Conference Hokey-Pokey™: Impact on non-revenue sports

♦ Missouri coaches talk about SEC's pros and cons (Columbia Tribune)

Gary Pinkel has served as the public voice of Missouri’s frustration with the Big 12, calling the unrest and defections over the past 15 months “sad,” “embarrassing” and “unbelievable.”

But the Missouri athletic department’s angst about the realignment saga extends beyond Pinkel and the school’s power brokers. While a potential conference switch would be driven by football and television riches, a move also would have a profound effect on the Tigers’ nonrevenue athletic programs.
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Baseball is an especially interesting case. A move to the SEC, which claims the last three NCAA champions and is regarded as the country’s top conference, would generate excitement. But Missouri is a world away from the fevered baseball culture of the South. While MU spent a Big 12-low $1.18 million on baseball and averaged less than 500 fans per game at Taylor Stadium last season, LSU might as well be running a small-market major league franchise. LSU spent $7.5 million last year and drew an average of 10,534 fans to its $38 million stadium.

Baseball Coach Tim Jamieson and track Coach Brett Halter, who would face similar weather and cultural challenges, declined comment.