Cal Berkeley's baseball program found out Friday that because they didn't raise $8-million independently and because of Title IX rules that this is their last season! Because of budget problems four sports were heading for axing and one was going to be downgraded to a club. Baseball was one of two getting the axe. It is the only University of California school in the state NOT to have a baseball team and is the only D-I school in the state without a baseball team come next year.
Baseball America has ranked Cal in the #17 position in its pre-season poll.
Berkeley is an academic school that does not support its sports teams. Even football and men's basketball have seen attendence declines.
The baseball coach said that he never knew the $8-million was a requirement for his team alone. He was under the impression that $15-million was needed overall to fund the five sports for eight years. The person heading up the fundraising, former pro Doug Nickel says he hasn't given up yet...so maybe it is not a done deal.
Another option is to go on hiatis...but doing so disbands the whole team and relegates it to a start-up. And, if they wait too long, their beautiful stadium could be levelled to make wasy for academic buildings.
It seems so wierd that a major university with Cal's brand name and sporting a top-ranked team would be cancelling the program. In my view, this may be a sign of things to come, especially in states like California.
Baseball America has ranked Cal in the #17 position in its pre-season poll.
Berkeley is an academic school that does not support its sports teams. Even football and men's basketball have seen attendence declines.
The baseball coach said that he never knew the $8-million was a requirement for his team alone. He was under the impression that $15-million was needed overall to fund the five sports for eight years. The person heading up the fundraising, former pro Doug Nickel says he hasn't given up yet...so maybe it is not a done deal.
Another option is to go on hiatis...but doing so disbands the whole team and relegates it to a start-up. And, if they wait too long, their beautiful stadium could be levelled to make wasy for academic buildings.
It seems so wierd that a major university with Cal's brand name and sporting a top-ranked team would be cancelling the program. In my view, this may be a sign of things to come, especially in states like California.