Originally posted by cruhawk:
Not that big a difference in weather between southeastern Iowa and southern Indiana. I'd say that's a wash.
Actually, there is quite a difference in weather between Iowa City and Terre Haute. Just looking at numbers might not seem to be a big difference, but it is. When you are talking "AVERAGE" temperatures, and a difference of 5-7 degrees that is very significant.
It also means quite a lot when it comes to snow accumulation and stretches of days on end that are not conducive to getting outside. It also impacts the time of recovery for playing surfaces after a bad stretch.
Combine that with the advantage mentioned earlier of having turf and it's big. But the outfield portion is not turf so that recovery time is crucial. Obviously, if Iowa were to get a turf infield surface, it would certainly help them. I saw where Jack Dahm said they only had 5 out door practices this year. I guarantee that ISU had quite a few more than that. But then again, ISU also has an indoor facility to use anytime they want. Iowa is at the mercy of football and their players can't just hit anytime they want. that is less of an advantage than just about every college program in the state of Iowa at all levels.
Another factor would be the winds. Iowa is a very windy state. Terre Haute is much more shielded from the wind. Yes, they have a lot of wind but not like Iowa. I've lived both places.
Average High temp:
November is 50 in IC and 55 in TH (+5)
December is 35 in IC and 42 in TH (+7)
January is 32 in IC and 37 in TH (+5)
February is 37 in IC and 43 in TH (+6)
March is 59 in IC and 54 in TH (+5)
Here is a map I found. (click on it and it will enlarge) You can see that TH is quite a bit further south than IC. There's a reason teams from the north go south. Teams in the Dakotas and Minnesota pass THROUGH Iowa to go play in Kansas City (for example) all the time. That few hours makes a big difference.
Originally posted by cruhawk:
Iowa does have easy geographic access to large population centers in Illinois & Missouri. So the excuse that they don't have access to the same talent has simply never held water.
I agree that they have some access to larger population centers. However, it isn't the same as the population centers surrounding many other programs in the upper mid west. Including Indiana State where Heller is at now. Distance and temperatures are a big issue. Iowa isn't going to get many kids to come north where a program such as Indiana State might (or at least have a better chance) because they happen to be south just far enough to make a difference. (not to mention they currently have better facilities) and if the kid is coming south to go to Iowa, he likely has other options that are competing with Iowa and they are likely a little warmer and currently a better situation. Indiana State has a better chance with Michigan and Ohio and even Chicago than Iowa does. Iowa has Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin. I'd rather have ISU's geography.
Iowa just does not have access to the same # of talented players as teams at or near their latitude and it is just a harder sell. Now, if iowa builds the facilities, it would be a different story for those few talented kids that Iowa would have access to. Until that point, it isn't happening and you are just speculating. Sure, it's fun to do and it's ok to dream.
I do agree that if you make the committment you can get kids. But being in the north simply has so many disadvantages in order for them to build a consistent power in the upper midwest. They can build a good solid program that has a good run from time to time but it would be very difficult to sustain above just being "solid". Just look around. Who has done it? Nebraska? they had a brief run but are pretty average. Ohio State? They've been decent but not great. Michigan and Michigan State have had a few good years. but none have been able to sustain it. It's just too hard to consistently get the best kids that can otherwise go to a big warmer place to play.
Minnesota has probably been as consistent as any program in the Midwest but wouldn't be classified as a power. High school baseball in Minnesota is very popular and a pretty big deal there. They have a large population.
All of those places except Nebraska have really large populations in close proximities to pull from.
Again, I do believe Iowa COULD exceed the level that some other programs are at, including the program where Rick Heller is currently at. (I said that in my initial post) But, they are not right at that level right now and are quite a ways from exceeding that. That is the reason I said ISU is currently a better situation. It's not just a couple issues either and it would be quite a few years before they would be there.
I would love to see Iowa become an upper tier Big 10 program. It COULD happen without getting a large upgrade in facilities
but those chances are pretty slim before that happens and it's not going to happen for at least 5 years IMO.
One of the likely reasons Dahm is viewed as underachieving despite having some good recruiting classes can go right back to the facilities issue. I'm not talking about aesthetics either. The bases are 90 feet and the rubber is 60 feet 6 inches every where you go. It's having the ability to hit year round and the ability to have defensive practices year round or get out outside often. Iowa just doesn't have that right now.
One other factor, as Rick Heller told me a few years ago, is that with 11.7 total scholarships and 35 man roster limitation, you just cannot afford to make a mistake on a kid anymore. The sport is just too competitive now and these ridiculous limitations make it harder. (You used to be able to have tryouts and keep 40-50 kids or more practicing year round.)
Generally, it's not necessarily the top 5-6 kids that are holding programs back, it's the rest of the roster. In midwest states, you just don't have the inventory to draw from and a handful of commitments that don't work out can kill you.
This post was edited on 6/8 1:54 PM by terrehawk