No question there needs to be better balance between the southeast and the west and who hosts the regional tournaments. Like Corey, I respect the SEC quality of play. It's a great conference. Georgia's willingness to play the west coast teams mentioned above is a compliment to their competitiveness. There was no doubt in my mind that they deserved to be there. If they had won, they certainly would have deserved it as much as FSU. I don't know enough about how the teams are chosen for the tournament, but I hope this year's result will motivate the NCAA to seek a bit more balance in the selections and locations for play. Unfortunately I can't promote my home area of the midwest or even the east or plains states until the overall quality of play clearly indicates that they need more representation in the mix. It happens in some years but not consistently. Having said all that, I love the final 8 format and the week and a half of great college baseball. For me, it's a fun time of the year.
Scott on A&M having to play at Reckling, this year at least given the A&M season ending collapse you could see why they would have to travel to Rice. But in other years is it that Rice just puts in a better $$$ bid to the NCAA. Isn't that part of what determines who gets regionals and Super Regionals? Terry
It's not quite that simple anymore as Corey has noted. The NCAA now tries to spread things around more to the north (note Michigan's regional), but when it comes down to the schools in the traditional areas the bid is a big factor at the regional level. After that, you must be a top 8 seed to host a super, and unless one of them is upset you won't be hosting no matter how good your bid is. We haven't been top 8 in a while. I thought we were close this year, until the wheels came off right at the end. :? We are sort of in the situation Corey is talking about with the west but with lower numbers due to Baylor and Tech falling back a bit. Consider: We are returning almost our entire team, and are bringing back ALL of the young pitchers that did so well this year. Augie should have you guys back on track next year. Also figure Rice will be good again. Ok St has come back to life lately so they are a player again. With the "regionalization" that's going on, what do you do if several of us are top 10 teams? No way they place three supers in southeast Texas... Somebody is going to get a less than ideal situation.
here <t>is another concern for you Scott.<br/> <br/> You guys play in a great baseball area. Great kids, schools, fans and facilities.. You run up against some very good teams out there. You aren't goint to pile up these profane 56-8 records that some of the ACC teams do. You just can't.<br/> <br/> I know the CA from both the north and south see a lot of this in competitive tournaments from the time they are young. (12ish). They are always hearing about 'the next great thing' and its always from somewhere far away, and its always someone those CA boys wind up thumping. <br/> <br/> I've heard folks knocking the 'arrogant' teams from the Pac10, BigWest, WAC and even MWC. Especially in the cases of the P10, BW and WAC, they aren't arrogant (well, ASU and CSUF maybe)... but the rest are just VERY confident... and they are a bit daffy. Goofballs if you will. They have fun playing the game. Pressure is relative.<br/> <br/> The Big12 teams need to get that confidence on a regular basis. Those CA kids have been hearing about 'this team or that team' that is going to stomp them for so long that it no longer effects them... There only question ever seems to be 'what times does the pizza get here and who has the deck of cards?'<br/> <br/> But the NCAA LOOOOOVES numbers.. and those teams who play folks that allow them to pile up those numbers shall forever remain darlings of the NCAA.<br/> <br/> And Sid,<br/> <br/> I will even go a step further... since they seem to be freezing the # of P10, BW and Wac schools who can play in the big dance.. why not freeze the ACC and SEC as well? I say go ahead and use those new free spots to include a Missouri Valley wildcard, or a 3rd place team from the Big East/Big10 etc... Let those kids play for something. Show them what it can be and where they need to be at... That is when they will really see them picking up steam (and attendance) for those games.<br/> <br/> Give those kids the chance to upset Stanford at Sunken Diamond, LB State at Blair Field, LSU at Alex Box or Georgia at that god awful field in which the frats are grilling out LITERALLY in right field taunting the opponent the whole time (i kid, its actually quite funny). All it takes is a little momentum, a lot of direction and someone to believe and you're onto something. That's what I'd really like to see.</t>
That's a good idea Corey! (which means it will never happen). I remember a few years ago Monmouth was sent to College Station as a #4 seed. The whole team bleached their hair blond for the regional. It was hilarious! The fans totally adopted them, and supported them like they were the home team (except when they played the Aggies). They didn't win a game, but I know they enjoyed the experience, and took that news back home with them...