No more pole vault at Oklahoma University

[SCPV]

Its true that if you want to vault and improve bad enough, it will happen, no matter where you go to college. As far as I know there are vault communities in everywhere, no matter where you go to school and if you try hard enough you can find good people that will help you out (alumni, aspiring vaulters, coaches, etc.)

I go to USC and we haven't had a vault coach for the past two years, we help each other out, and commute around to other places where there are coaches. SC alumni and other vaulters in the area are usually willing to come out every once in awhile and help us out if we express the need.

One of our guys just improved from being a 15 footer to a 17 footer, and I also improved this year; you dont necessarlity need a coach on the team roster to improve.

If you really want to go to a school just go, the vault situation can work itself out. Just because they fired a vault coach doesn't mean pole vault at the particular school is dead or cannot happen.

[vault3rb0y]

The point is that promises were made and are now being taken back. The respectable thing would have been never to recruit them in the first place to give them chance at another university. Telling Mitch to man up isn't fair, when he HAS manned up, jumped 17' as a high schooler(so far), and now might not get half the scholarship to another university he deserves. I'm sure he will "man up" still, and probably jump consistent 5.35+ next year wherever he ends up... that doesnt mean he can't be mad about getting screwed over this year.

And SCPV... they cut the pole vault. Not just fired the coach, literally no more poles or anything if i understand correctly.

So yes, this happens and it is the coaches decision. And yea sure, points are the bottom line, and it is totally fair in the world of NCAA t+f. does that make it right? Personally i dont think so.

[vaultmd]

Maybe there are some cheap pits to be had in Norman . . .

[Vaultiletics]

Hey Wilson!!!

They are keeping the pits.... They are still having meets and pole vault will still be an event for other schools and even unattached jumpers!

[belmore]

I wish this were april, because then I would think it a great april fools joke. I don't know the head coach at ou, but I have met Napier and have know Tim for a few years now and saying I'm shocked is an understatement. Not having an OU, AM, UT and Texas Tech rivalry in the vault is not acceptable. Tim, you are a dang good coach, I was hoping to catch up with you at the midwest reg. I sure hope this decision is changed.

[CowtownPV]

From a head coach's position I can understand dropping the vault. Pole vaulters for the most part can only score in one event, where a good sprinter or distance runner may score in two or three events, poles are expensive to buy and taking them to meets can be expensive and a royal pain sometimes. However the problem at OU is the way it was done. Sounds like a spur of the moment decision that will effect several young peoples lives. There had to be a better way to phase it out and support the kids that were commited to OU until they completed their years in schools. I can't imagine that OU is hurting for money, so I just wonder why it had to be done this way.

[tennpolevault]

From a head coach's position I can understand dropping the vault. Pole vaulters for the most part can only score in one event, where a good sprinter or distance runner may score in two or three events, poles are expensive to buy and taking them to meets can be expensive and a royal pain sometimes. However the problem at OU is the way it was done. Sounds like a spur of the moment decision that will effect several young peoples lives. There had to be a better way to phase it out and support the kids that were commited to OU until they completed their years in schools. I can't imagine that OU is hurting for money, so I just wonder why it had to be done this way.

Here at Tennessee we have used the pole vault as a consistent source of points. In 2006 we had a decathlete win the deca, win the vault, 3rd in the javelin, and 6th in the high jump at the SEC's. Deca/vault guys can be productive in several events. We had a freshman this year get 3rd int he dec and 5th in the vault. I understand that distance may be an easier way out. You can coach a group of th guys all the same and just spread them out in different events. I don't have as much respect for people who have one dimensional teams though. I like to see people develop a full team. Here are point we scored over the last few years at SEC meets. I would say the vault has been very productive from a team scoring perspective>>>
2006 INDOOR: 16 POINTS
2006 OUTDOOR: 20 POINTS
2007 INDOOR: 21 POINTS
2007 OUTDOOR: 24.5 POINTS
2008 INDOOR: 21 POINTS
2008 OUTDOOR: 15 POINTS

[kev44000]

Great point!!!!! Great job to Joe Berry what a year!!!!!!

[CowtownPV]

Don't get me wrong, I am a pole vault fanatic and I originally got into coaching the vault because I was in a high school district that was giving away points in the vault. We lost our first district team title in 7 years and we did not enter a vaulter. 10'6 won that 4A Texas district (1986) and the next year we scored 20 in the vault and won district again. I have been hooked every since and have been blessed to coach some great kids. However I understand where a coach is coming from who would rather not mess with the vault. Two good sprinters running the 100, 200 and 4X100 will normally out score two good vaulters. I wish they would all have well rounded teams, sprinters, hurdlers, throwers, jumpers and even a few road racers but it is hard to do on 12 scholarships. I just think OU showed a lack of class in the way they handled it.

[vault3rb0y]

Thats a valid point. So give less than a full scholarship, dont cut the whole event!

[SNRpvgirl]

I agree with Chip on this...it is unfortunate how the situation came down and it is unfortunate for those of us that still have eligibility and those that had already signed. I have a small chip on my shoulder because of the situation since I only have 1 indoor season and 2 outdoor seasons left, but the head coach is doing what he sees best for the program as a whole. No one has to agree with him on this subject, and it may not seem fair, but what has been done is done. There is always a possibility of the vault coming back to OU a few years down the road...

Those of us affected by this can either choose to be pissed off and place blame on whoever and whatever but that does not solve any problems. Our other choice is to accept it and move on with our lives, find somewhere else to vault, and go out and do what we know to do best, which is to compete for whatever school we choose to attend.

I personally have decided to stay in the state of Oklahoma, and will be transfering to SNU. Although it is an NAIA school I will go there and give my 100% and be the best vaulter that I can be there. I wish everyone else in their search for another college luck, but we have got to move on from this and accept the decisions that were made outside of our control.

Best of luck to everyone in the vault this year!

[vault3rb0y]

SNU is a great place to vault with a great head coach! You are very fortunate.