2008 Woodie Awards
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After 26 years, baseball is back
In 2008-09 the University will lose wrestling, but it will gain a baseball team and competitive cheerleading
by Doug Bonham | Sports Reporter
Before a baseball team can take the field, though, it needs a coach and a place to play. Though the athletic department has "had a lot of interest in baseball coaches coming to us in the last week or two" Kilkenny said, they have not made a decision or decided on a time frame for an announcement. On Friday Kilkenny was optimistic that Oregon's new program could attract a top-tier coach; "We will almost get the pick of the best of breed," he said.
When asked about the location where the new baseball team will play, Kilkenny and Baumgartner would not offer a definite answer Friday, and would not offer a time-frame for a decision. Kilkenny said the baseball study group headed by Baumgartner found "five or six" possible locations for a baseball stadium, and estimated the cost of building a new stadium to be between $5 million and $10 million.
While the home of the Eugene Emeralds, Civic Stadium, is an option in the short term, "That's not a strategic solution without some investment," Kilkenny said. When asked about locations close to campus, Kilkenny said he believed they could find an option suitable for students. "I think it's always a preference if we could make it accessible to students," Kilkenny said. "A lot of what this is about isn't just the experience to the student athletes but also the student body."
Friday's other addition, that of a women's competitive cheerleading team in 2008-09, was met with some surprise; rumors before Friday held that women's crew, swim or water polo would be the sport added along with baseball. Competitive cheerleading is also not sanctioned by the NCAA as a varsity sport, and instead rests under the National Cheerleading Association.
Nevertheless, Baumgartner is excited at the opportunity that being on the cutting edge of a sport could offer the University.
"We looked at a variety of emerging sports and NCAA sports and it came down to that competitive cheer was a sport that was growing very fast," Baumgartner said Friday. "And as we looked at facilities, and locker rooms, and a competitive schedule, it just came to the point that we're going to be different, going to be innovative, and going to lead the way. I feel that within 10 years the NCAA will certify (competitive cheer) as a varsity sport and we'll be on the front end, leading the charge with Maryland."
When asked about the location where the new baseball team will play, Kilkenny and Baumgartner would not offer a definite answer Friday, and would not offer a time-frame for a decision. Kilkenny said the baseball study group headed by Baumgartner found "five or six" possible locations for a baseball stadium, and estimated the cost of building a new stadium to be between $5 million and $10 million.
While the home of the Eugene Emeralds, Civic Stadium, is an option in the short term, "That's not a strategic solution without some investment," Kilkenny said. When asked about locations close to campus, Kilkenny said he believed they could find an option suitable for students. "I think it's always a preference if we could make it accessible to students," Kilkenny said. "A lot of what this is about isn't just the experience to the student athletes but also the student body."
Friday's other addition, that of a women's competitive cheerleading team in 2008-09, was met with some surprise; rumors before Friday held that women's crew, swim or water polo would be the sport added along with baseball. Competitive cheerleading is also not sanctioned by the NCAA as a varsity sport, and instead rests under the National Cheerleading Association.
Nevertheless, Baumgartner is excited at the opportunity that being on the cutting edge of a sport could offer the University.
"We looked at a variety of emerging sports and NCAA sports and it came down to that competitive cheer was a sport that was growing very fast," Baumgartner said Friday. "And as we looked at facilities, and locker rooms, and a competitive schedule, it just came to the point that we're going to be different, going to be innovative, and going to lead the way. I feel that within 10 years the NCAA will certify (competitive cheer) as a varsity sport and we'll be on the front end, leading the charge with Maryland."
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