Read the debate intro and Loyal Homer’s opinion.
What makes college sports (think basketball and football) great? Passion. Loyalty. Youth. Energy. Every college sporting event ties these characteristics together, creating a contagious atmosphere that spreads like wildfire. In fact, nothing in the US compares to the passion seen from fans in college sports.
Baseball shares the same characteristics seen in college sports. Look at how other cultures cheer for baseball, for example. Consider the national obsession that is seen in places like Japan and Puerto Rico.
Enthusiasm for baseball and college sports exists within American culture. So why is college baseball, specifically the College World Series, not part of mainstream sports culture?
It’s not a lack of good competition. A fan of baseball in its most pure form must appreciate college baseball more than any other level. Hitters are asked to be fundamentally sound by moving runners from second to third on ground outs to second, bunting players over, etc. Pitchers are asked to pitch more often and with less role definition, creating the formula for truly amazing performances.
Let’s look at a recent example of a CWS game – the Arkansas-Virginia elimination game in Omaha – to see if the CWS has enough intrigue to appeal to fans. Here’s the 12-inning drama that unfolded: Arkansas’ Brett Eibner hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game at three. Just a half-inning before that, Arkansas ace Dallas Keuchel was asked to enter the game in relief (his first appearance in relief on the year) to preserve the score. He then pitched three additional innings to close out the game – including allowing the leadoff runner to make third base in the bottom of the 12 inning – before striking out the final two batters to end the game. Drama, excitement, and a comeback – everything a good sporting event needs to capture the heart and passion of the fan.
The proper ingredients for making the College World Series a major success – on par with its two more popular counterparts that Bleacher Fan outlined in the debate intro – exist. If the right ingredients exist, then it’s fair to say that the College World Series is a great sporting event – even if it struggles in television ratings.
A couple of factors contribute to the ratings struggle. First, college football and basketball are the de facto AAA affiliate of their professional counterparts, with the top college athletes transitioning to the professional ranks in a very visible way. It’s not as smooth in baseball, where the gap in talent level between the college and professional ranks is much wider. Second, national television – mistakenly – pays very little attention to college baseball until the College World Series. The broadcast model for ESPN is similar to NBCs approach to the Olympics. Once the event starts, the model builds the personal stories from the past year into the broadcast to try and hook viewers. A more effective method of hype-building for the College World Series would be to show a College Baseball Game of the Week for every week of the season on one of the many ESPN channels (ESPN Ocho??). Get the ESPN hype machine involved to broadcast the passion, tailgating, and fervor that already exist within college baseball.
The challenge for the marketing people behind the CWS is to tap into the intense passion seen in college sports and baseball. The College World Series is already a great sporting event, complete with all of the elements that sports fans crave – making it the best sporting event with the least national visibility. College baseball isn’t a niche sport; it just lacks the type of marketing hype and multi-platform promotion afforded to college basketball and football. Once the hype and promotion communicate the pageantry and passion of the College World Series, we’ll have to find another event for this debate.
There’s another factor to consider. College baseball lacks the participation of the largest fan bases and the schools that traditionally carry the midwest and northeast markets. If the NCAA is going to keep setting the season up to essentially put the northern schools at a disadvantage then the sport will not grow. Like it or not, the lack of involvement in the CWS of Big 10 and northeast schools seals its fate. Why would ESPN spend the money to market an event that won’t get any viewership in the heavily populated midwest and northeast (NY, Philadelphia, Boston corridor)? The CWS is filler for ESPN. Without the big markets the advertising money just isn’t there.
Thanks for the comment. I agree with you on your scheduling comment and your point about the early start times to the baseball season. The College World Series definitely has some challenges right now in terms of hitting the mainstream.
However, I disagree that it’s just filler for ESPN. ESPN is taking it much more seriously this year, which is a good sign for fans. They have a mobile desk in Omaha, they put their most visible sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, on the event. The “voice” of college sports on ESPN, Mike Patrick, is doing the play-by-play, too. Lacrosse is filler!
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Interesting, eh? Apparently @2009CWS isn’t allowing anyone else to tweet during the games. Is it fair for them to monopolize Twitter that way?
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In addition to being a huge baseball fan, I watch the CWS for what March Madness and the BCS are lacking–purity.
The BCS features pro players without the salaries and March Madness features an all-star cast from cops doing their best to look like prima donnas on national TV.
The CWS features collegiate athletes, most of who actually attend class.
Valid point Ryan!
Whether it is true or not, college baseball seemingly lacks the alleged corruption that is rumored to be shared in basketball and football.
In fairness, though, there are thousands of athletes in some of your smaller conferences that ARE playing football or basketball because they love the game, and the DO attend class.
The CWS features players that I don’t recognize and know nothing about.
I twittered throughout the CWS and I was in the press box covering the tourney for my site.
The reason why the CWS isn’t big is that the big schools in the Big 10 and Big East fail to put money in their programs. Yes, Michigan and Ohio State have nice facilites but most of the other schools are even fully funded.
Did you know that baseball only has 11.7 scholarships for a team? How many other sports don’t actually have scholarship athletes in every starting position? Basketball has 12 scholarships for 5 starters!!
Brian, thanks for the comment. Why do you think the Northern and Eastern schools fail to put big money into their program en masse? How much of a role do you think weather and a February start play?
VERY interesting point on scholarships. What do you think is the reasoning behind that imbalance?
Is this going to continue to be a trend with funding possibly being cut in athletic budgets at various schools?
At least, there is a uniform start date now…Only a few years ago, Miami was starting games in Jan.
I think the main reason why schools look at baseball to cut is that they need to head on the road at the beginning of the season and to put a team up in a hotel for a weekend costs a ton of money. But they fail to recognize that they could play a “quality” opponent and end up getting the hotel and travel paid for.
I am from the Northeast and seen many New England schools cut their baseball programs but NONE of them were even half funding their respective program in terms of scholarships.
Northern Programs can win in baseball. I know people are going to say Louisville isn’t in the South but the weather in Kentucky during Feb. isn’t that good and they made the CWS. Notre Dame also made the CWS in 2002 so it can be done.
It’s amazing what a little investment of time and money can do for a program. It is tough, though. The popularity of baseball in general is much greater in the South because it’s played year round. That’s why it’s so interesting that the Southeast basically has three professional teams for ten states!
That’s a very interesting point, Brian, and one that I had not thought of!
I wonder what part revenue plays in all of this as well. Being from Buckeye country, I can say that Ohio State Football and Basketball generate FORTUNES for the school. I don’t see The Ohio State University’s baseball team bringing in that same kind of capital. Unfortunately, the stands are practically empty for the baseball team.
Part of the blame, for lack of a better term, is that the school wisely (from a business standpoint) wants to invest the majority of their resources into those endeavors which will generate for them the greatest returns. Unfortunately, to your point, it boils down to a business decision. Baseball at Ohio State (or the Big 10 in general) will NEVER be the cash-cow that football and basketball are.
Michigan and Ohio State is considered one of the BETTER teams in the Big Ten.
They have the best facilities too in the conference.
Do you think College Baseball will turn into an “arms” race similar to the major collegiate sports?