Where is Oklahoma at?

[Poel_Jeer]

So Flo did a ranking of this years recruiting class to date and the pokes came in 11th. Our class coming in is down from previous years, but I don't think that will hurt us much. We still have a lot of young talent that have already proven they can compete.

But the question is based on the other D1 state school.......OU.
They didn't even make the cut or even an honorable mention on this years class. They have fallen short and it seems like they are not getting back on track. The best recruits I see are the Thomas brothers from Cali.

I really hope they pick it up, cause as much as I...dislike OU, I really hope they do well for state pride, and for good competition. They need to pick it up, or just hire an OSU grad for head coach....

 

[Air_Thurman]

Somebody other than us in the Big 12 needs to start trending the right direction. They had ISU's class ranked high so that is a start.

 

[osu2082]

Somebody other than us in the Big 12 needs to start trending the right direction. They had ISU's class ranked high so that is a start.

We have seen some other non-power programs really enhance their standing over the past five years and as AT said we need one or two in the big 12 to do the same.

Our class was going to have somewhat of a lower ceiling due to size, roster spots and money available.

 

[Wheeling Cowboy]

I think our incoming class is very underrated.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

It's simple at OU....Cody can't recruit nor does he spend the needed time trying! Frayer recruited Milhoff and that's been that imo. Maybe he thought he was not getting his contract renewed which I believe he did. Don't know details. They will be decent this year but the year of 2017 will be embarrassing!!!! Don't understand it as I am close to some within that program!

 

[derek_state]

What's odd to me in general about UO is they schedule terrible competition every year. They never take a full squad to the open tournaments in November. At the OKC and Owasso tourneys Cody wasn't even there. If I were a recruit I would want to wrestle against the best competition I could find. I would want to have the opportunity to wrestle in the biggest and best atmospheres. Every year we always schedule the top tier teams. I always felt as though Spates was scheduling terribly just to pad his record and it seems to be the case with Cody as well. As much as I like to see them fail they need to turn their program around in the right direction. The more competitive the big 12 is the better it is for us IMHO.

 

[osu2082]

Iowa St. added another top 100 recruit to a class that was already ranked 7th so that is good for the conference.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Looking at it their schedule was not too bad... It did have Michigan, Lehigh, Missouri, of course the Boys twice, as well as NE Duals and Vegas. But, I think you nailed it with Cody...from what I have heard and even seen, he simply does not make his job a priority! Look no further then his recruiting classes. That's a shame for the state of OK.

 

[643Bsbl]

Go talk with the OU staff for 5 mins and you can see why they don't pull a lot of top kids.

 

[Wrassler223]

Go talk with the OU staff for 5 mins and you can see why they don't pull a lot of top kids.

Can you explain? Iv talked to Cody and Lightner for more than 5 mins and couldn't disagree more

 

[Sebastian]

They are very strict. My OU friends say we're the party school (too much) and act all pious that Cody won't allow the kids to drink or do anything regardless of age or in/out of season....like its BYU or something.

 

[NYWRESTLER94]

They are very strict. My OU friends say we're the party school (too much) and act all pious that Cody won't allow the kids to drink or do anything regardless of age or in/out of season....like its BYU or something.

Popolizio is the same exact way at NC State

 

[oberebo]

Popolizio is the same exact way at NC State

I do not want to come off sounding like a puritan here but what is wrong with making wrestlers accountable. I am the last person to say that drinking is unacceptable in college-my college days would belie that but wrestlers on scholarship or financial aid should be held to a higher standard. We have had several instances in the past few years involving drinking and/or drugs and frankly we have a problem at present with this. I am not saying get rid of a wrestler with a first offense but if there is a pattern developing you have to be firm and even-handed about how you handle it. I want the best wrestlers possible but sometimes the baggage coming with a wrestler infects the entire team. I am not talking about a specific case here but an overall pattern and I salute Mark Cody if he has decided to put a stop to the pattern.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

I agree that anyone on financial aid should be held more accountable but if coaches have a zero tolerance policy that is fine BUT do not use that as an excuse as to why you can't get big recruits when the underlying truth is that you (Cody) is simply not putting in the time to recruit. I, (as many within the program), feel this is the crutch being used as an excuse why recruiting is so down for OU. The lack of recruiting success comes down to one of two things: 1) you just are not good at it or ... 2) you are not giving the effort needed!

