Indiana State athletic director Sherard Clinkscales explains decision to withdraw Super Regional bid

In a move he called "excruciating," Indiana State athletic director Sherard Clinkscales took responsibility Tuesday for decisions that resulted in the Sycamores playing a baseball Super Regional on the road, despite earning the right to host the series.

The Sycamores, seeded 14th in the nation, won a regional they hosted last weekend and are set to play TCU on Friday-Sunday. Because of facilities and staffing conflicts with an annual Special Olympics event this weekend, the series will be played in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Our student-athletes earned the right (to host the series)," Clinkscales said. "I made the tough decision and said, 'We cannot do it the right way,’ and that's why that tough decision was made."

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Clinkscales, who serves on a committee related to the baseball tournament, said ISU had bid to host the Super Regional, but on May 27 he withdrew that bid, citing the information he had at the time.

"I did not believe we could host exceptional events for both the Special Olympics and the ISU baseball team that both programs deserve," he said.

He did not request any changes in Special Olympics arrangements. He said he had talked with Terre Haute officials about hotel space for the weekend.

Clinkscales said he has heard from disappointed alumni and understands their frustration.

Sycamores 10th-year coach Mitch Hannahs, who played for the ISU team that made the 1986 College World Series, said he learned about the move Monday, but that the team has moved on from any disappointment over the situation.