Northern Iowa is the second D-I baseball program in week to suffer the death sentence from its athletic department. Like Vermont did a few days ago, Northern Iowa says it will discontinue its Baseball program at the conclusion of this season. Details from the AP on Rivals.com:Northern Iowa will eliminate its baseball program after this season, a cost-cutting measure officials say will save the school about $400,000.This should be disturbing news to any college baseball fan at a university that hasn't made Baseball a big priority. A decade or so ago there was a spate of Baseball program closings, including the Big 12's Iowa State. Considering that the University of Missouri is currently scrambling to come up with ideas for making drastic cuts in costs due to anticipated reductions in state funding and a depression in foundation funds and donations, this news strikes a little too close to home.
Athletic Director Troy Dannen made the announcement Monday, three days after the baseball team began what is now slated to be its last season. Dannen noted an expected athletic department budget shortfall of up to $600,000 next year, thanks to a 9 percent drop in state funding. Cutting the baseball program will save the school about $400,000. The baseball program is expected to cost around $485,000 to run in the 2009 fiscal year but only bring in about $87,000 in ticket sales and fundraising.
Northern Iowa was once a semi-regular on Mizzou's non-conference schedule, especially during the Gene McArtor years. The last contest was in 2003, when MU beat UNI 11-4.
■ Speaking of termination: Just a small note of no consequence to nearly anyone. The old location of SimmonsField.com has now officially and completely shut down.
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