What did we get in return for eliminating baseball?

[Cyclone42]

The thread below mentiioning Bruce Van De Velde got me wondering: what did we get in return for eliminating the Cyclone baseball program? I don't remember what his excuses were (Title IX, saving money, whatever), but it certainly has not does anything for the athletic program as a whole. If anything, football, men's basketball, and women's basketball are all the same as or worse than before the baseball program was eliminated. So what did we get?

Back when this happened, I had hoped that we could trade baseball for elevating hockey to full Division 1, but that never happened.

 

[ianoconnor]

BRING IT BACK!!!

 

[SplitIdentity]

I mentioned this last year, but I think it would be awesome to have a Big Four Tournament at Principal Park every spring.

 

[CYCLONE STATE]

We received ridicule and embarassment in return.

 

[4429 mcc]

BRING IT BACK!!!

Everyone wants to bring it back, but where the hell was everyone at games when it was a sport. Attendence was lack-luster at best.

 

[ajk4st8]

I was only a soph in HS when they canceled the program. I would LOVE to go to ISU baseball games.

 

[Rho]

I was a in high school when they droped the program and was talking to the coach to come play there.....then they droped it so I went to Nebraksa kearney to play. I much rather of stayed in iowa and played.

 

[CycloneHockey]

That is a really good question. What was gained from eliminating baseball? I love hockey, but baseball was and is my first love...

I just think, in the end, the light attendance and lack of interest in the sport by the general student body hurt the team. I would definitely like to see baseball back at ISU.

I would like to see more sports in general at ISU. Obviously everyone knows where i stand on the hockey debate. But I think that ISU needs athletic diversity. Hopefully JP can keep the cash rolling in and we can begin competing to a high level in our already established sports and explore the options of adding more in the future.

Men's soccer and gymnastics should be included in the conversation. I always look at Ohio State and I just marvel at their athletic department's size and success. I just wish ISU had more options to get out and watch the teams.

I think we have great women's programs, but what about the guys? Baseball and Soccer would have been games I'd attend regularly. I know I'm not the only one.

Too bad money always gets in the way.

 

[alaskaguy]

There was an argument that baseball was a sport that "southern schools" had an advantage over northern schools and therefore ISU could never expect to be competitive. Nevertheless, Oregon State has captured the NCAA baseball championship for the last two years.

 

[cyfan964]

Title IX my friends..... Title IX. Time to hate the NCAA again. You have to have equal amounts of scholarships given to men and women. Therefore.... no more baseball. Unless we didn't offer scholarships, which is why it is a club team now.

NCAA Gender Equity and Title IX

 

[Wesley]

The CWS will be played later and the season scooted later. People in Nebraska laugh everytime they realize Clones do not have baseball. Huskers draw 5000 per game in Haymarket. They play in front of 20k in Creighton series. Hey, there are some goof players in Iowa.

Some women's sport was retained instead - was it soccer?

 

[cygrads]

Everyone wants to bring it back, but where the hell was everyone at games when it was a sport. Attendence was lack-luster at best.

Amen to that - also if we bring a men's sport back let it be hockey!:yes:

Actually until we get the money to do it right we shouldn't bring in any additional sports.

 

[cyismydog]

I was a in high school when they droped the program and was talking to the coach to come play there.....then they droped it so I went to Nebraksa kearney to play. I much rather of stayed in iowa and played.

Did you play with Joba chamberlain?

 

[DaddyMac]

What did we get?

Less budget defecit.

 

[MNclone]

I always heard when I was at ISU that the hockey team didn't want to go D1, and that they liked their club status. Perhaps this is not correct.

 

[06_CY]

Everyone wants to bring it back, but where the hell was everyone at games when it was a sport. Attendence was lack-luster at best.

Not everyone. I couldn't give a crap if it came back. Before it does, that "stadium" is going to need a big-time facelift.

 

[Wesley]

UNO is raking in a ton of money with hockey in Omaha in the Quest Center.

 

[CapnMorgan18]

that "stadium" is going to need a big-time facelift.

i entirely second that as am a member of the club, and being from a high school team that takes pride in a good playing surface, Cap Timm field needs some definite work. perhaps if i made the spring club team, i would've definitely put some hard work into making it a better playing surface.

But otherwise, yeah I would like to see ISU field a baseball team before i graduate (I'm a freshman right now). and I'd definitely be the first kid to show up to any walk-on tryouts.

 

[Sousaclone]

Well we got one less sport to complain about and have unrealistic expectations for, granted we did something to complain about not having.

In all reality it's going to take a huge investment to make baseball profitable. We've got to have the facilities to recruit over our northern climate. College baseball started the season last week I believe. Think about what it's like in Ames right now. The team would be confined to the practice facility unless they liked practicing in parkas. I think we'd have a very hard time recruiting especially considering the low scholarships allowed in baseball. We'd end up with a baseball team that would probably be decent but they'd end up getting creamed by all of the southern teams. Plus the Big XII has a pretty good baseball division so it's not like we could easily come in and be successful.

 

[benjay]

It's a financial drain on the athletic department and we'd have to add another women's sport due to title IX. Not going to happen anytime soon folks.