 

[oberebo]

I agree that anyone on financial aid should be held more accountable but if coaches have a zero tolerance policy that is fine BUT do not use that as an excuse as to why you can't get big recruits when the underlying truth is that you (Cody) is simply not putting in the time to recruit. I, (as many within the program), feel this is the crutch being used as an excuse why recruiting is so down for OU. The lack of recruiting success comes down to one of two things: 1) you just are not good at it or ... 2) you are not giving the effort needed!

I agree it should not be an excuse and I am at a loss why OU fans are not up in arms. Mark was well respected as an assistant at OSU and regarded as a good man wrestling or in life.

 

[oberebo]

I agree it should not be an excuse and I am at a loss why OU fans are not up in arms. Mark was well respected as an assistant at OSU and regarded as a good man wrestling or in life.

My last post on the subject as I do not want to appear to be crying Crocodile tears for the Swooners. One bad recruiting decision does not break a team. However, when that decision is really (3) decisions, i.e. the triplets, it really does limit your recruiting for a time. I can remember Mark indicating that he got the three best wrestlers in the state or something akin to that when he recruited the Dixons. I am sure they are fine young men but many of us were stunned by this decision at the time and while they are still Sophomores it does not appear that any of them will AA in their career and two of the three will probably not make the team as starters.

 

[NYWRESTLER94]

I do not want to come off sounding like a puritan here but what is wrong with making wrestlers accountable. I am the last person to say that drinking is unacceptable in college-my college days would belie that but wrestlers on scholarship or financial aid should be held to a higher standard. We have had several instances in the past few years involving drinking and/or drugs and frankly we have a problem at present with this. I am not saying get rid of a wrestler with a first offense but if there is a pattern developing you have to be firm and even-handed about how you handle it. I want the best wrestlers possible but sometimes the baggage coming with a wrestler infects the entire team. I am not talking about a specific case here but an overall pattern and I salute Mark Cody if he has decided to put a stop to the pattern.

I was just stating a fact to go along with what the poster before me stated, Pat is actually very strict with those rules which he made extremely clear in the recent NC State documentary. I actually agree with you mostly on your sentiments

 

[PennState1985]

I was just stating a fact to go along with what the poster before me stated, Pat is actually very strict with those rules which he made extremely clear in the recent NC State documentary. I actually agree with you mostly on your sentiments

I don't buy that kids don't want to go to OU because their drinking policy is too strict. As a mormon, Cael has a strict policy as well. No drinking in season period by anyone. Out of season, you better be 21. The Altons got suspended a month for drinking over a Christmas holiday at home, and everyone survived. Ed Ruth visited a Taco Bell telephone pole late one night in summer I believe and survived the repercussions.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Agreed....problem seems to be lack of effort in recruiting. Apperars some assistant coaches changes are on the near horizon!

 

[MiccoMacey]

1) Where is Oklahoma at? AT??? A preposition at the end of a sentence? What next, run on sentences? This board is going higgledy piggledy the moment I step away from the keyboard.

2) One 14 year stretch where we underperform, and people lose their minds. It's cyclical...we'll be right back to our normal top five-ten finishes soon enough.

3) Waiting to hear about Lightner. I want to see where his head is at. Oh no...I just ended a sentence with a preposition as well. This post has come full circle.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Howe apparently to NW as well!!!! Wheels are coming off!!!!

 

[oberebo]

1) Where is Oklahoma at? AT??? A preposition at the end of a sentence? What next, run on sentences? This board is going higgledy piggledy the moment I step away from the keyboard.

2) One 14 year stretch where we underperform, and people lose their minds. It's cyclical...we'll be right back to our normal top five-ten finishes soon enough.

3) Waiting to hear about Lightner. I want to see where his head is at. Oh no...I just ended a sentence with a preposition as well. This post has come full circle.

Micco, explain why The University of Oklahoma does not have a wrestling board. You could be giving that board the benefit of your great wisdom. Instead you have to preach to the enemy using such profound words as "higgledy piggledy. Words such as this which have 8 letters are two times the limit of a swooner to understand. Possibly you learned these words while attending and graduating from the good school in the state, Oklahoma State University.

 

[poke51]

1) Where is Oklahoma at? AT??? A preposition at the end of a sentence? What next, run on sentences? This board is going higgledy piggledy the moment I step away from the keyboard.

2) One 14 year stretch where we underperform, and people lose their minds. It's cyclical...we'll be right back to our normal top five-ten finishes soon enough.

3) Waiting to hear about Lightner. I want to see where his head is at. Oh no...I just ended a sentence with a preposition as well. This post has come full circle.

