WVU joining Big12 and how it affects the nonexistent Men's Track program.

...

Interesting. Where did you get the info on the Big12 requirements? If that is indeed the case then it appears as though they will have to add a track team.

WVU is the rare school that has a Title IX surplus - more women in sports than they need to meet the requirement. According to DOE data they had 302 men and 320 women for the 09-10 school year. That includes the triple counted women on the track/XC teams. Without duplicates the ratio is 302/237.

WVU's gender ratio is 55% male and 45% female.

I don't know exactly how Title IX works. If they really can count duplicates then they have a big surplus and could add men's track/XC without running afoul of the law.

The Big12 will probably give them a grace period to get those teams started.

Conference Craziness wrote:

The Big 12 requires that a school must have at least 6 of the following 7 men's sports to be apart of the conference.

Cross Country

Football

Basketball

Baseball

Golf

Indoor Track & Field

Outdoor Track & Field

WVU only sponsors Football, Basketball, and Baseball teams of these 7. Will West Virginia be forced to bring a DI Track program back to the state along with the addition of a Cross Country program?

I read somewhere that the SEC wanted WVU to add back men's track as well if they were to be considered for admission.

dude stay off letsrun...

http://members6.boardhost.com/runbum/msg/1319852427.html

Has any university ever been sanctioned for not following title IX by the federal government? I believe in the recent Delaware unpleasentness it came out that not one ever has been.

Also Im surprised that it hasnt been discussed on here- what about the 2000 dollar extra bonus money that conferences are going to be paying athletes. Thats 170000 dollars per year per team they will have to find for each football team. That is a big problem- not in the BCS confs of course but for the lame mid majors that think they can compete with the BCS teams and cut all of their other sports so that they can go 3-8 every year.

Conference Craziness wrote:

http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/handbook/Bylaws.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10410

If this is the case, I wonder if Cleary would run both programs or would they look to bring in an alum like Pete Watson to run the men's(or women's) program?

Sponsor a sport and offer scholarships in a sport may be two different matters. Look at Boston College right now.

Cleary would coach both, WVU would never spend more $ than it has to on track/XC. Besides, there are still some people in the athletic department who remember Pete as a student...

jutreds wrote:

Cleary would coach both, WVU would never spend more $ than it has to on track/XC. Besides, there are still some people in the athletic department who remember Pete as a student...

How about his guy?(Anybody have those Helly Hansen videos that Donker appeared in a few years ago):

Bob Donker

Regional Director Export and License Markets at Helly Hansen

Oslo Area, Norway Sporting Goods

Current

Regional Director Export and License Markets at Helly Hansen

Past

Global Head of Footwear Sales at Helly Hansen

Footwear Buyer at Gresvig

Sales Manager at Brooks Sports

Education

West Virginia University

Recommendations

2 people have recommended Bob

Connections

260 connections

Bob Donker's Summary

Currently responsible for the international development of Helly Hansen’s business in the emerging and converging markets covering Asia Pacific, Russia, Central East Europe, South and Central America. The main tasks include P&L responsibility, geographic expansion, establishing the right business models/partners for each market, contract negotiations including implementation, strategic planning with local execution and target setting, brand and channel development including Helly Hansen Retail expansion.

Specialties

Business Development

Market Assessment

Sales Management

General Management

Relationship and Communication Skills

Extensive International Experience

Bob Donker's Experience

Regional Director Export and License Markets

Helly Hansen

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Apparel & Fashion industry

October 2006 – Present (5 years 1 month)

Global Head of Footwear Sales

Helly Hansen

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Apparel & Fashion industry

2004 – 2006 (2 years)

Footwear Buyer

Gresvig

March 2004 – September 2004 (7 months)

Sales Manager

Brooks Sports

Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Sporting Goods industry

1996 – 2003 (7 years)

Part of the initial team that established Brooks as a top brand in the running category in the United States. Various positions in the marketing department before moving into sales in 2000.

Brooks Sports makes men's and women's high-performance running shoes, apparel, and accessories that meet the needs of runners of all levels. Entirely focused on the run, Brooks is dedicated to inspiring people to run and be active. Brooks creates innovative equipment that keeps you running longer, farther and faster—and with more enjoyment of the run.

Bob Donker's Education

West Virginia University

Marketing

1990 – 1994

Hey Bud wrote:

If this is the case, I wonder if Cleary would run both programs or would they look to bring in an alum like Pete Watson to run the men's(or women's) program?

I'd go with Bob Donker.

That dude was a stud.

jutreds wrote:

Cleary would coach both, WVU would never spend more $ than it has to on track/XC. Besides, there are still some people in the athletic department who remember Pete as a student...

There's no way that the current HC is going to take on a men's team without a bump in salary and a few more assistants.

It would still be the cheapest way to go. The Big12 bylaws say the schools have to sponsor the sports, not that they have to be fully funded. Still, they have to have 5-8 scholarships at least.

categorically wrote:

There's no way that the current HC is going to take on a men's team without a bump in salary and a few more assistants.

You don't know Sean, do you?

jutreds wrote:

You don't know Sean, do you?

From what I know he's a great coach and a good guy. I didn't want to imply that he'd only be looking out for himself.

But right now he only has one paid assistant and three volunteer coaches. So if they AD comes to him and says "Hey, we need you to start a men's team to make this multi-million dollar football deal happen" I think he should at least be asking to get a few of his coaches paid.

He was there when the fat cats cut the men's team so it's a little ironic that they will be needing him to join the big12.

West Virginia is moving into a conference that shares revenue that will give them around $20 million a year. They can add another track coach.[quote]Hey Bud wrote:

[quote]jutreds wrote:

"WVU would never spend more $ than it has to on track/XC"

I am a hs coach and I'd NEVER send one of my athletes to a school that is coached by pete watson. What a wack job!

Does anyone have any idea if there will be a golf team next year at WVU.

They already have a nice mondo track, so at least that part is covered

Conference Craziness wrote:

The Big 12 requires that a school must have at least 6 of the following 7 men's sports to be apart

"a part"

of the conference.

Looks as though this matter is receiving some attention on campus at WVU as well.

http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/column-big-12-move-should-resurrect-men-s-distance-programs-1.2678832#.TrGXUeagrkE