Softball Changes

#76
#76
Oklahoma got in the softball front door very very early on, which gives them an advantage. Kind of like the LV BB got in the door early but with a legendary coach. UT didn’t prioritize the sport soon enough. More and more parity, tho, so Oklahoma won’t always be a dynasty. They always fall at some point when other programs catch up… which takes a long time.
 
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#77
#77
Mafiaboss said:
Oklahoma got in the softball front door very very early on, which gives them an advantage. Kind of like the LV BB got in the door early but with a legendary coach. UT didn’t prioritize the sport soon enough. More and more parity, tho, so Oklahoma won’t always be a dynasty. They always fall at some point when other programs catch up… which takes a long time.
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There's one big complication to everyone else catching up to Oklahoma, and it has nothing to do with getting equally strong players, but in whose states are willing to spend the money that Oklahoma has on softball facilities suitable for a huge tournament like the WCWS.

It pretty much has to be a huge advantage for Oklahoma to get to host every year, but until there are other options to compete with what Oklahoma has to offer for sites, then I'm afraid everyone ELSE is always going to have a slightly taller hill to climb to reach parity.
 
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#78
#78
lvocd said:
There's one big complication to everyone else catching up to Oklahoma, and it has nothing to do with getting equally strong players, but in whose states are willing to spend the money that Oklahoma has on softball facilities suitable for a huge tournament like the WCWS.

It pretty much has to be a huge advantage for Oklahoma to get to host every year, but until there are other options to compete with what Oklahoma has to offer for sites, then I'm afraid everyone ELSE is always going to have a slightly taller hill to climb to reach parity.
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Agreed.
 
#79
#79
It boggles my mind that somewhere on the East Coast can’t build a stadium at least somewhat comparable. Columbus, GA is just a couple hours from where I live. It’s home to the ‘96 Olympic softball complex. Aside from the GHSA championships and maybe a few tournaments here and there, it’s not really used. I hate that. It’s got potential for sure, given the fact it has the logistics and the history.

That aside, surely somewhere in Atlanta, a softball hotspot, or somewhere in Florida (especially on the Space Coast where the USSSA Pride was located or on the Emerald Coast, given the Clearwater Invitational) could make a go at it. Probably some other spots, too. Those are just the big 3 that come to mind because of my personal proximity.
 
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#80
#80
peachstatevolgirl said:
It boggles my mind that somewhere on the East Coast can’t build a stadium at least somewhat comparable. Columbus, GA is just a couple hours from where I live. It’s home to the ‘96 Olympic softball complex. Aside from the GHSA championships and maybe a few tournaments here and there, it’s not really used. I hate that. It’s got potential for sure, given the fact it has the logistics and the history.

That aside, surely somewhere in Atlanta, a softball hotspot, or somewhere in Florida (especially on the Space Coast where the USSSA Pride was located or on the Emerald Coast, given the Clearwater Invitational) could make a go at it. Probably some other spots, too. Those are just the big 3 that come to mind because of my personal proximity.
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Then the argument will be that Georgia and Georgia Tech have an unfair advantage.

With that said, I’ve been to the WCWS in OKC. And, frankly, I think the current stadium is a dump and in a terrible location well out of downtown.

It is a great event despite the stadium.

It wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all to see it get moved.
 
#81
#81
peachstatevolgirl said:
It boggles my mind that somewhere on the East Coast can’t build a stadium at least somewhat comparable. Columbus, GA is just a couple hours from where I live. It’s home to the ‘96 Olympic softball complex. Aside from the GHSA championships and maybe a few tournaments here and there, it’s not really used. I hate that. It’s got potential for sure, given the fact it has the logistics and the history.

That aside, surely somewhere in Atlanta, a softball hotspot, or somewhere in Florida (especially on the Space Coast where the USSSA Pride was located or on the Emerald Coast, given the Clearwater Invitational) could make a go at it. Probably some other spots, too. Those are just the big 3 that come to mind because of my personal proximity.
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I have traveled with Tennessee to five of their eight trips to the Women’s College World Series, so let me share a little insight on the topic from that perspective.

Does Oklahoma have a home-field advantage? Yes, but not nearly to the level that people think. It’s a close drive for Oklahoma fans, but it’s also a close drive for Oklahoma State fans. The stadium is not filled to the brim with just OU fans, if you’ve ever been to the World Series, the crowd is made up of a ton of youth teams and travel ball teams because the city has big events for both all week long. Oklahoma City began hosting the event in 1990, and Oklahoma didn’t win its first championship until the year 2000. They didn’t win a second until 2013. In my opinion, from being deeply involved in the sport, Oklahoma’s run of national championships has exactly zero to do with where the WCWS is held.

Several places bid on it the last time it was up for bid, but Oklahoma City won the bid, not just because of the facility and the money and the promises of continued stadium upgrades just for Softball, but also because of the dozens of related events that the city puts on every year for travel teams that make the WCWS more than just a championship event.

