Many NCAA sanctioned sports have over 100 teams competing at the Division 1 level. But many sports are not Men's Gymnastics. Currently, the sport only has one division. There is no Divsion II, III, or NAIA. Just Division 1, and just 18 teams competing for the National Championship. One of those teams is the University of Iowa.
Last Saturday, the Iowa men's gymnastic team traveled to Chicago to compete in the Windy City Invitational to begin their 2009 season. They placed 6th out of 6 in the final standings. Since 2000, the team has only finished in the top 3 in the Big Ten twice, and have finished last three times. The team continues to be a generally uncompetitive team in a sport that lacks competition to begin with.
Meanwhile, traditional Big Ten teams continue to fill arenas and win championships in the sport of hockey. While the Big Ten does not sponsor a hockey conference, many schools play in hockey-only conferences with sucess. Four teams have won hockey national championships. The games are televised regularly with steady ratings throughout the northern states.
The yearning of an NCAA hockey team has been mentioned in Iowa City before. Carver Hawkeye Arena is built perfectly to support a hockey team. The support for a team appears to exist. The only thing stopping it from becoming a reality seems to be the University itself. Without wanting to eliminate sports, the Athletic Department does not have room to add a hockey team to the lineup.
It is time for Gary Barta to put 2 and 2 together.
While it may be disappointing for the men's gymnastics team, eliminating them opens the door for a team that has potential to generate enough revenue to support itself. With natural rivals with teams in hockey states, an Iowa Hawkeyes hockey team could produce interest that could rival the wrestling team. Perhaps an exageration, but not by much.
Hockey is a fast paced, hard hitting sport that is relatively inexpensive to watch in person. Giving it a place in Iowa City would help the university create a stronger and more profitable athletic department.
It can even have a positive affect on the Big Ten. With Iowa being the sixth Big Ten team, it could be enough to get the conference to add the sport. With four of the past seven National Champions, the Big Ten would instantly be one of the toughest conferences in the country.
It ultimately comes down to which team would generate more fan interest: Men's Gymnastics or Hockey.
My choice is easy.
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