College strongman and ESPN

[Scott Markowitz]

I just got the following from the rec sports director at my school. I'll update as I find out more.

BTW, I haven't forgotten about the college contest I'd talked about a few months ago. Dealing with the bureaucracy at the school is ...well, it's not much fun. However, if this deal happens, I may put it off a year. As it is, it's looking like a fall contest is out anyway.

There's a good chance that ESPN U (ESPN that focuses on colleges) is
running strongman competitions in the spring. They are talking about
5 conferences, including the SEC. Short version - they come to UF in
the spring, have qualifiers on day 1. They'll take the top 8-10
competitors for a head to head competition. The winner from UF goes
to a regional championship - the winner goes to national championship,
both of which will be on ESPN. The overall winner earns a bid to the
2008 Worlds Strongest Man (I think it's in China). It's only going to
be open to students (grad and undergrad, no fac or staff).

They'll be bringing all equipment and refs, that's pretty much the
only info I have at this point, I'll keep you posted.

[Matt Brouse]

Cool. Sounds cool.

[Ian Duggan]

That sounds like EXACTLY the kind of thing strongman needs to propel it to the next level.

[Brandon Clements "BC"]

this better happen quick because i am on my last year of college. HOPEFULLY!!

[David standifer]

this better happen quick because i am on my last year of college. HOPEFULLY!!
Brandon who are you kidding you are on the Van Wilder path to graduation. :LOL:

[Jared Enderton]

wow.. that would ROCK

[NickBrugal]

Could I compete if I'm a pro but I attend college?

[Ian Duggan]

Just think how many people this could turn onto strongman, both as competitors and athletes.

Brilliant idea.

[Scott Markowitz]

Nick - I dunno. Everything I know right now is what was in the original post.

[Andy Ranoni]

I doubt the GLIAC (D2) would be one of the chosen conferences but maybe it would be cool to make an open conference class.

I am the next Van Wilder :LOL:

[Garrick Daft]

I remember reading a news article on Dave Ostlunds website where the vice chairman of IMG media commented about doing this.

Capitalizing on the sport's popularity on college campuses, the World's Strongest Man is about to launch a spin-off designed to find higher education's strongest man. Next year, students at 57 universities will compete within their conferences—SEC, Big 10, ACC, Big 12, and Pac 10—with the winner getting a bid to compete in the big show. "This is a major expansion of the brand," crows Frank.

http://minnesotastrongman.com/News.aspx

Brugal, I think that the WSM group will only care if you are a student...but who knows. I hope they let you compete!

[Brandon Clements "BC"]

Brandon who are you kidding you are on the Van Wilder path to graduation. :LOL:

Dave, How did you know man? If I was on that path I would have picked a better school than University of Cincinnati to do it at. I would probably would have picked a college with a warm climate rather than living in the ghetto.

[Scott Markowitz]

I think I take the title for longest college career on the board. Today was the fist day of class for my 10th year (all full time - none of this one class a semester stuff). I still have about 3 to go, assuming I get my dissertation done in one year.

Heck, at this rate, I could compete in both the collegiate and masters competitions at the same contest.

[Kevin McNease]

That would be awesome!

Kevin

[Andrew]

Sweet pac-10 crew ! holla

[Barry Perkins]

yeh..they had come to U Maryland a while back and was talking about something like that..
my friend gavin spoke with them about it

[DaneGarreau]

Sounds cool Scott. Definatly keep us posted on it.

I wonder if you have to go to that college? I go to the University of West Georgia. I think it is division 2.

[Elliot_Storey]

I wonder if the contest organizers will have to jump through as many hoops as I did in promoting a contest at Fordham. Either way, awesome idea. I will do what I can to continue what I started at Fordham even if they do get to compete in this thing.

[Steve Ryan]

Thats stinks if they only do those conferences . They should have an open event at some university designed like a track meet where any ful time college student can attend.

-Steve

[Todd Malone]

I think I take the title for longest college career on the board. Today was the fist day of class for my 10th year (all full time - none of this one class a semester stuff). I still have about 3 to go, assuming I get my dissertation done in one year.


Yeah, but some of us are still undergrads and and heading towards 10 years. (Though, I admit, not all my years were full time.)

[Al Thompson]

I can't imagine any scholarship athletes will allowed to compete. What football or track coach is going to let his athlete compete and risk injury and wates a scholarship?

[Steve Ryan]

I agree. I have been stewing about this for days. I really hope they decide (if they do it) to give any college student the chance to compete.


-Steve

[Scott Markowitz]

Al - I agree. Some of those who really are the strongest won't be allowed to compete.

Steve - suits me just fine as it is - that way I won't have to compete against many people who've done it before. :marv: :EB:

[Daniel Atchison]

I just got the following from the rec sports director at my school. I'll update as I find out more.

BTW, I haven't forgotten about the college contest I'd talked about a few months ago. Dealing with the bureaucracy at the school is ...well, it's not much fun. However, if this deal happens, I may put it off a year. As it is, it's looking like a fall contest is out anyway.


Just called ESPN, they have no idea what this is.. Can you ask your athletic director to forward me some contact information pertaining to this, Im going to fight to get this here at my college

[Brandon R.]

So, almost 1 year later, did anything ever turn out from this?

(yes, I know this is a big bump)

[Ryan Wells]

So, almost 1 year later, did anything ever turn out from this?

(yes, I know this is a big bump)
No college is going to jeopardize their athletics program for this. There are scholarships, ranking, and just way too much at stake. Dione said that the one college they tried it at, the college kids were struggling with teen division weights. It was a wash.

[Brandon R.]

No college is going to jeopardize their athletics program for this. There are scholarships, ranking, and just way too much at stake. Dione said that the one college they tried it at, the college kids were struggling with teen division weights. It was a wash.

Well that sucks. I never expected the athletes there to compete, like you said too much liability, but the whole campus in general struggling with teen weights? Wow.

And here I was hoping to have some contests to look forward to my freshman year. O well, atleast I still have 1 more year of highschool to go. Maybe they can change something in that time.

[Daniel Atchison]

Hell no at WSU... They tried to bring it but the athletic department pussedout because its against there health policy, Big strong guys = steriods and bigarexia (muscle dysmorphia)

IDIOTS COWARDS USELESS!

[Barry Perkins]

there's been a rumor mill about this espn college thing for a while...a year or so ago..they approach a friend of mine talking about the same thing...nothing ever came of it...

don't know what it means...

[Daniel Atchison]

It means that those enthusiastic about competitive sports and falling victim to bureaucratic bull. If anyone hears anything, or if there is anything I can do as far as promoting and assisting, Id love to help.

[Scott Markowitz]

The last I heard (about 2 weeks ago) was that they are still planning on a contest at UF this fall. They tried it at Kentucky and the guys did struggle with what should've been easy stuff. I think the whole goal was to find a "non-athlete" (at least in the world of collegiate athletics) who could do this stuff (meaning that the goal was never to get scholarship athletes to compete). Apparently there are no such folks at Kentucky.