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Article is behind a paywall. Mind sharing the takeaway?
I don’t have a sub for that either. Just saw the headline & seemed interestingArticle is behind a paywall. Mind sharing the takeaway?
Sounds like they are shutting it down, also lying to recruitsHere ya go..
The Big 12 Provides an Update on OU Wrestling's Status with the Conference
There has been a lot of conversation surrounding OU’s status as a member of the Big 12 in wrestling as they move closer to joining the SEC, a conference that does not sponsor the sport. Last year at the Big 12 tournament, I asked head coach Lou Rosselli what his expectations on that were.
“That won’t be up to me. I’ll just defer that to our athletic director. We’d like to stay in the Big 12. Our conference every year… I think it’s improving all the time… We hope to stay but we’ll see how that works”.
With some buzz surrounding the end of the Bedlam rivalry in football that was announced this week, I thought I’d dig back in on the topic. I reached out to the Big 12 offices and spoke with Big 12 Vice President of Communications Bob Burda and asked him what will happen between OU wrestling and the Big 12 once they move to the SEC.
Burda stated this.
“Once the University of Oklahoma departs the Big 12 and officially joins the SEC, their sports will no longer be a part of the Big 12 portfolio”.
I asked if they were eligible or if would they be allowed to be an affiliate member of the conference in wrestling, as many other programs in the Big 12 are. His response was that OU could submit a request and application to the Big 12 to be a wrestling affiliate but to date, they have not submitted any application for that affiliate membership. Burda also stated he is not aware of any plans that OU has to submit one.
Speaking to some familiar with the process of becoming an affiliate member of the Big 12, the general steps are to get the wrestling coaches on board, have them get their athletic directors on board, then get the school Presidents on board to approve. The process can be long in certain scenarios but can also be short if there is a consensus among the schools and Presidents wishing to approve. The ultimate vote and approval lie with the Presidents of the universities in the Big 12 though, not the wrestling coaches.
This makes OU wrestling’s situation with the Big 12 somewhat dicey. If they wish to apply as an affiliate, even if the wrestling community in the Big 12 completely support it, the school Presidents may not as there is currently a lot of animosity in the conference surrounding OU’s Big 12 exit to the SEC.
I reached out to the OU wrestling SID and director of operations to find out if the university plans to request to remain in the Big 12 as an affiliate. I have not received a response.
-Oklahoma Wrestle on Rokfin
(16 hours ago)
There's really no reason for any, OU or conference, to spend any time on this with all the changes going on in conferences. Wait a couple years till its all closer to shaking out. And there's no way the Big 10 would want or take OU for wrestling.Even, if OU coaches and Big 12 programs are on board for OU to be an affliate school. It sounds like the desicison in the hands of Joe Castiglione who will likely consider the decision from a reveune perspective. The only sport OU would probably look at adding would be swimming/diving if they were to elinmate the wrestling program. All other mens sports align with the SEC. For example Missouri is SEC and has wrestling and not mens tennis to be compatible with title 9. OU has wrestling and not swimming.
I could see OU keep the wrestling program, but decide to move conferences to perhaps the Big 10 for recruiting advantaes. Locally they have to compete with OSU and that hasnt been working out very well for them.
Even, if OU coaches and Big 12 programs are on board for OU to be an affliate school. It sounds like the desicison in the hands of Joe Castiglione who will likely consider the decision from a reveune perspective. The only sport OU would probably look at adding would be swimming/diving if they were to elinmate the wrestling program. All other mens sports align with the SEC. For example Missouri is SEC and has wrestling and not mens tennis to be compatible with title 9. OU has wrestling and not swimming.
I could see OU keep the wrestling program, but decide to move conferences to perhaps the Big 10 for recruiting advantaes. Locally they have to compete with OSU and that hasnt been working out very well for them.
They were going to shut wrestling down for Lacrosse a few years ago, and then splashed some cash on their new coach.
OU has also been very active with the transfer portal recently. They had 3 transfers start last year - Prata/Grello/Moore. They added 3 more likely starters for this year - Henson/Schwartz/Nijenhuis. With Prata & Moore back, that could make 5 transfers in the lineup.Something changed. They have invested more into the program over the last five years than at any time in their history (facilities, coaches, budget, RTC).
They will push for continuing in the big 12 and the other programs will push for it as well.
Mizzou uses Prong Three (interest) to satisfy Title IX, one of the few schools with enough of a spine to do so. If they used Prong One (proportionality), they'd have to cut multiple men's sports to comply (football and their enormous roster alone would still keep them out of compliance, believe it or not).Even, if OU coaches and Big 12 programs are on board for OU to be an affliate school. It sounds like the desicison in the hands of Joe Castiglione who will likely consider the decision from a reveune perspective. The only sport OU would probably look at adding would be swimming/diving if they were to elinmate the wrestling program. All other mens sports align with the SEC. For example Missouri is SEC and has wrestling and not mens tennis to be compatible with title 9. OU has wrestling and not swimming.
I could see OU keep the wrestling program, but decide to move conferences to perhaps the Big 10 for recruiting advantaes. Locally they have to compete with OSU and that hasnt been working out very well for them.
Good stuff.I'd be quite fine with allowing the two SEC teams to wrestle off to see which can enter the Big 12 tournament, the loser can go home and wait till next year.