fan of the sport, very good feedback. As to this question:
Vince,
Maybe someday in this NCAA conference realignment mess, Kansas could end up in the Big 10. Kansas would almost be pressured to field a wrestling team as they would be the only team in the conference without it. Do you think this be enough to do it?
Yes, this is what I have been suggesting as a possible scenario. If the Big 12 goes thru another head for the hills doomsday scenario like the last two that has ended up with Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M and Missouri leaving the conference, I could see the possibility of the Big Ten offering KU a spot due to their perennial nationally high ranked basketball team but I believe the Big Ten would probably insist in the offer that KU field a wrestling team along with the rest of the conference. Of course I would like to see them make that same offer to KSU but I think that would be less likely to happen. I think the Big Ten could find KU attractive if they would like to elevate their basketball footprint. I read an article last Fall that a Nebraska sportwriter wrote suggesting the Big 10 might eventually make that offer to KU but he did not mention anything about wrestling. To me it would make sense though that they would require KU to add wrestling in this scenario. So yes I really do see it as a possibility probably not a strong one but who would have thought two years ago that Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M and Missouri would be leaving the Big 12?
Vince,
Also good to see the current revival of small college wrestling in Kansas. I think these small NAIA schools realize that they need to compete for students, and that providing an opportunity for wrestlers helps bring students to their institutions.
Yes, the NAIA colleges are competing for students and wrestling is helping them to bring in needed enrollment at these schools. Kansas has been the beneficiary with the addition of Baker University in 2009, Bethany College this year and Benedictine College next season in the Fall of 2012. This is great and I hope more like Ottawa and Mid American Nazarene join in this trend in the future. The costs after scholarships can still be very expensive and the program operating costs increase each year so any financial help we can give these programs along with D-II schools Fort Hays State and Newman and JCs Labette, Pratt, Neosho, NWKTC and Colby is very important so we can make attending these schools as affordable as possible for future wrestlers.
