Change in the geographic base of the CAA

[DaBigBlue]

This story in the Daily Press, talks about the change within the CAA as it becomes more of a southern base league.

"It's difficult to watch it happening, to see what's happening with the northern schools," Wilder said last week at the Colonial Athletic Association's preseason football media day. "But the strength of this league, the reputation of this league, it seems like teams want in.

"If you're not in an established league and you're in the mid-Atlantic or southern states, it seems like everybody's calling Commissioner (Tom) Yeager and saying, how do we get in this league? It's exciting because of the strength of the league."

Maine coach Jack Cosgrove said. "Down south, there might be three sports: football, spring football and NASCAR. In New England, there's 75 sports.

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleg ... 9512.story

Edit: Sorry see another post same topic posted about same time, if admin whats to delete that would be ok, it is a good story.

[Saint3333]

Cosgrove there may be 75 sports somewhere up there, but no body cares about them. There are three sports that count in college sports, football, basketball, and baseball and you aren't relevant in any of them. The CAA knows this and that's why they continue a southern slide.

[alvin kayak]

The inclusion of baseball seems humorous. The NCAA tournament is huge for basketball, but that's about it. Football TV ratings pretty much own even basketball. Also an average BCS team home game draws 85,000 fans not 15,000.

[Saint3333]

If inclusion of baseball is humorous to you, a sport that is televised weekly on ESPN and regional sports channels, imagine how humorous it is when a coach claims 75 sports in the NE.

[LastMinuteman]

ESPN televises softball weekly too, doesn't mean anything. College baseball is a joke in the north. Our most minor women's sport gets better attendance than baseball, whereas ice hockey gets numbers similar to men's basketball or better at most places it's played.

[LUnpretty11]

... whereas ice hockey gets numbers similar to men's basketball or better at most places it's played.

Which is only relevant to Canadians.... waaiiit a minute

[Saint3333]

ESPN televises softball weekly too, doesn't mean anything. College baseball is a joke in the north. Our most minor women's sport gets better attendance than baseball, whereas ice hockey gets numbers similar to men's basketball or better at most places it's played.

It's only a joke because you guys are terrible at it. Baseball is a clear #3 in college athletics.

How many colleges play ice hockey vs. baseball, case closed.

[alvin kayak]

Okay, fine, you're right. The CWS does get some OKAYYY ratings and interest. Nothing like hoops or BCS bowl games, though.

[LastMinuteman]

It's only a joke because you guys are terrible at it.

Yeah right, nobody in the land of the Red Sox and Yankees is interested in playing baseball. There's just that little problem where you cheats pushed the schedule so early that the Red Sox haven't even started spring training while we're supposed to schedule live games. Nice trick. There's a reason spring training is held in Florida, not Massachusetts.

College baseball is illegitimate and shouldn't be taken seriously by anyone. Why don't you have the rules changed to have basketball played outdoors while you're at it? Then you can dominate that too.

How many colleges play ice hockey vs. baseball, case closed.

More colleges play men's golf than football. I still think football is the bigger sport.

[andy7171]

College baseball, LOL.

[93henfan]

College baseball, LOL.

This!

All the good players go straight to Class A out of high school anyway.

[GannonFan]

ESPN televises softball weekly too, doesn't mean anything. College baseball is a joke in the north. Our most minor women's sport gets better attendance than baseball, whereas ice hockey gets numbers similar to men's basketball or better at most places it's played.

It's only a joke because you guys are terrible at it. Baseball is a clear #3 in college athletics.

How many colleges play ice hockey vs. baseball, case closed.

Lacrosse is moving up there. College baseball is a shadow of what it was 20 years ago. Hard to see that direction changing anytime soon.

[Saint3333]

You're missing the point. There aren't 75 relevant college sports as in Cosgrove's statement. It's football and basketball which are relevant with baseball a distant 3rd and then another dropoff before the next sport.

Football and basketball drive conference affiliation, I really don't care about the other 73 sports Maine and the rest of the NE has.

[GannonFan]

You're missing the point. There aren't 75 relevant college sports as in Cosgrove's statement. It's football and basketball which are relevant with baseball a distant 3rd and then another dropoff before the next sport.

Football and basketball drive conference affiliation, I really don't care about the other 73 sports Maine and the rest of the NE has.

You're right, football and basketball are all that matters from a conference affiliation standpoint. Lacrosse and hockey are also able to easily use conferences as part time members as well.

[henfan]

With the season pushed into winter, a good argument could be made that college baseball is largely a regional sport as well... unfortunately.

Ice hockey and LAX are terrific sports in their own right. Because a sport is regional in nature, doesn't discount it as irrelevant. There are solid financial reasons why some schools sponsor some sports and not others.