Voda-Blog : March 2009 - Supporting UNI Baseball

Hey everyone…

I’m pretty bummed today.

I just got word that my alma mater, The University of Northern Iowa, is losing its baseball team. Because of the poor economy, the athletic department is making cuts…and unfortunately, baseball is one of the victims.

Some former players and concerned fans have started a website, urging people to help….it’s www.supportUNIbaseball.com.

Basically, these guys are single-handedly trying to raise enough cash to save the program. If you go to the website, you can make a pledge…no money needed yet.

If enough funds get pledged, someone will contact you for the amount you promised. But here’s the catch…they only have until April 5th to raise the money!!!

I’ve already contacted the UNI Athletic Department, throwing my name into the supportive ring. My next calls/emails will be to the University’s Board of Regents, the UNI President, and, then, to the Governor of Iowa.

I mean, after all, this is a state school...the 3rd largest…and a school that has built a tradition on successful athletic programs. The football team always makes the playoffs, and this year, they advanced all the way to the semi-finals. The basketball team is the only college/university representing the state of Iowa in this year’s NCAA tournament…the University of Iowa is not there. Neither is Iowa State.

For a university that big…and that successful…to NOT have a baseball program, would be a travesty!

For me personally, some of my greatest college memories were of skipping class on the first warm day in March (sorry, Mom!) and heading out to the ball field with my roommates. We’d try to get a tan as we watched our friends play the game they loved.

I know some of you who log onto my site are from Iowa. I hope you’ll agree with me that it’s a program worth saving! But for those of you who’ve never been to UNI…or never even been to Iowa, for that matter…I hope you’ll join in the cause simply because you love baseball. Or you love what the game represents. Or you have some baseball memories…playing, watching, or soaking in the rays…of your own.

Thanks for listening!!!

Best Wishes,

Krista