Could Mississippi State Baseball Hosting Opportunities be Threatened by new NCAA Questionnaire?

The Mississippi State baseball team has always been one of the best places to host an NCAA Baseball regional, but could future opportunities be threatened with new NCAA guidelines?

Earlier today, I was scanning through Twitter as I often do when looking for things to write about. This Tweet from Inside the NCAA caught my attention.

Any organization wishing to host a championship event must fill out the questionnaire and submit it by August 12. The NCAA is not going to allow championship events at sites where legislation has been passed that allows discriminatory acts.

It’s different than the ban the NCAA has had on allowing events in states that fly the confederate flag or have it as part of their state flag. That ban was only on pre-determined sites like NCAA Men’s Basketball regionals.  This will affect places like the Mississippi State baseball team who are awarded host sites based on in-season performance.

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If you read the questionnaire, the language is primarily directed at the state of North Carolina and its implementation of HB2 which requires people to use the bathroom of their biological sex. The problem the Mississippi State baseball team has is a few questions that might pertain to HB 1523, the law passed by the state of Mississippi to protect religious freedom according to supporters of the legislation and an act of discrimination according to critics of the bill.

The questions that might make the NCAA choose to not allow the Mississippi State baseball team to host are these.

Has your city, county/parish, and/or state passed anti-discrimination laws that are applicable to all persons?

The NCAA could easily look at HB1523 as not being compliant with this. It’s iffy at best.

Does your city, county/parish and/or state have provisions that allow for refusal of accommodations or service to any person?

This question directly affects Mississippi HB 1523. Whether or not you agree with the legislation, it allows companies like florists to deny prospective clients their services if it is for a gay wedding. It has nothing to do with athletics, but it would still fall under this umbrella.

May persons or businesses opt out of providing accommodations or services to

any person? If so, what is the criteria? What services or accommodations may

opt out?

This is pretty much the same as the previous question.

So should Mississippi State baseball fans be worried? I have two schools of thought.

Why Mississippi State baseball will likely still be allowed to host regionals
The athletic department had to submit documentation in 2016 when we asked to host the regional and super regional ensuring the school would provide a safe environment. They have gone through this before, though I do not know if it was this extensive.

Also, there appears to be questions that allows for events held on campuses, like baseball regionals and Women’s Basketball regionals, to show they can provide the necessary safeguards the NCAA is looking for if certain types of legislation are in place. I would imagine this is what the Bulldogs did this past May when they submitted their bid to host.

This questionnaire is also primarily targeting use of restrooms and lockers. The state of Mississippi has yet to address that issue, so the NCAA might not include Mississippi in this process since it hasn’t touched that issue.

Most importantly, the law was recently struck down before it ever started. Mississippi is going to appeal, and it will likely go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but most legal scholars don’t think the law will hold up at any level of the appellate process.

Why I’m not convinced Mississippi State baseball is in the clear for hosting future regionals
The adoption of this policy took place in April. The NCAA might not have had a chance to thoroughly review the law put in place by the state of Mississippi. Further scrutiny with more time might make the NCAA change their mind.

The most likely scenario which could keep Mississippi State baseball from hosting is if the state takes up similar restroom and locker room legislation to the one passed in North Carolina. When President Obama issued his executive order that all public schools should make their restrooms and locker rooms accessible to people regardless of gender identity, government officials put strong pressure on the Superintendent of Education in Mississippi to not comply. I think it is pretty likely Mississippi will be adopting similar legislation to North Carolina as early as next year.

So how should Mississippi State baseball fans feel about all of this? That’s up to you. If you support HB 1523 and would like to see Mississippi adopt similar legislation to North Carolina’s law, do you support it enough to possibly give up hosting baseball regionals and Women’s basketball regionals?

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The NCAA is hoping the answer is no. It’s trying to use its influence to influence public policy. Whether or not you agree with such tactics, this is what they are going to do. It will be worth watching to see how fans and athletic officials respond.