Big 10 Conference in July, the Huskers hope to add more fire power to the league than just Football.  The Huskers record might not show it this season but the Big Red will be the team to beat in baseball.

Yes, baseball, not something the Big 10 is known for, at least not like the Big 10, SEC, PAC-12, ACC ore even the Valley for that matter.  If my research is correct (I assume it is) the last Big 10 team to win the College World Series is Ohio State in 1966.  The last Big 10 to qualify for the CWS is Michigan in 1984. 
College baseball geeks will tell you that this is because all of the Big 10 schools are "Northern".  They have a point, but with the money and expectations in the Big 10 that's a down right pitiful showing on a stage that is huge for the NCAA. How big?  The NCAA College Baseball tournament is 2nd only to the basketball tournament for the NCAA.

Mike Anderson
The question is, will the addition of Nebraska rise the level of Big 10 baseball?  Or will Nebraska recent baseball success be forgotten with the conference transition?

Tom Shatel of the Omaha World Herald wants to know the same thing.  In his column Sunday he almost dares Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne to fire Head Coach Mike Anderson.

But I have to ask, with Nebraska moving to the Big 10 is is really that good of a job that can attract a big name coach?  The answer is no.  That's even being the "southern" most school in the league and the best baseball facilities in the Big 10.

Jack Dahm
Look at Iowa, there's no reason the Hawks should be at the bottom of the Big 10.  Think about it, Iowa is the ONLY D-1 program in the state!  Being the only fish in the ocean and it's proximity to Omaha and the CWS you would think there would be more passion for Hawkeye hardball, there just isn't. 

This topic will be discussed further Tuesday morning on my radio show, TNT on 1460 KXNO.  ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson will join me and Tim at 6:30 AM so make sure to listen live on air or on line.

The sad thing is, I think in the Big 10, women's field hockey is more popular than baseball and that's just not right.
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1 comment:

  1. Jason GarnatzMay 10, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    college baseball is all but ignored by the Iowa media and thus, an afterthought for most of Iowa. Perhaps if the Iowa media covered the game a little bit more, there would be more of a fan interest in the game.

    As a Husker fan, it's sad to see how far the Husker program has fallen under Mike Anderson, yet TO has done and probably will be nothing about it.

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