Texas team to beat in ANOTHER sport

Whether one attended or follows the University of Texas as a die hard fan or not the fact remains the Longhorns are on the strongest run in school history in the three sports that draw the most fan interest in the state.

Not only was the football team contending for a national title in football before the injury to Colt McCoy derailed hopes, but the basketball team has been ranked as high as number one and is still a serious threat to win the national crown.

And, now the perennial powerful baseball team has received the pre-season nod as #1 in the nation in at least two of the multitude of college baseball polls.

It will be about a month before the college baseball season gets underway and when it does the Longhorns who finished runner up at the College World Series last June will start out on top.

Strong and deep pitching which has always been a Longhorn strong point is why they are the team to beat. With the winningest coach in the history of college baseball, Augie Garrido, in charge the 'Horns won't loose too many.

Once again the College Classic being hosted by the Houston Astros in early March will feature some outstanding match ups. The biggest of the games will be the meeting of #1 Texas against #5 Rice. They battle every other year in the featured match and have had some great games. The last one we televised had Texas rallying in the bottom of the final inning to win on a home run.

By the way, one thing unusual about the pre-season baseball rankings in the dearth of other Big 12 teams. In the Collegiate Baseball poll which goes 40 deep Oklahoma is #25, Texas A&M 29th and Kansas #36. In the Baseball America poll only Texas makes the top 20.

That is not to say the region is not well represented in both polls. In addition to Texas and Rice, LSU is either 2nd or 3rd, Texas Christian is ranked. So is Arkansas and even Dallas Baptist which holds down the final spot in the Collegiate Baseball 40 team rankings.

Personally, I suspect several Big 12 teams are being short-changed in the early polls. The league is far stronger than some may suspect this year. Often pre season polls spread things around and give some schools in some regions higher ranking than will be ultimately deserved.

However, at the same time it must be noted that college baseball is stronger nationally than it has ever been. With a ever growing number of schools showing profits from the baseball programs the sport has moved into the #3 spot as a revenue producer for more and more schools. Most are admittedly in the warmer climes of the South, but the success of Oregon State recently state rival Oregon was forced to bring baseball back.

One of the great things about the college schedule--and especially the College Classic--is that it gives even major league baseball fans a chance to get back to watching baseball well before the Astros are ready to open the season. On top of that there is some pretty darn good baseball played.

2010 will begin the 26th straight season I have done play by play for college baseball on the FSN networks and it's predecessors. During that time the game has evolved into real baseball. In the early days there were far too many 17-12 type games with the hitters and their lively aluminum bats dominating the often wild pitchers.

Those days are over. The bats were toned down a few years ago. The pitchers are much better with most teams. They throw harder and have better control. It is real baseball. And with the better teams--like Texas and like Rice it is very good baseball.

Full details on the College Classic can be found on Astros.com. If you have never attended before but love baseball please be sure to give it a shot. It will be worth your time.