It's 2019 and some schools still don't have softball teams.

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J.Galt

Banned
Feb 8, 2019
135
28
What schools are you shocked that they don't have softball?

5. Vanderbilt
4. Pepperdine
3. Miami
2. Rice
1. USC

Those are my top 5, I don't know if it's a coincidence that all 5 are private Universities or if it's that Private Universities don't need to abide by title ix rules because they aren't taking federal money.

All 5 have a rich history in baseball, all 5 have won National Championships in baseball, USC has twice as many national baseball championships as ANY other school so that these 5 don't have softball is very odd.

Other than Pepperdine all of them are power 5 schools but if all 5 were to start a program, Pepperdine would be the hardest to recruit against, what teenage girl wouldn't want to live and play ball on the hill in Malibu?

Other than maybe Vanderbilt, all of these schools are in recruiting hotbeds, Southern California girls litter the rosters of teams across the country. Florida and Texas are likely the next top 2 states at producing college players.

With Clemson set to start in 2020 and FSU winning the ship last year Miami could help make the ACC a stronger conference and the Canes hate it with Noles and Gators are in on something that they are not.

USC is the oddest school on the list, UCLA is 14 miles away and the Bruins have been to softball what the the Trojans have been to baseball. Batbusters, Firecrackers, So Cal and Mercado Athletics and Corona Angels surround the campus and then after High School those girls go to Norman, Gainesville, Eugene, Tucson...when USC is home.


Hopefully in the next few years there will be 5 different schools on this list.

What 5 would you add?
 

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
I know in the case of USC, the school has long stated that there is no space on or near the campus to build a suitable facility. Not sure if that's the case for the others you have listed. Title IX definitely applies to private schools that take federal funds (and the overwhelming majority of them do take federal funds in the form of federal student financial aid).

I'd love to see all Power 5 schools all have softball, but won't hold my breath for that to happen.
 

#10

Jun 24, 2011
398
28
909
I find it peculiar that they hold the biggest tournament of the year in Boulder, yet Colorado has no team.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
What schools are you shocked that they don't have softball?
5. Vanderbilt
4. Pepperdine
3. Miami
2. Rice
1. USC

I know Miami is under intense pressure from the ACC to add a team, especially with Clemson coming on board soon. They do have the same issue USC has - there isn't a really good place to put a field that really works. Miami would be competitive extremely fast just by keeping the local talent, local.
 

Ken Krause

Administrator
Admin
May 7, 2008
3,911
113
Mundelein, IL
I am particularly bummed about Vanderbilt. My daughter lives in Nashville and we're going to visit her next weekend. Would be nice to catch a game while we're there (she played) but no such luck.
 
Feb 15, 2017
920
63
I was surprised to learn that Florida's softball facility and the new baseball facility are actually off campus.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

WARRIORMIKE

Pro-Staff Everything
Oct 5, 2009
2,815
48
At the Jewel in San Diego
Kinda bummed about Pepperdine. Just spoke to an admin a week or so ago. No softball in the future for them.

USC has no room, however with offsite setups could work out ok. Just have to find somewhere.
 
Sep 29, 2010
1,082
83
Knoxville, TN
I am particularly bummed about Vanderbilt. My daughter lives in Nashville and we're going to visit her next weekend. Would be nice to catch a game while we're there (she played) but no such luck.
You could catch a game at Belmont U. or Lipscomb U. Both have quality softball programs in Nashville.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
Off topic a bit, but last summer we were talking to a family at a tournament. The parents were bragging about how great their daughter was. Typical... 6 pitches and throws a legit 68 mph (15 year old...). I was watching her pitch, so I knew none of this was true, but I was able to prevent myself from laughing. Then the dad said "and she was offered a full ride by West Virginia!!". Took everything I had not to reply "you know they don't have a softball team, right?"
 

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