BOWLING GREEN — Just weeks after cutting the baseball program, Bowling Green State University has reversed course and reinstated the team.
A fund-raising effort that stormed into action after the school’s decision reached its goal of $1.5 million over the course of the next three years, and BGSU announced it would bring baseball back to its campus.
The program will not go dormant, and instead will continue play into the 2020-21 school year.
"After very positive and productive dialogue with alumni and former student-athletes nationwide, Bowling Green State University is pleased to reinstate its baseball program effective immediately," the school said in a statement. "In just days, our passionate baseball alumni and donors have committed $1.5 million over the next three years.
"During this time, the University, in partnership with a select group of baseball alumni, will pursue a long-term funding solution to sustain and support the program."
Organizers of the fund-raiser, comprised mostly of former Falcons baseball players, met with BGSU officials and came to an agreement on the terms for funding the team: $500,000 per year through 2023.
Bowling Green confirmed discussions on Monday. Just 24 hours later, the campaign met its parameters and Bowling Green agreed to keep baseball at the school without interruption.
The Falcons lost at least four players to the transfer portal — which most of the team entered upon the program being cut — but the bulk of its team now has the option to withdraw from the portal and continue playing baseball at Bowling Green.
“It's pretty awesome that the alumni came together and brought the program back,” said junior Dylan Dohanos, a BG native who stayed home to play for the Falcons. “I definitely did not think it was going to happen, and they definitely defeated the odds, but it's great to see the support from the alumni and the community. It was a very positive Zoom call today.”
BGSU did not elaborate on whether the coaching staff will stay intact. A press conference with director of athletics Bob Moosbrugger is scheduled for Wednesday.
The program was cut May 15 due to financial issues that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The athletics budget at Bowling Green, which is 50 percent subsidized by student fees, had to find $2 million in cuts as part of the university’s larger effort to offset a projected $29 million shortfall for the 2020-21 academic year.
The university instituted a furlough plan, more than 100 employees were laid off or not renewed, and the department of athletics eliminated baseball, the school’s first varsity sport.
At the time, Moosbrugger — a former Falcons baseball player — said he believed the decision was necessary. Bowling Green estimated that cutting baseball would save about $500,000 per year
"Personally, I had to put my personal bias aside for the sport that I love and one of the reasons why I came here, and do what I thought was best for the entire athletic department,” he said May 15.
The fund-raising push, however, quickly went into action. Alumni who were outraged at the sudden decision mobilized, first with Zoom calls and later with a campaign called Save BGSU Baseball that used a Gmail address as its beacon to draw donations.
In less than a week, the group drew more than $1 million in commitments, outside funding that prodded officials at Bowling Green to work with organizers on reviving the team.
And in the span of 18 days, Bowling Green went from not having a baseball team to celebrating its rebirth.
“BGSU is grateful for its alumni and friends who have stepped up during this difficult time to ensure their alma mater is positioned to thrive on the other side of the current COVID-19 crisis,” the BGSU statement read. “We are inspired by the efforts of our baseball alumni, and we look forward to continuing to cultivate and reinvigorate all BGSU alumni. We are excited for Opening Day in the spring.”
First Published June 2, 2020, 8:59 p.m.
