Actually in the southern regions of Johnson County there is still some acreage and even wealthier smaller farm residences. You see a lot of horses in those communities. I think it would also be true of Miami, Douglas, Shawnee and some of the other counties nearby Lawrence. There is also the American Royal in Kansas City. It is possible that there might be enough interest in the area around Lawrence to make an equestrian team feasible at KU. I bet rodeo might be popular at KSU.

My wife is a riding instructor in southern Jo.Co. ( we don't live there) and there are a few brats,but by and large most of the kids are just like the Aquinas kids, but there are many excellent riders that have no where to go. A team at KU would surely catch on, and as they do at K-State the facility could be rented from a local farm. Just a thought. Wow, wrestlers lobbying for a riding program at KU, that would probably make headlines at the K.C. Pravda Star.

I would support the riding team but I want them to add the women's wrestling team first. I think it is time to toughen the KU image a little.

I would support womens wrestling at KU but it would be hard to get a rule change thru that allowed mascara, lipgloss, and fake nails on the mat.

I was about to say I was doing some research one day and say King College wrestling, that's a team in need of bodies and anybody that has remote interest in wrestling in college would probably be varsity no problem.

The Tri City area is a great place to live. I know I grew up there. I have been in contact on a regular basis with the new/old coach, Doug Reese who is a good guy. He is getting a ton of recruits in the Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina area, also all those schools in the area are only about 3 hours away. Coach Reese has to compete with a ton of schools in getting wrestlers. I hate to say it this way, but likely a decent wrestler from Kansas would get a spot very easy on the team without too much trouble. It has always amazed me at the number of college wrestling opportunities in the area, but the lack of Quality High School Wrestling.

While at Ames, I've had the chance to visit with Coach Bobby Douglas of Iowa State and Coach Mark Manning of Nebraska. Each wish us well and we have their full support!

That is good that we have their support...Big 12 coaches need to stand up for a possible extra team being added in DI and in the conference.

I agree that it would be great to get the full support of the five Big 12 coaches and their AD's in urging KU, KSU or WSU to add wrestling teams. I think it is certainly in their interest to especialy encourage KU and KSU to add teams. I am glad to hear that Coach Douglas and Coach Manning have offered to be supportive.

Mike, do you mean that the quality of wrestling is not as good in NC,SC,TN and VA as Kansas? I was taking that to be your meaning. I certainly was surprised to see the number of North Carolina schools with Division I teams when I recently looked at the complete current list on NCAA Division I schools. Good for North Carolina though that they have them.

I had a nice long talk with Terry Brands and his efforts to get the program going at UTC. He was very supportive and helpful!

Tell us more Randy.

I wonder if anyone is trying to get a wrestling team started at the University of Texas? It sures seems like they should have the financial ability to start both men and women teams. Isn't women wrestling pretty strong in Texas? The Big 12 needs more wrestling teams at all the Big 12 schools. Second in the Big 12 ahead of Oklahoma and Nebraska is very impressive for KU. I imagine it does not take into account yet the added revenue from ESPN and adidas contracts, so I think KU is actually doing very well.