NCAA thinking about pushing back the start of college season

OMAHA, Neb. – The NCAA is considering delaying the start of the college baseball season by two weeks, which would push the end of the College World Series into July.

If the change does occur, it wouldn’t happen until 2006 at the earliest.

A 10-person NCAA committee consisting of athletic directors, baseball coaches and others will be meeting Monday to consider ideas, some of which have been talked about in various forms for years.

“There’s so many variables and influences on it,” said Florida State athletic director Charlie Carr, a member of the committee. “There’s a lot of needs.”

Small schools worry about the expense of extending the season beyond the academic year, while northern schools want more games when the weather is warmer, Carr said.

“The hard part is you’re trying to fit a baseball season into an academic schedule,” he said.

Under one model, the regular season would remain at 56 games but the first game wouldn’t be played until March 1.

That would push the start of the CWS to July 2 instead of June 18. It would end either July 11 or 12, instead of June 27 or 28.

Former MVP returns

The last time John Dolinsek was at Rosenblatt Stadium he was shagging fly balls in left field.

The MVP of the 1969 College World Series, Dolinsek is back in the stands this year for his first trip to Omaha in more than 30 years.

“I tried to put together a 30-year reunion in ‘99 but I couldn’t get guys to commit,” he said.

Dolinsek’s 1969 Arizona State Sun Devils team defeated Tulsa for the championship. In the six games that year, Dolinsek batted .476 with two homers and six RBIs. For his effort he was named to the CWS 1960s All-Decade Team.

Tight security

It may seem counterintuitive, but if it rains at the series this week it’s a good idea to leave the umbrella at home. A rainy opening day led to a mountain of umbrellas at entrances around Rosenblatt Stadium.

Umbrellas are among the list of items prohibited by security to be brought into the stadium. Stricter security measures were put in place in 2002, the first series following the Sept. 11 attacks.

New this year are photo IDs for news media and CWS personnel to make it easier for security officials to know who is allowed where.