Please forgive me for asking a question that I'm sure has been previously addressed. The four West Coast Big teams did not compete in the wrestling championships this past weekend. Do they not field wrestling teams or did they opt out of the wrestling part of the conference because of distance and travel concerns?
USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon
- Thread starter Jason1743
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The rumor is both Washington and Oregon are considering starting up programs.
Iowa is studying that model.
I thought Iowa had already made wrestling a club sport.
A portal sportI thought Iowa had already made wrestling a club sport.
I seriously thought the B1G would require those four schools reinstate wrestling programs as a part of their joining the conference. But I guess non-revenue sport ......
I was hoping the same. Or, I was hoping they may feel compelled to do so since all other members have wrestling.
I am hoping that more women’s wrestling teams will lead to more men’s. The Title IX affect would be negated.
We discussed this at the time of the merger, but worth repeating:
No Big Ten school is adding sports until they have a couple years of data on what revenue sharing looks like, and on the costs of cross-country travel for all teams; and until NIL stabilizes.
If a big-hitter donor wants to cough up enough money to start a new sport -- or 2 if required for Title IX compliance -- every Athletics Dept in the country is steering them toward Football NIL. Or toward buying out the football coaches.
Some donors will always be found for big but lesser items like hiring new coaches, facilities upgrades, and the like. These pale in comparison to endowing a new sport.
And that's before asking how soon a Power 4 school will want to add a sport that loses money everywhere.
No Big Ten school is adding sports until they have a couple years of data on what revenue sharing looks like, and on the costs of cross-country travel for all teams; and until NIL stabilizes.
If a big-hitter donor wants to cough up enough money to start a new sport -- or 2 if required for Title IX compliance -- every Athletics Dept in the country is steering them toward Football NIL. Or toward buying out the football coaches.
Some donors will always be found for big but lesser items like hiring new coaches, facilities upgrades, and the like. These pale in comparison to endowing a new sport.
And that's before asking how soon a Power 4 school will want to add a sport that loses money everywhere.
Not to mention what happens when the SEC and B10 take their Tonka’s and leave the sandbox for their own thing.
Oregon was the last to go when Phil Knight killed the program in 2008.
I lived out around Seattle for a few years, I was suprised how popular High school Wrestling is in Washington. Girls wrestling is picking up traction as well, even in smaller schools. Our family friend was 3rd at states this year in 3A at HWT. They need to consolidate though, 5 divisions is too many.