Lawmakers in Iowa have introduced a bill that would reestablish men's baseball teams at two of the state's public universities after they were cut decades ago.
According to the Des Moines Register, House File 153 would revive Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa's men's baseball teams to compete at the NCAA Division I level. The legislation would require the state Board of Regents to reinstate the teams.
"Part of my argument right now is not just for the alumni, but there are a lot of kids here in Iowa that have the ability to play at that level, but if Iowa doesn't have a spot for them, they have to leave the state, and we don't know if we're getting those kids back," said House Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull), the author of the bill.
"Part of my argument right now is not just for the alumni, but there are a lot of kids here in Iowa that have the ability to play at that level, but if Iowa doesn't have a spot for them, they have to leave the state, and we don't know if we're getting those kids back," Wheeler said.
Carolann Jensen, a lobbyist with the Iowa Board of Regents, said the new era of NIL and revenue-sharing makes it particularly expensive to add sports right now. But she said she understands the passion of alumni who want to see the programs return.
"The athletic directors at that time both decided to terminate those programs and we are where we are," Jensen said.
Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) suggested an amendment to the bill that he says would put ISU and UNI's athletic programs on equal footing. The amendment would add women's wrestling teams at ISU and UNI.
"I think if we're going to talk sports with the regents, I think it's a wise idea to add women's wrestling because, as I mentioned before, if we're talking about attendance — if you were in Coralville last weekend, holy shucks, it was packed to the rafters for the women's state wrestling tournament," Jacoby said. "Wrestling's the future, baseball is the past time. I think that this amendment would make this an even more better bill."