You also have the factor of the number of full service hotels in downtown OKC that all clear out to host teams. I’ve been to a lot of NCAA championships with various teams, and I’ve never seen a place that embraces the event and its teams like Oklahoma City does for the WCWS. I’ve heard that Omaha for baseball is very similar, but I’ve never been. One of the things the NCAA looks for when they award a championship event to a city, whether it’s a long-term contract like OKC and Omaha have, or individual years for the final four in basketball or volleyball or whatever is that a city is willing to commit to giving to athletes and fans a total experience. Making them feel like they are at a big time event from the second plane lands until the second they depart. They want a city that will put up signs, that will have special events, that will welcome teams and fans with focus on them where the city is about the event for the week, rather than just an event that is occurring in their city.

The places you mentioned are fine, but none of them have a 15,000 seat stadium just for Softball. The place where they hold the Clearwater invitational barely holds 1000 fans and is a logistical nightmare for both teams and fans. Hoover, Alabama bid on it last time around, intending to put it in the baseball stadium where they host the SEC tournament. That was really the only other competitive bid because of stadium size and team amenities. One thing that hurt the Hoover bid was the hotel/downtown factor. Although downtown OKC is a 20 minute drive from Hall of Fame Stadium, you’re able to put most of the teams and fans in one area so it feels like a big event from the moment they land until the moment they leave. Hoover doesn’t have that, and you would have teams staying as far away downtown Birmingham. It just didn’t meet the “big time feel“ that the NCAA looks for in championship event sites.

Finally, we can have this debate all we want, but the current contract with Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City runs through 2035, so there are at least 11 more events to be held there before it could possibly move.
 
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#90
#90
briancrice said:
I guess I'm smoking whatever is is they sold me during my five trips there where I saw it for myself.
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Been there also. Even HC Gasso is on record saying there is an advantage. They get to take full batting practice on their campus field then Drive 20 minutes to Devon field for the game! Your thought process is rather elementary.
 
#91
#91
lvfan said:
Been there also. Even HC Gasso is on record saying there is an advantage. They get to take full batting practice on their campus field then Drive 20 minutes to Devon field for the game! Your thought process is rather elementary.
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Same advantage work for Oklahoma St or is it different because they can’t drive to take BP at their place? If we discussing thought processes. Each game somehow starts 0-0.
 
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#92
#92
lvfan said:
Been there also. Even HC Gasso is on record saying there is an advantage. They get to take full batting practice on their campus field then Drive 20 minutes to Devon field for the game! Your thought process is rather elementary.
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Actually it’s not allowed for them to use there facilities during the WCWS because of the home field advantage but instead they use Patty’s husband’s indoor facility. The temperature is miserable there it always rains. It be better off in California for the weather for the experience.
 
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#93
#93
Lady Vols Fan said:
Actually it’s not allowed for them to use there facilities during the WCWS because of the home field advantage but instead they use Patty’s husband’s indoor facility. The temperature is miserable there it always rains. It be better off in California for the weather for the experience.
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But they do. And then take bus from campus. You think someone monitors it?
 
#94
#94
Lady Vols Fan said:
Actually it’s not allowed for them to use there facilities during the WCWS because of the home field advantage but instead they use Patty’s husband’s indoor facility. The temperature is miserable there it always rains. It be better off in California for the weather for the experience.
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That’s not true at all. Teams are allowed to use whatever offsite facilities they wish during the WCWS (and any NCAA postseason event), including the home fields at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, if they choose.
 
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#95
#95
Score50 said:
Remind me what we have done once the post season starts the last 10 years. CKW has proven she can’t get it done once post season starts. She is a great regular season coach. Not so much in post season. No team in post season fears playing a CKW team. She coaches scared and not to lose in post season. All the records you are mentioning above happened in the regular season. I think you are smart enough to figure out what coach needs to start thinking about staying on the lake and not ruining her/their legacy. They have had a great run but with Texas and Oklahoma coming into this league, her regular season titles are in the past.
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Great plan, we can avoid those nasty post season failures by avoiding them and those obviously insignificant regular season and tourney titles.
 
#96
#96
Score50 said:
Remind me what we have done once the post season starts the last 10 years. CKW has proven she can’t get it done once post season starts. She is a great regular season coach. Not so much in post season. No team in post season fears playing a CKW team. She coaches scared and not to lose in post season. All the records you are mentioning above happened in the regular season. I think you are smart enough to figure out what coach needs to start thinking about staying on the lake and not ruining her/their legacy. They have had a great run but with Texas and Oklahoma coming into this league, her regular season titles are in the past.
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Great plan, we can avoid those nasty post season failures by avoiding them and those obviously insignificant regular season and tourney titles with some no risk staff changes.
 
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