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WWC wrestling merge into the Big 12 ?

L

lakesbison

Well-known member
NDSU Wyoming Air Force SDSU could merge into the Big 12 if the rumors are true. This would be awesome there's been speculation on Oklahoma States board and a play by play guy blurted it out over the weekend.

This would be amazing if it comes to fruition.

Just google it there's tons of talk out there.

What say you....
 
It's been in talks for a long time.. I had a convo w/ Mark Branch about a year ago on the subject.. I think a PAC12 merger would be more appropriate given Fresno (probably) and Boise are in there
 
Wow. This would be awesome if there's actually any truth to these rumors. The one flaw that I see is that there are currently four Big XII members who wrestle: OU, OSU, ISU and WV. It would make sense to add another program in addition to the three mentioned above which would make eight, a perfect number for a balanced bracket.
 
As noted, this has been in discussion for a while.

The Big XII is interested in a merger since they only have four existing wrestling members and they no longer count as an automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament. All NCAA qualifier tournaments receive spots for at least the winner of every weight class. Additional spots are allocated based on the record/performance of the conferences wrestlers at that weight. Finally, a few wild card qualifiers are chosen at each weight from the best wrestlers not already qualified. The Big XII does not receive any qualifying allocations and instead all Big XII wrestlers must receive at large bids. The WWC currently serves as a qualifier. They get the winner of each weight plus other earned spots along with potential wildcard spots. Hence the reason the Big XII wants to merge.

The PC 12 still serves as an official qualifier, hence no incentive to merge. The Big XII/WWC merger almost happened two years ago. Then, the Big XII was in talks to join the ACC for wrestling, but that turned into a discussion of which conference would keep their name on the tournament etc. Now, we are back to the Big XII/WWC.

I am all for this, Wyoming already wrestles OU and OSU every year (beating OU this year and giving OSU a battle to the end). This will lead to a better program here at UW by allowing our wrestlers to be in the Big XII tournament (between OSU, OU, and ISU there are about 40 national championships). This will allow UW to recruit wrestlers who want to wrestle these traditional powers.

UW can succeed and do well in this conference. Right now OSU is the best team. ISU probably second. UW and NDSU probably third (a little ahead of OU).

I also suspect that it will be the entire WWC that merges (inclusing UW, AF, SDSU, NDSU, UNC, and UVU) for a total of 10 teams.
 
Ugh, do not want to take UVU. I do not want to be attached to that loser school in any way, shape or form.
 
Newyooper. Excellent post and great explanation. I know there has been some discussion about WY joining the Big Xii for several years but never knew how serious it became. I also was not aware of a total merger of the two conferences but I think that would be even better. As has been pointed out, two of these schools have already shown a willingness to come to Laramie and WY joining the B-XII would be great for the University and the wrestling/athletic program. I can't really think of any negatives for WY if this were to happen but maybe I am looking through things with rose colored glasses.
 
American Horse said:
Newyooper. Excellent post and great explanation. I know there has been some discussion about WY joining the Big Xii for several years but never knew how serious it became. I also was not aware of a total merger of the two conferences but I think that would be even better. As has been pointed out, two of these schools have already shown a willingness to come to Laramie and WY joining the B-XII would be great for the University and the wrestling/athletic program. I can't really think of any negatives for WY if this were to happen but maybe I am looking through things with rose colored glasses.
Click to expand...

I know its not quite the same but loom at tcu and utah football when they moved up in conferences.
I think wyo moving to Big12 in wrestling is a great move. Take an already ranked program and beef it up that much more.
 
NewYooper said:
As noted, this has been in discussion for a while.

