Props to Oklahoma

[cardfan15]

In the haste of selecting a national champion, I think many people aren't talking about some of the great things that happened during the regular season (we all just want our teams to bring home the trophy). This year the University of Oklahoma had one of the greatest turnarounds in women's volleyball history. In 2005, their record was 7-22 (2-18). In 2006, it is 26-5 (17-3). They finished 2nd in Big-12 play behind the no. 1 team in the nation and ahead of Texas, who many at the beginning of the season were predicting would be national champions.

All this is happening in the middle of America in one of the worst states for volleyball. Coach Restrepo deserves credit, and so do the players. These are the kind of things our sport needs. People can talk about growing the sport all they want, but the Univ. of Oklahoma actually did it this year by buying into their coaches system and playing each match as if it was their last. They have a really, really good chance to go to Hawaii for the sweet 16.

Here is a link to a really good article that puts this season into perspective - www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SPID=191&SPORT_TAB_SEL=01&DB_OEM_ID=300&SPSID=2490&ATCLID=697397

Congrats to OU on an incredible season, and especially doing it in a place where volleyball gets put behind football, basketball, and even wrestling.

[dishdaball]

cardfan15 said:

In the haste of selecting a national champion, I think many people aren't talking about some of the great things that happened during the regular season (we all just want our teams to bring home the trophy). This year the University of Oklahoma had one of the greatest turnarounds in women's volleyball history. In 2005, their record was 7-22 (2-18). In 2006, it is 26-5 (17-3). They finished 2nd in Big-12 play behind the no. 1 team in the nation and ahead of Texas, who many at the beginning of the season were predicting would be national champions.

All this is happening in the middle of America in one of the worst states for volleyball. Coach Restrepo deserves credit, and so do the players. These are the kind of things our sport needs. People can talk about growing the sport all they want, but the Univ. of Oklahoma actually did it this year by buying into their coaches system and playing each match as if it was their last. They have a really, really good chance to go to Hawaii for the sweet 16.

Here is a link to a really good article that puts this season into perspective - www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SPID=191&SPORT_TAB_SEL=01&DB_OEM_ID=300&SPSID=2490&ATCLID=697397

Congrats to OU on an incredible season, and especially doing it in a place where volleyball gets put behind football, basketball, and even wrestling.

It is indeed a great story. Thanks for posting. One thing of note, Elaine Santos, from Brazil is 24 yrs. old. Not trying to start the whole age / international thing again but it is a factor......

[GatorVball]

I think Oklahoma and Ole Miss are the 2 best stories in the NCAA this year. The turnarounds were nothing short of amazing. Ole Miss was 7-22 last year, 1-15 and dead last in the SEC, to 19-12 this year, 10-10 and 5th place in the SEC and an NCAA tournament spot. Mississippi isn't exactly a volleyball hotbed, there's not a single player from Mississippi on the roster. Not even sure the state has volleyball at the high school level. Even more impressive, if you ask me, not a single foreign player on the roster. I doubt there's a team out there that had such a quick turnaround without the help of foreign players. Getzin and company did a great job.

[foreignball]

dishdaball said:

1... One thing of note, Elaine Santos, from Brazil is 24 yrs. old.
2. Not trying to start the whole age / international thing again but it is a factor......

1. Yes she is, but you missed 2 facts (on purpose or not): she just turned them (born Nov, 1st, 1982) and also she is SENIOR. So it turnes out she was under 20 when she was signed.
2. Since I feel this is exactly what you want here are some other ones (just to give you something to think over):
a) in some foreign countries many HS students are 19 at the time of their graduation.
b) very often foreign students miss a year in order to prepare themselves for SAT/TOEFL tests.

[dishdaball]

foreignball said:

dishdaball said:

1... One thing of note, Elaine Santos, from Brazil is 24 yrs. old.
2. Not trying to start the whole age / international thing again but it is a factor......

1. Yes she is, but you missed 2 facts (on purpose or not): she just turned them (born Nov, 1st, 1982) and also she is SENIOR. So it turnes out she was under 20 when she was signed.
2. Since I feel this is exactly what you want here are some other ones (just to give you something to think over):
a) in some foreign countries many HS students are 19 at the time of their graduation.
b) very often foreign students miss a year in order to prepare themselves for SAT/TOEFL tests.

Very good and I apreciate your thoughts. I just know a lot of college seniors that are much younger. I really was not trying to be snide with my comments. Santos has had a great year.

[mauricciobal]

Que Viva Colombia!!! Santiago Restrepo for NCAA coach of the year??? Official Campaign.

[doc]

Mississippi is a much better story than Oklahoma. They have half the resources that OU does. Did OU coach do a great job? Absolutely! Did their players play well and buy into the system? Absolutely! Are there other coaches still wondering how one or two of the OU players were able to be eligible? Absolutely.

[blastingsand]

Oregon had the biggest turnaround in the Pac10. They were one of the bottom dwellers last year. This year no one would've thought they were this good. Maybe except Pablo

[mauricciobal]

For some reason I thougth that taking a year off to have a child was a legit reason for NCAA, I did not know it wasn't. Not many people know but Santos from OU has a little girl. That probably push her back at leat one year.

[Phaedrus]

Since I know both Santiago and Joe, I can tell you that Joe did indeed climb out of a bigger hole, but Santiago climbed higher than Joe did because he was up against Nebraska and Texas, versus Florida, Tennessee etc. Since Nebraska and Texas are ranked higher than the top schools in the SEC, I would say Oklahoma is a slightly more dramattic story. And Doc, casting aspersions to make your point is cheap, uncalled for, and just plain petty. Argue the merits of your case rather than making unfounded and uneducated accusations.

[doc]

Phaedrus you sure are a sensitive one. The FACT is more than one compliance officer told their coaches that a certain student athlete was not going to be eligible by the NCAA during the recruiting process and it has nothing to do with a player that has a child.

[Phaedrus]

So, if this athlete was not eligible, she is probably not playing right now, correct? Or did they screw with her academics so that she can play? Is that what you are implying?

The fact is, if the kid is not academically eligible now, that is a matter of public record, and it would reflect on the Oklahoma coaching staff. If they did something illegal, that would hopefully come out later and the Oklahoma program would pay the consequences. But, since as far as we know, no one is ineligible now, what good does it serve to bring it up? Either wait for the hammer to drop so that you can gleefully tell everyone: "I told you so", or you can leave it alone.

Instead you chose to call to question the integrity of the coaching staff by innuendos when there is no way to ascertain or refute what you say. How convenient.