Shatel: Anderson will feel more heat

Maybe Tom Osborne is too busy with Big Ten expansion to deal with Mike Anderson right now.

This is probably closer to the truth: Osborne is a coach’s athletic director, one who will not necessarily always side with one of his head coaches but certainly be able to see the situation through a coach’s eyes. He’ll cut them some slack if he thinks that they’ve earned it. At least Osborne is consistent. That’s who he is.

Anderson’s back next season. Good thing or bad? Some thoughts:

Nebraska baseball is not one of the elite programs in the country, a CWS regular, nor should it ever be expected to be. But it shouldn’t finish last in the Big 12 in consecutive seasons, either. John Sanders never had back-to-back losing seasons. The answer is somewhere in the middle. Husker baseball should make the Big 12 tourney every year and be on the bubble for an NCAA regional if it doesn’t make one. Off years happen. Two? Another athletic director might not have spared Anderson.

I understand Osborne’s thinking. There’s some merit to it. Maybe I have a hard time putting my arms around college baseball as a high-pressure sport. It’s not a revenue-producer, unless you max out, and that’s unlikely here in the cold, wet north.

That doesn’t mean that Anderson shouldn’t be on the hot seat. It should be simmering. Two years ago, crowds were up, the Huskers were fighting for the Big 12 and they hosted a regional. And I recall a certain columnist writing that Anderson was on his way to becoming a successful head coach. Two years later, he’s lost his grip. The talent is down (where are the Nebraska kids?). The team and program have lost their trademark tenacity. And we’re starting to hear the “we’re young" excuses every year. Clearly, the program is in the ditch. This coaching staff put it there.

But balance that with the record. There have been more good seasons than bad. Put Anderson’s record — one CWS (and the only CWS win in school history), five regionals and two regular-season Big 12 titles — in college hoops and Doc Sadler would get a lifetime contract. It’s apples and oranges. Blame Dave Van Horn for the higher standards. Problem is, Van Horn was that good. Maybe too good.

High standards are a must for a northern baseball school to win.

Anderson is a big boy, making big boy money. And the mere presence of Haymarket Park says NU is “all in" for baseball. Osborne’s decision no doubt is confusing — and frustrating — for Husker fans who thought that Nebraska was a big-time player in college baseball. Can Osborne put the genie back in the bottle?

Anderson may have gotten his wish. Was it his last? Tune in next season.

The heat will be way up. It says here Anderson needs to get to a regional and winning it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Of course, Osborne might have a different take on the situation.

• The Big Ten expansion topic is your proverbial hot-button topic. I’ve received a ton of e-mails — more than usual — from readers weighing in. Feel free to add to the mix. I may print some of the responses in a column later this week. The reaction has been mixed, but more Husker fans are in favor of NU moving to the Big Ten than I imagined.

• Big 12 Commish Dan Beebe has become the fans’ favorite whipping boy. Beebe can defend himself, but I’m curious: What do people want him to do?

1. Expand the Big 12? Where? There’s nobody of any value left to grab. TCU? Utah? If Utah’s name wasn’t coming up with the Pac-10, nobody would be thinking about Utah. How does Utah or TCU or Houston (Arkansas is not leaving the SEC) improve the Big 12? They already own the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston markets. Nobody is leaving another BCS league to come to the Big 12.

2. Secure the schools you have. Well, fine. But Missouri and Colorado are leaving if their phone rings. There’s nothing the Big 12 can offer them to stay. And Texas will do whatever it darn well wants. Oklahoma, too.

3. Come up with a new revenue-sharing plan that keeps everyone happy. Great. Except if you start taking away Texas’ money (and Oklahoma) and spreading the wealth, they’ll leave. Like it or not (not), Texas is the revenue-producing gorilla in the room that the Big 12 has to keep happy. Texas leaves, turn out the lights.

4. Come up with a better TV deal. Good idea. Except there’s not a lot of money out there right now. The SEC took a bunch of it. Start a Big 12 network? The last commissioner, Kevin Weiberg, favored that but the league’s presidents did not. The league presidents run the league, not the commissioner. He’s in charge of vision and ideas. But Beebe inherited a league of independent contractors who were forced into the marriage and have different agendas. In short, I don’t know what he can do except cross his fingers that his schools don’t get the call.

• More and more, this looks and feels like the summer that will decide Alex Gordon’s future in Kansas City. Gordon was optioned to Omaha on Sunday in order to get him some at-bats — and play the outfield instead of third base. He was 6 of 31 in 12 games with K.C. since returning from the disabled list. Manager Trey Hillman has decided to go with Chris Getz at second base, with Alberto Callaspo shifting back to third base. K.C. General Manager Dayton Moore told The World-Herald that Gordon is versatile enough to play left or right field, and that fits in better with Royals personnel. Sounds like Alex needs to light up Class AAA pitching big time, get back to K.C. and get hot. And then try and find a new place to play. This does not look like it’s going to end well in K.C. for Gordon.

• Will the Omaha Royals change their name? If I had to guess, yes, they will. But they better be careful. The idea here is to create a clean slate, for marketing sake, with a new name and new ballpark at once. Create a new buzz, a new feeling, this is a new organization, etc. But fans can be funny about names. If it’s too goofy or falls flat, fans won’t want to be associated with it. And they won’t go to games. It sounds crazy, but the name of the team, team colors, logo and merchandise, can really be a big deal for fans. I almost wonder if they shouldn’t keep the Royals name for another year, just so Omaha Royals fans know it’s still their team and they follow the club west. Either way, don’t change “Omaha." That would not be wise.

Contact the writer:

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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