Source: BroBible
Summary
The Mercer Bears baseball team was left out of the NCAA Baseball Tournament despite having a strong season, with a 44-win record and a top 30 RPI ranking. The team’s athletic director, Jim Cole, believes the selection committee conspired against them to boost ratings and favor bigger schools. Cole cited the strength of schedule as a reason for the snub, but also mentioned politics and the influence of bigger schools with stronger brands and more money.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
The NCAA Baseball Tournament selection committee has a new way of saying “we don’t want you”: “strength of schedule”. The committee chair, Michael Alford, used this phrase to explain why Mercer was left out, despite their impressive numbers. But Mercer’s athletic director, Jim Cole, isn’t buying it. He thinks it’s all about politics and money. The big schools get the bids, and the smaller schools get left out. It’s a numbers game, and the NCAA is playing to win.
The lifestyle enters the chat: “Politics 101”.
Author: Evan Null
