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Lottery scholarships and college baseball programs

Posted on 2/5/14 at 12:58 pm
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 12:58 pm
I know most don't follow college baseball here, but I'm hoping to get a decent discussion.

Since NCAA baseball only gets 11.7 scholarships compared to 85 for football, can the lottery scholarships or similar state scholarships (TOPS, HOPE, etc.) be beneficial for the baseball program? That way a coach can save the 11.7 scholarships for players from out of state?

The states that I know of that have a scholarship program in the SEC are Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, South Carolina. (I may have missed a few)

It would seem this is a HUGE advantage that LSU, UF, UGA, Arkansas, USCe, or Tennessee could have over an Ole Miss, Miss. State, Vanderbilt, or Alabama/Auburn, or Tulane.

I know lots of baseball players' parents have money and it's of no issue, but that isn't always the case.

Now, I know LSU's history probably helps them more than TOPS could ever hope to. Same with USCe. Plus both of those schools get players from in-state most of the time, so tuition isn't a big issue.

However, what about Ole Miss? It seems their pool of talent would have to be extremely limited compared to LSU or USC's?

Seems that Tennessee could definitely take a lot of in-state talent and start to offer those scholarships to GA players.

UGA has got to be underachieving big time right now, as they suck. You would think they would get a shitpile of the GA talent and supplement by offering available schollies to FL, SC, and talent form all over the country.

GT seems to do this, but then again, they recruit a different pool of players than UGA for some reason. They do have a great reputation for pulling out of state players like Nomar and Teixeira to the program.

Thoughts?
Posted by Rouge
Floston Paradise
Member since Oct 2004
136819 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:00 pm to
Yes. Rather large advantage
Posted by hehateme2285
Katy, TX
Member since Dec 2007
5131 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:01 pm to
Yes, TOPS is vital to college baseball programs in LA. You can split players between TOPS and athletic scholarship, and better utilize the allotted scholarships
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:07 pm to
quote:

Yes, TOPS is vital to college baseball programs in LA


I have no doubt it's the reason why ULL and a few other small LA schools flourish.

LSU I think would be 100% fine without it based on history alone. Plus, they were fine before TOPS came into play.

I was thinking why the frick does UGA and UTenn suck?

UGA I guess has poor facilities, but that shouldn't matter all that much IMO.

UT just built nice facilities and may be on the way up. If they can convince the in-state guys from Memphis and Nashville to stay in-state and then offer the 11.7 to GA boys and FL boys, Tennessee should be pretty damn good. Serrano has been recruiting well and has a pipeline to Cali. We'll see.
Posted by ProjectP2294
South St. Louis city
Member since May 2007
70381 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:13 pm to
Louisiana does not have lottery funded scholarships.
Posted by SwatMitchell
Austin, TX
Member since Jan 2005
2312 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:26 pm to
I am always surprised that the almost exclusively partial scholarships for baseball do not cause more athletes to stay in state - that is, generally, due to out of state tuition figures.

Also, are student athletes provided with medical, dental and vision coverage? If so, how generous (lasik, orthodontics etc)?
Posted by volfan30
Member since Jun 2010
40950 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:40 pm to
I don't follow college baseball too closely, but there is apparently some loophole that gives Vandy a big leg up over Tennessee in-state.
Posted by LSUJuice
Back in Houston
Member since Apr 2004
17673 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:41 pm to
Welcome to the board, Coach Polk.
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
41205 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

It would seem this is a HUGE advantage that LSU, UF, UGA, Arkansas, USCe, or Tennessee could have over an Ole Miss, Miss. State, Vanderbilt, or Alabama/Auburn, or Tulane.


Tulane gets their players on the legislative scholarships.
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:46 pm to
quote:

Louisiana does not have lottery funded scholarships.


I know. In essence, TOPS accomplishes the same thing for purposes of this discussion.
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:48 pm to
quote:

I don't follow college baseball too closely, but there is apparently some loophole that gives Vandy a big leg up over Tennessee in-state.


In what way? From what I see, Vandy recruits heavily up north and gets a lot of rich kids to play baseball. They also get some local Nashville kids.

I fail to see what loophole could possibly help Vandy over Tennessee. Even with the lottery scholarship being available to in-state private schools in Tennessee, the amount is only 6k/yr. That covers a little more than half for 1 year in Tennessee. It covers a miniscule amount at Vandy for 1 yr.
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:49 pm to
quote:

Welcome to the board, Coach Polk.




Posted by D011ahbi11
Member since Jun 2007
13621 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:50 pm to
quote:

Tulane gets their players on the legislative scholarships.


Yea, it can be a big advantage but the requirements to get that scholarship are pretty tough.
Posted by volfan30
Member since Jun 2010
40950 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:55 pm to
Has to do with need based aid that Vandy gives.
Posted by LSUJuice
Back in Houston
Member since Apr 2004
17673 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 1:57 pm to
But seriously, I think the consensus is, yes, it makes a difference and offers some advantage to public schools in those states. Ron Polk spent lots of time in the latter part of his career complaining about this and trying to increase the number of baseball scholarships. But college baseball doesn't tip the scale nationally, so any efforts to change this just won't get any traction. Any influentual media outlet has too many other beefs with the NCAA, so I don't see anything being done about it anytime soon....

College baseball will continue to have the advantaged and the disadvantaged, although there has been more parity emerge in the last 10-12 years.
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 2:17 pm to
quote:

Has to do with need based aid that Vandy gives.


It can't be that much to offset the lottery scholarship that UT gets.
Posted by Moustache
GEAUX TIGERS
Member since May 2008
21556 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

Ron Polk spent lots of time in the latter part of his career complaining about this and trying to increase the number of baseball scholarships


Meh. What's Polk's excuse now? MSU is doing pretty damn good without it.

quote:

But college baseball doesn't tip the scale nationally, so any efforts to change this just won't get any traction. Any influentual media outlet has too many other beefs with the NCAA, so I don't see anything being done about it anytime soon....

College baseball will continue to have the advantaged and the disadvantaged, although there has been more parity emerge in the last 10-12 years.


exactly. I don't think baseball needs more than 11.7 scholarships because it isn't a revenue sport for most schools. In the SEC, who actually makes money on baseball? LSU, Arky, Ole Miss, MSU, USCe. That's it, right?
Posted by ProjectP2294
South St. Louis city
Member since May 2007
70381 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

I don't think baseball needs more than 11.7 scholarships because it isn't a revenue sport for most schools. In the SEC, who actually makes money on baseball? LSU, Arky, Ole Miss, MSU, USCe. That's it, right?


But if they were able to give more scholarships, they could keep more of the talent from going pro earlier increasing the level of play and profitability.
Posted by D011ahbi11
Member since Jun 2007
13621 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 2:26 pm to
I would love for baseball to get some more scholarships. Would be surprised if it happens though.
Posted by ProjectP2294
South St. Louis city
Member since May 2007
70381 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 2:28 pm to
quote:

I would love for baseball to get some more scholarships. Would be surprised if it happens though.


At least reinstate them back to the 13 they had previous to Title IX reductions. It's insane that WBB gets 15 scholarships.
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