The weather aspect is way overblown. Big 10 season is done by Thanksgiving and for the most part November games arent any worse than when we go to KSU, ISU or Kansas.
For the record, regarding Disch-FALK Field, I've observed that the renovations have reversed the cold curse. Whereas before, on cold days, inside the stadium was about 15-20 degrees COLDER, now it feels about 8 to 10 degrees WARMER. It's weird.
Football and basketball are the bell cows in this deal. Minnesota won the national championship in golf in 2002 Illinois won in tennis in 2003. Baseball is going to be a big problem. You will have to have a uniform start date and I dont see that happening. Not the best but the more I think of it the more I think the academic and research piece of this deal is going to become a key driver re: the Big 10 and sports will have to make it work.
Shark, I'll most likely be wearing shorts this weekend and firing up the grill, maybe even getting a head start and mowing my weeds in my backyard. What outdoor activities do you have planned?
Baseball is meaningless. I like it and all, but it drives no serious discussions regarding conference affiliation. Zzzzzzz.
Hey I like college baseball but someone said UT baseball is the 800 pound gorilla in the room of conference re-alignment. Uh, no.
Baseball won't be the most important factor. Anyone who says it is meaningless is showing tremendous ignorance. Just look at Augie's salary to determine its relative importance. We don't pay Augie the money we pay him to coach a sport that is meaningless to this university.
Shark, I've really liked your posts over the years and I respect you in general. But you telling ME to think like a UT administrator is laughable. The UT administration has made it clear how much they value baseball, just take a look at the pay scale. I understand that college baseball isn't particularly important to Ohio State or to "Frank The Tank" but based on the amount of money committed to the UT baseball program, as well as its status as a revenue-generating sport at Texas, it is clearly important to the people who matter at Texas. None of whom are you, or "Frank the Tank." As I said, it won't be the deciding factor, but to think it is "meaningless" is ignorant and naive. Just take a look at the salary. I'd expect more from you, though I certainly don't expect any more from "Frank the Tank."
