No more pole vault at Oklahoma University

[rainbowgirl28]

The other silly thing is that while the NCAA has limits on how many coaches a program can have on staff, it makes an exception to allow a volunteer vault coach to be added and not count against anyone else.

I can't imagine how OU thought it would hurt them to keep the event. They must already have a decent pole selection. If you want to stop giving scholarships in it that's one thing, but to entirely eliminate all vaulters is pretty extreme.

Mitch, did they release you from your NLI?

[achtungpv]

Mitch, call Mario Sategna at Texas. I'm sure he'd love to bring you down to a program OU aspires to be.

[OUvaulterUSAF]

As a an OU track (pole vault) alum, this puts a bad taste in my mouth about the program at OU. I constantly would rave about the program there. I was back briefly after 8 years in March/Apr and that placed has changed--the facilities for the better, the attitude for the worst.

Take my name off the plaque at the indoor until the pole vault is reinstated.

[Tim McMichael]

Mitch, If you want a reference to anywhere, just let me know. I was pretty impressed with your potential.

[Tim McMichael]

I think Tim is saying that the vault can be an up and down event. Not as predictable as a distance event. Distance runner usually run about the same times no mater what a vaulter can be all over the place. This drives head coaches crazy they like dependability.

I want to further clarify what I said about this decision in regard to scoring points. I am well aware that multiple points are available in the vault. One of the things that is so frustrating is that I believed we had the talent to dominate a really tough conference. We could have been dangerous at that level with multiple athletes capable of winning it all. A lot of things can go wrong, but the potential was there.

Also, when I said that the blame is partially mine, I did not mean that my skills as a coach were not up to the task, only that I did not lobby for the event as hard as I might have. The truth is that I did not think it was something I had to fight for. I really had no idea that the vault would be cut until it was too late to do anything about it. As far as I know this decision could have been made weeks before I was told about it, and it may well be that nothing I did would have made a difference. All I am saying is that I was the coach of one of OU's best athletes when this thing happened, and I am wondering if there is anything I could have done to stop it.

[OUvaulterUSAF]

All I am saying is that I was the coach of one of OU's best athletes when this thing happened, and I am wondering if there is anything I could have done to stop it.

I doubt it Tim.

I think the wheels were set in motion long ago when they destroyed the wooden runway from the Myriad (instead of selling it). Coupled with Colorado winning Big 12 outdoors with distance runners. Next thing you'll know OU will be known for distance running.

[kat_vaulter]

OU will never be known as a distance powerhouse. They could have been a Vault powerhouse though. When you put a distance coach at the helm that is what he wants, Distance Distance Distance!

[Mitch]

Sorry I have been in cali for the past few days with Jan Johnson and it looks like I missed a big topic. Yes I have been released to talk to other schools and visit schools. Whenever I want a complete release it can be done, this is only a safety net. My head has been spinning the past few weeks especially with the state meet fiasco. I finally cleared 17 with a bar in practice and extremely close to 5.30 from a shorter approach holding down. I think I have the potential for at least 5.35 this summer.

I was sitting in the airport and I saw a man wearing an OU hat and it's just a terrible thing happening and I wasn't even a part of it and I still can feel it....

The thing that really sucks is a lot of schools have no more money and I have no more official visits. The German (Marvin Reitz) seems to have a pretty good 3 college visit set up in the next 2 weeks, I really feel for him more than anything. You will never see a German pole vaulter go to OU every again, and to think what kind of connection he could have been for the vault program there.

[Mitch]

A little side note to ponder.... They could of potentially had three 18 footers all for about exactly 1 scholarship. Now is that dirt cheap or what?!?!?! O well, I have the biggest chip on my shoulder now, I should go to Jr Nationals with a shirt that says F*** Universities and win the whole thing. (I was totally kidding but that is truly how I feel, no one seems to invest in the personal side of things at these big time universities, I would like to say Mark Napier did and he seemed like a genuine guy, if my interpretation on the situation means anything it is that he was forced out emotionally. His heart was put in the OU system and he couldn't stand what the head coach was doing to his goals. So he is seeking a head coaching job someplace and will do more than fine, he's got a his head on his shoulders to say the least.)

The program looked as if they were basically going ALL field events with a little distance, now who knows because I kno they don't have any sprinters coming in. They brough in one of the top throws coach in the nation from UNC and they basically had everything set for the field now the jackass deserves to come in last at big 12's this next year and get fired like he did at Oregon.

[dj]

good morning

you are right to call some head coaches A holes.. i worked for a few at the NCAA level.. decided i would do my coaching in an invironement i could control...

the vault is "coach" driven and a few schools, i.e. Tenn and Rice to name two.. have coaches, Tenn head coach and rice vault coach, that make it important...

if and when those things change the vault is the first event to get the axe.

here are the "excuses" 1. to many no-heights.. 2. to many poles..and issues getting them to meets 3. to many "idoit" mental vaulters..

i don't believe any of those.. but i'm a vault coach..

sorry to see things go that way at OU.. JD had a good thing going way back.. before most..

dj

[Mitch]

I have to say that the most down to earth head coach is Ralph Spry at Auburn. He doesn't think he is better than anyone else BECAUSE he is a head coach at a D I level. In fact he promoted two assistants to assistant head coaches this year because he takes no glory in running the show. If only every place was like this.

And I don't think JD will get fired because he turned a program around in a very short amount of time to win outdoor Big 12's last year that in years before was at the bottom half of the conference.

[vault3rb0y]

I feel for ya man, but that would be pretty BA. Go to juniors and win, and have colleges be like "oh where is he going?" and find out how stupid oklahoma is to lose you.