By Collegebaseball360.com Editor Sean Stires
Considering the collapse of the Metrodome roof over the weekend and the winter storms around the country, we’re transitioning out of our “Fall Notebooks” to “Hot Stove” this week. We will be taking a break in the near future for the holidays, but we will begin our 2011 conference previews after the first of the year.
Shine Some Sun On A New Idea…
There’s been a lot of conversation about uniform start dates to the college baseball season over the last few years. One of the biggest points of contention has been how to make the season work fairly for teams from northern cold weather schools and teams from southern climates alike. Oklahoma generally benefits from warm weather (although it does get cold in Norman in February and March), but OU head coach Sunny Golloway has an idea on how to make the college baseball season work for everyone.
Sunny Golloway
Golloway’s idea would move the college baseball schedule to the summer, which would also mean changing the way college baseball players attend classes. “I think baseball players should go to school in the summer full-time. I think baseball players should go to school in the spring full-time,” he recently told CB360 contributor Chris Webb. “I think in the fall…should be like our summer. That’s where our athletes should take three or six (credit) hours, be able to relax more and have some down time. And then let’s start in the spring, getting going.”
Golloway argues that college baseball currently gets lost in the large shadow of the popularity of college basketball and “March Madness”. He also thinks that college baseball stadiums around the country would have a better chance to be filled by starting later in the spring when temperatures are warmer. Golloway says the shift in the season would also allow for a better opportunity at a national television contract that would give fans the chance to “fall in love” with college baseball they way they have with college hoops and college football.
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Click the “Play” button to listen to more of Golloway’s comments.
What do you think about the idea of a summer college baseball schedule? Cast your vote now!!
Save Cal Baseball Drive Continues…
Cal Baseball continues to get closer to its goal of being reinstated. A recent message via Facebook from the “Save Cal Baseball” group says they are “VERY close” to their goal of $10 million raised to reinstate baseball and the other four sports that got the ax at Cal back in September. Those other sports are men’s and women’s gymnastics, women’s lacrosse and rugby. The group’s goal has been to have that $10 by January 1, 2011 and then raise another $2.5 by next year to keep those sports running for the next four years. The immediate problem specific to the baseball program is continued uncertainty. Two current Cal players plan to transfer after the current fall semester. Prized freshman pitcher Eric Jaffe will go to UCLA, where he will apply for an NCAA waiver to play in 2011. Infielder Brett Bishop plans to go to Fresno Community College. Sophomore ace Justin Jones (10-6, 4.22 ERA) could also transfer to Oregon, although he will stay at Cal for the upcoming season.
Todd Walker
The Hall On The Bayou…
Former LSU and MLB baseball player Todd Walker was recently inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Walker was a first-team All-American in 1993 and ’94. He was named the College World Series MVP while helping the Bayou Bengals to the ’93 national title. Walker set the SEC’s all-time records for hits, runs, RBIs, and total bases in his three season at LSU. He went on to a 12-year Major League career after being taken with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 1994 draft. He was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame last year and was also named to CWS Legends Team earlier this year.
Dinner With A Side Of Murphy…
Former Arizona State baseball coach Pay Murphy is no longer working in college baseball, but he’s still around the game. Murphy is on the lecture circuit giving seminars to high school players who aspire to play at the next level. A release for an upcoming event in the Chicago suburbs says Murphy will “explain how the college recruiting process really works and will inform you on what college coaches look for in players. Also discussed will be work ethic, desire, intangibles and the importance of academic success which starts in high school.” Murphy is also currently employed by the San Diego Padres.
Villanova football/baseball star Matt Szczur
Hail Szczur…
Two-sport star Matt Szczur (pronounced SEE-zur) and the Villanova football team are at it again. Szczur scored four touchdowns and threw for another to lead the Wildcats to a 42-24 win over Appalachian State to advance to the FCS football playoff semi-finals over the weekend. Villanova is the reigning FCS national champion. Szczur played baseball at Villanova last season and signed with the Chicago Cubs after being taken in the 5th round of this year’s MLB Draft. He also took time off from Villanova’s baseball season in 2010 to donate bone marrow to 19-month-old girl with leukemia. VU baseball teammates Christian Culicerto and Marlon Calbi both play for the football team as well. CLICK HERE to read more about Villanova’s playoff win.
The Schedules Continue To Roll In…
As of our latest tally, only roughly 40 of 300 Division One 2011 college baseball schedules are yet to be released. We have done our best to post them on our Schedule Page as they have been announced throughout the fall. We have also made some new additions to the Schedule Page this year. You will now be able to access 2011 schedules, 2011 rosters, 2010 team statistics, and 2011 team statistics (as they all become available). Be sure to bookmark the Schedule Page for easy access to all this information throughout the 2011 college baseball season!