What does OSU really need to do to assure ourselves of a home in the next decade when the conference inevitably crumbles? The writing has been on the wall for 3 years now that this conference isn't structured nor does it have the manpower to last the ultimate test of time. Eventually, we will be getting lapped by the B1G, PAC, SEC and possibly the ACC if FSU/Duke/North Carolina/etc. keep doing their thing.
Does OSU need to simply win a NC in one of the major 3 sports in the not-too-distant future?
Add another billion in endowment to begin to catch up with the academic hogs?
Really get Stillwater developed and make it more aesthetically and economically attractive, as far as the state of Oklahoma will allow?
Just maintain a cordial relationship with Texas and OU and hope to God that nothing changes the status quo and we wind up with them?
I had one of the most intelligent conversations on the topic a couple weeks ago with a client who is a UCLA grad. Hearing an educated person's thoughts who follows college athletics closely on OSU's position moving forward was a good change of pace outside of the conversation with the same people over and over. I didn't necessarily agree with all of his opinions, not that his opinions really mattered, but he did mention a few things that I had not completely thought through all way.
His opinions were pretty much that OSU needs to do 2 of the things above within the next 5 years to really bring that recent history to the table when realignment happens again, or just hope that "big brothers" bring us along with them.
In summary, his outsider thoughts were that OSU needs to ramp up its academic ranking/endowment funds and make it more attractive on the surface and pass the eye test with the academic snobs out west. In his words, "do you think a Washington State or Oregon State would find a good landing spot if they weren't already grandfathered in? Neither have good academics, and neither Pullman nor Corvalis are places that scream 'we gotta have these guys.'" Basically that Stillwater isn't exactly a place that will appear desirable with the other conference destinations like L.A, Palo Alto, Boulder, Phoenix, Seattle, etc. in terms of a university location they would want to add. Sadly, only OSU fans know what Stillwater is really and truly about and know her country-like beauty when we see it. As far as the rest of the nation is concerned, it's an hour north of OKC and an hour west of Tulsa in the middle of nowhere with a handful of people, which pretty much hits the nail on the head.
His other opinion on OSU moving forward was to simply win a title in the next 5 years in either baseball, basketball or football, and carry that clout into the meeting of the minds in 7-8 years when it gets stirred up again. Without having a great deal of academic clout, other conferences would have to take a flyer that the production and the contribution to the conference as a whole will come on the field or court. His example; Louisville. His thought was something close to: "Do you really think that Louisville would have landed anywhere had they not been a consistent force in basketball and picking it up big time in football? Louisville is a decent sized city, but it's less than half of what OKC is and, by default, norman. Make no mistake that if OU didn't have football to fall back on that no one would be giving them a call. OU without football is a slightly more academic prestigious version of Texas Tech."
Again, I know these opinions mean nothing.
Does OSU need to simply win a NC in one of the major 3 sports in the not-too-distant future?
Add another billion in endowment to begin to catch up with the academic hogs?
Really get Stillwater developed and make it more aesthetically and economically attractive, as far as the state of Oklahoma will allow?
Just maintain a cordial relationship with Texas and OU and hope to God that nothing changes the status quo and we wind up with them?
I had one of the most intelligent conversations on the topic a couple weeks ago with a client who is a UCLA grad. Hearing an educated person's thoughts who follows college athletics closely on OSU's position moving forward was a good change of pace outside of the conversation with the same people over and over. I didn't necessarily agree with all of his opinions, not that his opinions really mattered, but he did mention a few things that I had not completely thought through all way.
His opinions were pretty much that OSU needs to do 2 of the things above within the next 5 years to really bring that recent history to the table when realignment happens again, or just hope that "big brothers" bring us along with them.
In summary, his outsider thoughts were that OSU needs to ramp up its academic ranking/endowment funds and make it more attractive on the surface and pass the eye test with the academic snobs out west. In his words, "do you think a Washington State or Oregon State would find a good landing spot if they weren't already grandfathered in? Neither have good academics, and neither Pullman nor Corvalis are places that scream 'we gotta have these guys.'" Basically that Stillwater isn't exactly a place that will appear desirable with the other conference destinations like L.A, Palo Alto, Boulder, Phoenix, Seattle, etc. in terms of a university location they would want to add. Sadly, only OSU fans know what Stillwater is really and truly about and know her country-like beauty when we see it. As far as the rest of the nation is concerned, it's an hour north of OKC and an hour west of Tulsa in the middle of nowhere with a handful of people, which pretty much hits the nail on the head.
His other opinion on OSU moving forward was to simply win a title in the next 5 years in either baseball, basketball or football, and carry that clout into the meeting of the minds in 7-8 years when it gets stirred up again. Without having a great deal of academic clout, other conferences would have to take a flyer that the production and the contribution to the conference as a whole will come on the field or court. His example; Louisville. His thought was something close to: "Do you really think that Louisville would have landed anywhere had they not been a consistent force in basketball and picking it up big time in football? Louisville is a decent sized city, but it's less than half of what OKC is and, by default, norman. Make no mistake that if OU didn't have football to fall back on that no one would be giving them a call. OU without football is a slightly more academic prestigious version of Texas Tech."
Again, I know these opinions mean nothing.
