Play ball: the case for a Boise State baseball team

I figured if this post was going to be written, it'd have to be by me. The last time I saw Kevan even watch a baseball game was when his dad forced him to keep the book for the Babe Ruth team his brother and I were on. In fact, I can't really blame him after that.Kevan did a great job last week of summing up Boise State fans' reaction to Fresno's College World Series championship. It was a great story and good to see a team from the WAC break through and win a national championship, but it won't resonate nearly as much as the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and most likely be forgotten with the first snap in the fall.

But, I was left wondering -- if Fresno can accomplish this, what could a Boise State baseball team do? Better yet, why does Boise State not have a baseball team?

A little web sleuthing brought me to this page for the Boise State Baseball Club. The page definitely is not affiliated with the athletic department and has this disclaimer at the bottom "Being just a club sport we have no ability to become affiliated with any NCAA division, however, we can belong to the National Club Baseball Association along with over 75 other club team across the nation." Well, that's disappointing. Most additional searches just return Boise State hats.

So, could a lack of a Boise State baseball team be due to Title IX? Currently, Boise State has 7 men's sports (Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Tennis, Track & Field, Wrestling) and 10 women's sports (Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball).I'm not too familiar with Title IX, but it seems as though there is room to add another men's sport. I think it's time for Gene Bleymaier to take time away from scheduling Portland State and Idaho State and get this accomplished.

Thirty more days: Bronco football nears

Move over, America's birthday. There's another reason to celebrate today: In exactly one month, the Boise State football team will take the field again for fall practice.

Only thirty more days stand between Bronco Nation and Bronco practice, which means there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel of summer. Fortunately, there have been things to talk about over the past two months (early recruits, Bob Behler, Phil Steele), but nothing will ever replace real, actual football.

And certainly, the next four weeks should go by quickly. The Bronco players will be finishing up their summer training, the latest NCAA Football video game will be released, and the WAC will hold its annual media session (check the Idaho Statesman's blog in September for details). Before we know it, August will be upon us, and we can start reading into the quarterback situation again.

Happy Fourth of July, Bronco Nation. And an even happier Thirty-Days-Until-Football Day.

Friday: Links with independence

Story of the day:

Karl Benson bares his soul [Denver Post]

The Denver Post is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Mountain West's split from the WAC the only way they know how: making Karl Benson relive it all over again.

DP: That had to be the lowest point of your professional life 10 years ago when the Mountain West teams left...

KB: May and June 1998 was certainly difficult. It was challenging, tumultuous and gut wrenching both professional and personally.

Next question!

Aside from the start of the interview (great ice breaker, Denver Post), the story ended up being a positive look at how the WAC has survived throughout the past 10 years. Benson gave a lot of praise to Fresno State for soldiering on in the early years, and he of course had good things to say about Boise State football, too. But God bless him if he didn't try his best to put a positive spin on Utah State, Idaho, and NMSU.

DP: You're like the Statue of Liberty of college athletics: Give me you poor, your tired, your huddled masses. 


KB: We were forced to fill some holes, fill the gaps... We claim when teams join the WAC they get better, some get better quicker than others. I'm still confident our last three additions are going to get better.

Translation: my bad.

The behind-the-scenes information from Benson was pretty neat to hear, and the Denver Post followed the story up with a feature on the present state of the WAC and the MWC. For all the bad things that are said about the WAC, it was nice to find a story that showcases the conference to a certain degree. That said, we'll flip to the Pac-10 in an instant if they come calling. Sorry, Karl.

Other links:

BSU's Grinnell competes for Olympic berth [Scott Slant]
The triple jump finals or Mars Attack? We could go either way.

Nick Jezierny's interview with BSU's latest recruit [Statesman]
Watch your back, Chadd Cripe.

BSU President Kustra working for the NCAA [Press-Tribune]
Alright! We got a man on the inside.

Colt Brennan autograph signing tour [Pictures Plus]
He will not be signing souvenir Sugar Bowl T-shirts.

Ian Johnson a top five running back [End Zone Buzz]

Why, UNLV?! Why?! [UNLV Rebels]
Thank goodness we don't have to see these uniforms in person any time soon.