@PABaseball posted:The way I interpreted the new model was that Northern schools are good and would be better if we started later with warmer weather and it would reduce costs. That was the main point I took from it, everything else was an additional benefit - like attendance. The attendance is a moot point because once May 1st hits and finals start there is a mass exodus of students, professors, and interested parents going to games anyway. The costs will add up on the back end as well once students are kicked out of dorms the week finals end and players are going to be moved into dorms are most leases on off campus housing end mid May-June1 with many only being 10 month leases.
The truth is that a lot of programs are going to go the way of BGSU if the season starts on Feb 14, and they probably should. Traveling is too expensive and hard to justify when your team goes 12-42. I'm for the season starting later, but I'm also for a shorter season in general.
I did mention that season began later many years ago. They moved it back to February because teams up north complaining that southern programs were already out on field weeks before they were supposed to. That resulted in rules as to when coaches can and cannot work with the team. I don't see why baseball players can't show up earlier on campus during January. Coaches can't recruit then anyway!
The earlier schedule allows northern teams to travel south to play a month before conference play begins. I remember the days of 5 games per week, every week with coaches having concerns that you can't forget that these players are students first. APR #s were not good.
I agree with you on attendance being a moot point. However it's nice to have thousands of fans on your home turf.
The whole thing doesn't matter to me, I don't have a player, I am just confused as to why go backwards, the way I see it. The traveling to find opponents in your division would pose an issue, but no more than it is for northern teams to travel south.
I have sat in the stands with parents of opposing teams, and they and the players love, I mean really love being in Florida, February, March.
I mean seriously, the beach is 3.8 miles away!