Fan's guide to NCAA bowling
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
It’s not exactly the Final Four, but when they turn on the TV lights at Thunder Alley in Omaha beginning Thursday, the country’s top women’s bowlers will be playing for the same thing as their basketball counterparts.
An NCAA championship.
Here’s a guide to the tournament, courtesy of longtime Nebraska bowling coach Bill Straub.
Omaha's Thunder Alley, the home of the 2008 NCAA Women's Bowling Championships, is more than just a bowling center.
The 40-lane complex located near 204th Street and West Dodge Road opened last October. In addition to bowling, it features a 40-game arcade, an electric go-kart track and a laser tag arena.
Payment for all attractions at Thunder Alley are through a debit card-like system called a "Thundercard."
"At Christmastime, we had a lot of people come in and fill one up as a gift certificate," said director of attractions Scott Clark. "They can be used at anytime and never expire."
The card can also be used at snack bars throughout the facility as well as the Twisterz Sports Bar. There are three billiard tables and open fireplaces throughout the complex.
Because of NCAA regulations, there will be no open bowling Wednesday through Saturday, Clark said, but other facilities will be open.
Teams competing
The NCAA Women’s Bowling Committee selected eight at-large qualifiers: Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Minnesota State-Mankato, Nebraska, New Jersey City, Sacred Heart, Vanderbilt
SCHEDULE
Thursday: Block 1 qualifying, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Block 2 qualifying, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
Friday: First round of bracket play, 9:30 a.m.; second round of bracket play, 11:20 a.m.; elimination matches, 3:30 p.m.; bracket championship matches, 5:20 p.m.
Saturday: Bracket championship matches (if necessary), 4:30 p.m.; Final, 7 p.m.
FORMAT
On Thursday, teams will bowl four five-person regular team games and five four-game Baker matches with total pinfall determining seeding.
The eight teams will be split into two, four-team double-elimination tournaments with play beginning Friday. Teams compete against each other in a best-of-seven Baker-style competition.
The two bracket winners will meet for the championship on Saturday.
— Lori Griffin
When can the fans clap? When can they cheer?
“The easiest answer might be to just watch the other spectators. Rules for this are non existent.”
Most of the time, if you watch the PBA tour on television, you will hear nothing but the ball hitting the lanes during a shot.
As for taking photos, bring your camera but leave the flash at home. No flash photography is allowed during competition.
What if I need a break during the competition?
If you must get up during competition, put on your church mouse face and walk quietly away.
“The prime need is to not influence the player’s preparation.”
With that in mind, avoid a bubble gum blowing contest, and watch out for the peanuts crackling in your mouth. And definitely take a break from the healthy foods such as apples, celery and carrots. Who needs them anyway?
If you’re drinking a soda, please throw away the straw first. The slurping noises won’t be good for concentration.
When does the coaching take place? Can you coach during a player’s approach?
“The physical contact ends before the player steps onto the approach. Hopefully, the mental and psychological coaching still continues.”
Meaning, the coaching staff is always in the player’s head.
I hear the tournament is using a Baker-style format. What exactly does that mean? When I think of a baker, I immediately think of cake.
“Baker formatting is inexplicable on multiple fronts, other than to say the objective portion: five players roll two frames each in every game.”
I see a lot of balls in the ball return. How many balls does a player use in a match?
“Subjectivity is required for an answer.”
In other words, the athletes use as many balls as they can stack on the ball return machine.
Nebraska is a great team year in and year out. What kind of hints can you give me, a person who bowls occasionally, to at least appear as good as the Huskers? And will I ever bowl a 300 game?
“Learn as much as possible through experiences in other sports, then take those learned skills into bowling.”
In other words, work and play hard. It’s the best skill anyone can acquire.
Bowling has only been an NCAA-sanctioned sport for a short time. What was the process that the schools had to go through to get bowling where it is today?
“In 1994, the NCAA declared bowling an emerging sport. With the 40th institution adopting bowling prior to the 2003-04 season, official NCAA recognition was granted.”
Wow, almost 10 years to become a “real” sport? What’s next?
Nebraska has won two of the four NCAA titles that have been awarded. What will it take for the Huskers to win a third?
“Nebraska has been fortunate in winning two men’s national championships and seven women’s national championships since 1990. Hopefully, those successes can be used to draw inspiration, and result in the needed drive and determination to play the best their respective skills allow.”
— Lori Griffin
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