The Big XII is interested in a merger since they only have four existing wrestling members and they no longer count as an automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament. All NCAA qualifier tournaments receive spots for at least the winner of every weight class. Additional spots are allocated based on the record/performance of the conferences wrestlers at that weight. Finally, a few wild card qualifiers are chosen at each weight from the best wrestlers not already qualified. The Big XII does not receive any qualifying allocations and instead all Big XII wrestlers must receive at large bids. The WWC currently serves as a qualifier. They get the winner of each weight plus other earned spots along with potential wildcard spots. Hence the reason the Big XII wants to merge.

The PC 12 still serves as an official qualifier, hence no incentive to merge. The Big XII/WWC merger almost happened two years ago. Then, the Big XII was in talks to join the ACC for wrestling, but that turned into a discussion of which conference would keep their name on the tournament etc. Now, we are back to the Big XII/WWC.

I am all for this, Wyoming already wrestles OU and OSU every year (beating OU this year and giving OSU a battle to the end). This will lead to a better program here at UW by allowing our wrestlers to be in the Big XII tournament (between OSU, OU, and ISU there are about 40 national championships). This will allow UW to recruit wrestlers who want to wrestle these traditional powers.

UW can succeed and do well in this conference. Right now OSU is the best team. ISU probably second. UW and NDSU probably third (a little ahead of OU).

I also suspect that it will be the entire WWC that merges (inclusing UW, AF, SDSU, NDSU, UNC, and UVU) for a total of 10 teams.
Click to expand...
Great post. How excited would Branch and his Boyz be were this to happen? You'd think recruiting could/would jump to a new level. Having OSU, OU and ISU in Laramie every other year (permanently) would be quite appealing.
 
NDSU has Gopher wrestlers Kish & Riveria as coaches they want to be in big 12 for recruiting reasons to keep pushing ndsu up the top 25 poll (24 now)
Wyoming wrestling Oklahoma State down there every year would be awesome right?
 
LanderPoke said:
stymeman said:
i lived in Omaha and meant to go but something didn't let me go back in 2010
Click to expand...
Omaha is an ok city.
Click to expand...

was only there 3 months b4 I missed Mountains too much and moved back to Casper, lol
too much snow and cold Jan 1, 2010-Apr. 1. 2010, but i gave it a shot, great restaurants!!!
 
I just moved from Omaha to Merritt Island, Fl last month...I think I like Florida. No wonder the BBall coaches spend so much time down here! Haha
 
nice, but if i couldn't hack Omaha there's no way I could do Florida year round, i lived in Phoenix 20 months b4 i missed seasons too much...lol
 
stymeman said:
LanderPoke said:
stymeman said:
i lived in Omaha and meant to go but something didn't let me go back in 2010
Click to expand...
Omaha is an ok city.
Click to expand...

was only there 3 months b4 I missed Mountains too much and moved back to Casper, lol
too much snow and cold Jan 1, 2010-Apr. 1. 2010, but i gave it a shot, great restaurants!!!
Click to expand...

Too much snow and cold so you moved to CASPER?!?! Ha, but I digress...

This would be a big move for UW wrestling. Being associated with Big XII wrestling would certainly help recruiting. The only "downside" I see to this is more competition might yield less of our guys going to nationals because they will get beat out at conference. But that's alright, if you could win your weight class at conference, you are instantly gonna be a Top 8, maybe Top 3 seed. Gotta beat the best to be the best.
 
Seems we are all pretty much in agreement this would be a good move for UW? My question is, is there any substance to this rumour? I remember hearing this same thing as long as 3 years ago. Is there anyone out there "in the know that can enlighten us? Are there currently talks going on or are there plans for them in the future? Is there any "meat" to this or is it just one of those things that comes up every year?
 
Just a side note here to some of you fellow posters. I have been to several NCAA tournaments but must say Omaha has a special place in my heart. About 3 rows in front of me and just a little to my left, two young (college age) ladies started arguing. Not sure if they were wives/sisters/girlfriends of wrestlers but both were very animated! It didn't take very long and then they started scrapping in the stands and it was a good one. Nobody really stepped in to break it up until security came and escorted them out. Something I will definetly never forget!
 
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