A Sea Of Red

With Wagner and Del St. both dropping out of the East region this year (dropping their programs), does anyone have insight as to what will happen to the East Region? I've heard that the NCAA requires all NCAA qualification tournaments to be composed of at least 6 teams. The ER is now down to 5. Of course the Big 12 only has five teams as well, but since Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Okie St. are part of the Big12, they were granted an exemption.

I've advocated a national level regional qualification process (like most high school wrestling systems) -- would now be a good time to try to bring about a Regional qualification system for all D-I wrestlers? Or, does the ER get a one year exemption; and then bring on SI-Edwardsville the following year? Or does the ER disband, with LU going to the SoCof?

Thoughts?

I've always stated there should be a regional qualifying system for Nationals. It should be run like states do and it would be so easy to get only the best wrestlers to nationals. Of course the Big Ten and Big 12 will never want that because of the money they make personally from the tv deals they have.

I find it amazing how the minority (Big 10, big 12, and EIWA to a lesser extent) literally run college wrestling. The majority of leadership at the national level is comprised of people who have agendas to support those three conferences. Eventually, the sport could implode upon itself.

I hope that if the ER does disband that the debate will begin on institutionalizing a true regional qualification system.

The sport could be so good if there were minor rule changes (for television viewing) and proper qualifing for Nationals. I live in PA and wrestling is above and beyond Basketball in the winter. We live and die by how our HS wrestlers are doing. At our home matches we get around 1500 people to attend every match and it is stacked and packed in the stands.

Refs need to use the stalling call more and make them go to offense. That is when the excitment will bring people in. Otherwise it will be a downward spiral to oblivion.