Post by idaho on Aug 8, 2023 7:01:08 GMT -8
Obviously the Pac-12 conference is in shambles. Next year could be the last year of a legit Pac-12 wrestling tournament. The question will be, where OSU lands in terms of wrestling. Don't believe some of the stuff people are throwing out there on social media about OSU cutting wrestling. We have a significant endowment and huge support from the university. So what are the options beyond this year?
1. If the Pac 12 does merge with the Mountain West in an official capacity, any schools that have wrestling in the new Pac-MW conference would have to compete in the new conference. That would include Air Force and Wyoming. A new conference would look like this: OSU, Poly, Bakersfield, Stanford, Wyoming, Airforce and Little Rock (If they stay - they really belong in an eastern conference). I don't see any teams in the WAC that the PAC 12 would purge for a new conference. So with that said, I don't think we will see Utah Valley, Cal. Baptist or a new program coming from Tarleton, Texas. It would be great to have for wrestling, but they would not fit a new conference. Could they move from the B12 to a new conference? Possibly, but I don't see that happening. It would be a downgrade for them. Currently Army is the only independent team that has wrestling and the compete in the EIWA which is great for them.
2. The Pac 12 could merge with the MW but allow wrestling to explore other conferences. Wrestling has always been in a weird situation with non-members making up part of the conference for wrestling in order to have a conference. It could be that a new conference does not have wrestling and OSU has to seek out a new home. Where would this be? The most obvious choice would be the B12. I could see us being easily welcomed in for wrestling.
3. OSU could land in a different conference all together and dictate where we will be wrestling. The two more rumored landing spots are the B12 and the ACC. However, recent reports now have us looking in from the outside on that. Despite a #17 final ranking in football and a throttling of Florida, conferences want markets and Stanford and Cal have a California market. Wrestling in the Big 12 would be great, however the ACC would present some challenges for dual matches. There would have to be creative scheduling where we see several Tri-matches in one day. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing more of that anyway.
4. Another concern for the conference is where Bakersfield and Poly end up. I think Little Rock would have an easy time getting into the MAC out east or some other conference - and it would make sense. Stanford will end up somewhere I am sure. The two outliers are Bakersfield and Poly. I hate to see teams drop programs, however Bakersfield being a self supported program is in a tough spot. To change conferences and add a lot of travel to their schedule is going increase the cost. My hope is that whatever happens they tag along with us to a new conference or stay put in a re-worked Pac -MW conference.
Lastly, I appreciate what our coaches have done with the scheduling. We have an absolutely stacked schedule this season with PSU coming to town. They have done an excellent job with creating big time opportunities on the road and at tournaments. Nobody can say that we have a cake schedule or that you won't see the best if you go to OSU. Coaches are making sure our kids are battle tested.
I applaud you for making it though this post. Kudos.
1. If the Pac 12 does merge with the Mountain West in an official capacity, any schools that have wrestling in the new Pac-MW conference would have to compete in the new conference. That would include Air Force and Wyoming. A new conference would look like this: OSU, Poly, Bakersfield, Stanford, Wyoming, Airforce and Little Rock (If they stay - they really belong in an eastern conference). I don't see any teams in the WAC that the PAC 12 would purge for a new conference. So with that said, I don't think we will see Utah Valley, Cal. Baptist or a new program coming from Tarleton, Texas. It would be great to have for wrestling, but they would not fit a new conference. Could they move from the B12 to a new conference? Possibly, but I don't see that happening. It would be a downgrade for them. Currently Army is the only independent team that has wrestling and the compete in the EIWA which is great for them.
2. The Pac 12 could merge with the MW but allow wrestling to explore other conferences. Wrestling has always been in a weird situation with non-members making up part of the conference for wrestling in order to have a conference. It could be that a new conference does not have wrestling and OSU has to seek out a new home. Where would this be? The most obvious choice would be the B12. I could see us being easily welcomed in for wrestling.
3. OSU could land in a different conference all together and dictate where we will be wrestling. The two more rumored landing spots are the B12 and the ACC. However, recent reports now have us looking in from the outside on that. Despite a #17 final ranking in football and a throttling of Florida, conferences want markets and Stanford and Cal have a California market. Wrestling in the Big 12 would be great, however the ACC would present some challenges for dual matches. There would have to be creative scheduling where we see several Tri-matches in one day. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing more of that anyway.
4. Another concern for the conference is where Bakersfield and Poly end up. I think Little Rock would have an easy time getting into the MAC out east or some other conference - and it would make sense. Stanford will end up somewhere I am sure. The two outliers are Bakersfield and Poly. I hate to see teams drop programs, however Bakersfield being a self supported program is in a tough spot. To change conferences and add a lot of travel to their schedule is going increase the cost. My hope is that whatever happens they tag along with us to a new conference or stay put in a re-worked Pac -MW conference.
Lastly, I appreciate what our coaches have done with the scheduling. We have an absolutely stacked schedule this season with PSU coming to town. They have done an excellent job with creating big time opportunities on the road and at tournaments. Nobody can say that we have a cake schedule or that you won't see the best if you go to OSU. Coaches are making sure our kids are battle tested.
I applaud you for making it though this post. Kudos.
. It would definitely stretch the budget more than it is now. However, I think all wrestling teams for the sake of budget should do tri meets. Charge a little more for a tri meet to get most of your money back on attendance fees, but save a lot by not having travel fees for 16-20 people for a few events. Just an idea. 
