College baseball teams in Minnesota will not be allowed to travel to North Carolina to compete for a national title. That is the decision of the presidents of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, after Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton banning state-sponsored travel to North Carolina in the aftermath of the Tar Heel state's anti-LGBT law was enacted in March.
From the Twin Cities Pioneer-Press:
The governor's ban did not include MnSCU employees or teachers, but the system's presidents met Tuesday to discuss the issue and "expressed their support for Governor Dayton," MnSCU communications director Doug Anderson said in an email to the Pioneer Press.
During the meeting, Anderson said, "The presidents have concluded that athletics-related travel is non-essential for purposes of this directive. While we understand that some players may be disappointed, no sports team from any of our colleges or universities will participate in tournaments in North Carolina this spring."
That policy will directly affect St. Cloud State, ranked third nationally in the latest NCBWA poll. The NCAA Division II national championship is set to be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., May 28 to June 4. A couple junior colleges are also being barred from travel to their national championship in North Carolina this spring, according to the Pioneer-Press' John Shipley.
It's a harsh move by the university presidents. It's up to the politicians in North Carolina as to whether these athletes and coaches in Minnesota should pay this heavy price. And it's on the head of the NCAA for not moving the tournament immediately when this bill was passed. They could have avoided this mess.