Bill Mosiello vowed to make Ohio State baseball ‘sustainable’ when he was named coach in 2022, and without counting on a five-year plan. (Press Pros File Photos)
Las Vegas and another weekend of showcase college baseball, we turn our attention to readers’ response to last week’s 4-4, and…”what happens if they’re really good this year?”
I admit that for years I didn’t pay attention to how many fans there were for Ohio State baseball.
That said, I’ve always been aware of a core group of mostly men, alumni and former players, who’ve followed and supported, and of course, a few of the 1966 NCAA championship team who are still around and occasionally make appearances to call attention to what they did.
But since 2014, when we started writing about Big Ten baseball, we have kept closer records on the daily number….those who log on to read, share stories, and occasionally respond.
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So we were pleasantly surprised last week to see that number energized by the Buckeyes 4-4 start in Arizona, and quality wins over Brigham Young, Southern Cal, and Arizona State…as well as a not-so-quality loss to Grand Canyon University.
And by the way, Grand Canyon owns three losses that all came against Nebraska, whom we wrote about in our pre-season power picks for Big Ten baseball. Will Bolt’s Huskers are to be taken seriously.
If you read Press Pros regularly you’ve probably noticed that once a month we publish a page of reader comments sent to the site, typically about high school and OHSAA topics. Last week…we heard from readers who are following Ohio State baseball and wrote to let us know they are reading, and with a thirst for more.
“I looked all week in the Dispatch for something about Ohio State baseball, and just like you said…there wasn’t any. Thanks for doing what you do.” … Tom Killilea
Another:
“This is nice to see! Totally enjoy reading about OSU baseball. Question? What would happen if the Buckeyes turn out to be really good this year?” … James Ewing
While they don’t write, others since 2014 have posed variations of the same question. Could it happen? And what are the obstacles that stand in the way?
Obviously, they have to win, or suffer the same kind of fan awakening that men’s basketball is finding compared to the Big Ten Champion and #2-ranked women’s team. It’s amazing…how winning can clear the calendar for the sake of personal priority?
Two, everyone associated with northern baseball is curious to see if the inclusion of Southern Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten family is going to push the envelope for the NCAA to move the season back at least a month – for the sake of better weather and fan interest for summer baseball. People have already said, “I can’t imagine Southern Cal playing baseball in East Lansing in March on a 30-degree day.”
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Three, it’s going to seriously test the statement about equality in college sports if baseball and softball are forced to continue playing in less-than-favorable spring conditions. Remember now, that inclusion and equal opportunity are the bywords of the day, and if you’re asking baseball and softball players to risk injury in frigid, wet conditions someone is going to say, “Prove it.”
Four, every college athletic program wants to be worth its cost, and there are coaches out there, like Iowa’s Rick Heller, who swear that if the season was played in more favorable weather that fans would come out, pay to watch Big Ten baseball, and thereby offset the bottom line. His words: “Iowa fans are Iowa fans. It doesn’t matter the sport.” I’m prone to believe that about Ohio State fans, too.
So, to the question. What’s holding you back?
The competition is improved, with at least five current Big Ten teams projected to make the NCAA tournament this June, plus the prospect of traditional baseball powers Southern Cal and UCLA on the threshold for next year.
Cost-wise, college baseball is a bargain compared to college football, and even contemporary minor league baseball where a good box seat for a Clippers game can cost you $40. Ohio State tickets average about $12. Parking is free!
And, of course….the weather! But we all know that rain or shine, ice or snow, they all show up for football.
Publisher/editor Sonny Fulks writes the Big Ten and Buckeyes baseball for Press Pros Magazine.com.
So it boils down to winning. And again the question from Jim Ewing. “What would happen if they turn out to be really good?”
Would you go to see them at the Big Ten Tournament?
Would you go to see them in the NCAA Tournament?
And if and when it happens, would you go see them in the College World Series?
Would anyone cover it?
And…would you have a good reason if you didn’t?
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