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Post by ougradbob on Apr 20, 2017 12:03:44 GMT -5
A cheer and dance thread, really? Yes - cause it may not be that big of a deal to some, but to me it is. So this was brought to my attention today... oaklandpostonline.com/16711/sports/athletics-preaches-innovation-in-decision-to-combine-cheer-and-dance-teams/As a former Cheerleader - I am not a fan of this. I feel terrible for all those girls that worked so hard to make the dance team and chose to come to Oakland to be a part of that team, to find out there is no competitive dance team. I feel bad for the Cheer Team...which made amazing strides this year, qualified for Nationals, placed in the Top 10, to find out they will not be making that trip again next year. My kids have been in dance since they were 3. I always dreamed that my girls would go to Oakland and join their dance team (this way my wife would let me buy courtside seats for the season and she could come along too) I used to tweet pics of my kids at dance competitions and joke that they were going to be future dance team members. My oldest daughter has been at Oakland several times in the past year doing rehearsals for shows in Varner, and would comment on how much she would love to go to Oakland too. She is going to be bummed when she hears there is no longer a dance team.
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Post by Grizzfan1 on Apr 20, 2017 12:33:48 GMT -5
I know AD Konya is an innovator and I like some of the forward thinking and outside the box moves that he has done so far.
BUT....I do not see this move ending well.
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Post by oudrummer on Apr 20, 2017 14:36:16 GMT -5
I've been all over twitter on this. Absolutely stupid.
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Post by john on Apr 20, 2017 16:37:13 GMT -5
How much money does the university give to the Cheerleading Squad and the Dance Team?
Saving OU money can be the only reason why they're doing this.
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Post by oudrummer on Apr 20, 2017 17:07:51 GMT -5
Almost none. They are horribly underfunded and raise money on their own for almost everything including uniforms and trips.
Want to know the real racket? The band who is paid by the presidents office from the Russi days when he wanted to ensure a good band to support his wife's team. Basketball season was LUCRATIVE for me as the drummer.
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Post by grizzlies21 on Apr 20, 2017 17:27:38 GMT -5
While I like Jeff Konya and comment with minimal info it does seem like a bad decision to combine the teams that will end badly. Perception is not good as combine teams but hire 2 head coaches for baseball team. Sometimes creative people outsmart themselves.
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Post by Pioneer on Apr 20, 2017 18:44:01 GMT -5
These are two different disciplines. I don't get it. It seems like there is room to collaborate during game day so the teams are not competing for time. I would support that. But allow them to compete and remain independent. If it is not a money issue and the teams are fine with partially self supporting themselves, where is the advantage of a single team?
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Post by john on Apr 21, 2017 7:28:57 GMT -5
If it is not a money issue and the teams are fine with partially self supporting themselves, where is the advantage of a single team? That's what I don't get. Maybe there are Title IX implications in play too? Although having 2 teams probably is better in that respect.
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Post by oudrummer on Apr 21, 2017 9:08:09 GMT -5
Non varsity sport so I don't see any title IX factor.
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Post by grizzlies2011 on Apr 21, 2017 14:00:04 GMT -5
Can someone explain to me why there is any "outrage" over this?
From what I've gathered they are just calling them a spirit squad now. No one is being cut. No funding is being pulled. They will still perform at games. There are no scholarships as everyone has to try out so no one came to Oakland thinking they were on a team and then the rug was pulled from them. And there is a still a team where they can use their skills of dance or tumbling to perform.
I don't see what's stopping them from forming a club to compete at some sort of "National" competition that doesn't take away from their responsibilities to Athletics. Those competitions are not NCAA events so it's not like there is an affiliation issue for them to compete.
So...
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