re: What happened to baseball?

quote:

---

1/3 of a century should be plenty of time to rebuild an athletic department. That excuse is starting to get a little tired IMO.

---

I have been amazed at how bad Mizzou is at branding and creating a cultural identity tie to the entire state. Using other Midwestern states as an example, Minnesota & Wisconsin both do a great job at connecting with everyone in the state, not just those who went to school. In both of those states, every kid wants to be a Gopher or a Badger; adults too. It extends to the states borders, while Mizzou doesn't do that in Missouri. OU takes over Joplin, Arkansas down by Branson.

As a state with ONE D1 P5 program, it should be EASY.

From an athletic standpoint, the more in state you recruit, the more common points of connection people get, and more likely to tune in and eventually become fans. Wisconsin has a heralded walk on program, with tons of in state guys who make waves. When talent difference is marginal, coaches should recruit home state guys who will put in heart and soul. The Kevin Puryear/Ryan Rosburgs of the state. Sure, they weren't heralded recruits, but they were just as good, and it lots of cases better than random recruits from Ohio or Indiana who don't stay on the team for 4-5 years.

Baseball specific: Meh, incredibly regional sport. Best players go to the Draft/Minors right away. Womens sports are different in that there isn't alot of pro leagues. Its hard to brand a regional sport where stars don't come thru the college ranks. 55 guys on the baseball roster, only 20 from Missouri. When you aren't a blue blood program/University, you have to build from in state.

Just my 2 pence