Split infinitives.

 

[MiccoMacey]

Where, per chance, might there be a split infinitive?

To see...to hear...not sure which infinitive I split.

 

[MiccoMacey]

Micco, explain why The University of Oklahoma does not have a wrestling board. You could be giving that board the benefit of your great wisdom. Instead you have to preach to the enemy using such profound words as "higgledy piggledy. Words such as this which have 8 letters are two times the limit of a swooner to understand. Possibly you learned these words while attending and graduating from the good school in the state, Oklahoma State University.

Quiet, you. Or I post a picture of you wearing a pretty damning Santa hat.

 

[poke51]

Where, per chance, might there be a split infinitive?

To see...to hear...not sure which infinitive I split.

None so far...I was just guessing about what to soon expect.

 

[PennState1985]

Howe apparently to NW as well!!!! Wheels are coming off!!!!

Great call on this!

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Also Brewer to Penn state and Lightner almost left too!!!!

 

[PennState1985]

How much more rope will OU give to Cody?

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Man.... That is a great question! He has totally destroyed the program since he took over! It is a lonnnnnnnnggggg way from ever getting back! I would be shocked if some others did not leave!

 

[PennState1985]

There are some great asst coaches out there, not to mention the big name post grads like Metcalf who seem ready for the next stage of their lives.

 

[PennState1985]

Also Brewer to Penn state and Lightner almost left too!!!!

Brewer's comments mentioned getting to a new environment. What in heavens name is the room like with Cody at the helm that the true blue sooners are leaving like they are on fire?

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Cody will not hire anyone that feels will test his authority! That's why Frayer left! He would never bring in a big name! They would figure out just how little he knows or does! It is a true wonder how he is still there!

 

[MiccoMacey]

Cody will not hire anyone that feels will test his authority! That's why Frayer left! He would never bring in a big name! They would figure out just how little he knows or does! It is a true wonder how he is still there!

And you know this because.....

 

[cowboyalum1990]

Have I been wrong yet?????

 

[MiccoMacey]

Have I been wrong yet?????

No, you've been remarkably accurate. Just curious if you have a source, or if this is just internet fodder from a Rival fan.

 

[chasepollard]

Whatever is going on needs to be fixed. The sport needs as many programs to be strong as possible, especially programs that have some history.

I guess Smith will have to help them recruit and send some more of our Wrestlers down there as assistants so that the program can keep its head above water.

 

[OkieSpladle]

Whatever is going on needs to be fixed. The sport needs as many programs to be strong as possible, especially programs that have some history.

I guess Smith will have to help them recruit and send some more of our Wrestlers down there as assistants so that the program can keep its head above water.

They did alright until Tyrone left.

 

[cowboyalum1990]

I'm an OSU fan but also a homer! I want OU to be 2nd best. OU as well as the state has a tremendously rich history in this great sport and there is NO reason OU or OSU should ever be where the Sooners are. It has been a steady downfall since Cody got there. I'm like a lot of other people.... I feel he is a fine guy but a horrible manager/coach. If you can't recruit with the OU tradition 3 National Champs plus Haze hanging around then something is wrong! I started pokin fun cause I'm an OSU fan first but now it has gotten embarrassing for the state of OK. Name one guy on that team that has gotten better AND has a bright future....Jeffries could pan out and Milhoff had a good year....honestly I'm not bashing to be bashing I'm just frustrated watching a historic program die a slow painful death because of the head coach.

 

[oberebo]

I'm an OSU fan but also a homer! I want OU to be 2nd best. OU as well as the state has a tremendously rich history in this great sport and there is NO reason OU or OSU should ever be where the Sooners are. It has been a steady downfall since Cody got there. I'm like a lot of other people.... I feel he is a fine guy but a horrible manager/coach. If you can't recruit with the OU tradition 3 National Champs plus Haze hanging around then something is wrong! I started pokin fun cause I'm an OSU fan first but now it has gotten embarrassing for the state of OK. Name one guy on that team that has gotten better AND has a bright future....Jeffries could pan out and Milhoff had a good year....honestly I'm not bashing to be bashing I'm just frustrated watching a historic program die a slow painful death because of the head coach.

I like everything you said above. I want OU to be strong as I believe that both programs benefit when there is a strong interstate rivalry. I am beginning to believe that there just is not enough support for wrestling at OU. They like winners and their basketball and football programs are on top now. It just may be that Castiglione does not care enough about a minor sport such as wrestling to demand more or sink more money in a non-revenue sport.