Spring Sports Arms Race: SEC Pushing Baseball, B1G Pushing Lacrosse

Submitted by maizeonblueaction on

I was kind of searching around for more B1G lacrosse news and details, and I found this good article about a seeming showdown in the world of which spring sports will become relevant in the war for non-football content: http://www.collegecrosse.com/2013/6/6/4403294/college-lacrosse-baseball-and-espn

Basically, it sounds like the SEC is pushing baseball, which is their big spring sport, to compete with lacrosse. It's probably more like Big Ten hockey in that regard, as it's a sport conference schools are into, and the conference is the best nationally at it. ESPN is in charge of broadcasting both sports, but it sounds like they aren't giving lacrosse much love in terms of broadcasts (which could have pushed Hopkins to join the B1G, for broadcasting purposes alone, as even ESPNU isn't showing many regular season games). It sounds like the sports could be complementary, as they don't quite match up in time, but baseball generally has much more of a national following anyway, so it sounds like it's getting more play. What could be interesting (if seemingly unlikely) is if some schools that play lacrosse feel like their product is getting shut out of the national stage, and so might feel more inclined to come to the B1G if it really gets into broadcasting it and has its network on in most of the Northeast where lots of LAX fans and alumni of LAX schools live (often with lots of money) live. I don't know how the ACC broadcasting works, but if becomes an issue of coverage (or coverage differential, really) then we might see more moves.

teldar

June 6th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^

The conclusion that the B1G would have numerous colleges for fringe sports was something i would not have considered possible a few weeks ago. Now with Johns Hopkins onboard, it would not surprise me to see a few more lacrosse schools trying to bring in even a few hundred thousand/yr. Something is better than nothing and it could help make btn more attractive to more cable systems.

woomba

June 6th, 2013 at 9:50 PM ^

the MLB season is more than long enough to last me a life time.

...of course, I'm the type of viewer who doesn't pay much attention to Baseball until the July or so I'm probably not the target audience.

Roy G. Biv

June 7th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^

As someone who's been a rugby player since '95, this is a good suggestion.  I love the idea. But unfortunately, rugby is still a fringe sport--at best--in America.  Take the recent attempt at scheduling a match between London Irish and (fill in the blank American side) to help promote visibility for the sport and a potential professional presence on this side of the pond-- with NFL money and marketing expertise.  Scuttled.  If it can't be done with NFL backing, it is a distinct possibility it simply can't be done.

Also, does rugby as a varsity sport exist in the B1G (PSU and OSU maybe?)  I think even some of the greatest programs out west were cut because of Title IX.  Speaking of Title IX, it in itself could possibly kill the starting of a rugby program.  Since 22 dress for a match, a full side would need to carry at least 25 on their roster I would think.  Those are scholarships (full or partial) which would have to be matched with a women's side, increases in scholarships in existing women's sport, cuts in men's scholarships or any combination thereof.

As much as I love your idea, I just don't think it's in the cards.

DISCUSS Man

June 6th, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^

It's a shame Michigan baseball doesn't have a following like softball does. Selling out games has been a foreign thing here the last 5 years.

Michigan has the best program in the midwest, too. Last B1G to make the CWS was Michigan in 1984. 

The rate lacrosse is growing, it could pass baseball. It is a hell of a lot more exciting and is a physical sport. Legend has it that Jim Brown was better at lacrosse than he was football.

gwkrlghl

June 6th, 2013 at 10:59 PM ^

Wouldn't surprise me at all if it was the #3 college sport in 10-15 years. College hockey is a total niche sport and not particularly great for TV. Baseball is kind of a southern thing and it's been around for a long, long time with no real growth lately.

OTOH, lacrosse is booming. It makes great TV, more kids are playing, and more DI schools are picking it up. I bet the whole Big Ten will have lacrosse in the next 20 years

bacon1431

June 6th, 2013 at 10:30 PM ^

Makes sense that the B1G is doing this. Less of a competitive disparity since indoor facilities for lax are alot easier to come by to practice all year round. We'll always be at a disadvantage for baseball. 

mgoviking5

June 6th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^

I must say ESPNU did a great job last weekend with their comprehensive coverage of every game in the NCAA regionals. They weren't afraid to bounce around games pitch by pitch and had me genuinely interested. For an avid baseball fan like myself you can certainly draw some comparisons to the Men's basketball tournament in terms of excitement and nonstop action. I would love it if Michigan could put together a team capable of making noise in the tournament.

TheBlueAbides

June 7th, 2013 at 12:13 AM ^

To me both sports seem too small to be a reason a major program joins a conference, sure Johns Hopkins is as big as college lacrosse gets but it seems to me these two sports won't get a big school to move to one of these two conferences without being good at football or basketball. Side note: when will Wisconsin get baseball back?

maizeonblueaction

June 7th, 2013 at 1:26 AM ^

because they only play lacrosse, and happen to be good at it, combined with academics. I can say with almost 100% confidence we will never see Loyola in the conference. However, if UVA or some other ACC program suddenly decided they were losing too many kids and too much exposure to UMD and Hopkins because they were on TV every week, and that combined with every other factor they were considering, it wouldn't hurt in helping them to decide to switch. Obviously lacrosse will never determine much larger athletic departments switching conferences like football and cash will, but like with Maryland, if a department happens to take it seriously, they won't have to see switching as a negative, and can sell it as another positive as well.