The University of Oklahoma’s decision to drop women’s basketball has enflamed coaches around the country, Kansas head coach Marian Washington says.
“We’re simply outraged,” Washington said by telephone today from Knoxville, Tenn., where she is attending the women’s Final Four.
“I don’t feel it’s simply a conference problem,” Washington said, “but there’s no question there’s tremendous embarrassment (for the Big Eight). There are going to be problems relative to scheduling, to the automatic bid to the national playoffs, and our reputation.
“But I feel very strongly that it goes beyond our conference. I feel it impacts nationally. If a major university like Oklahoma can drop the premier sport for women, that’s sending a message out that I don’t care to be a part of.
“My feeling is that I would hope that the focus will be on the real issue. The real issue is not whether they had problems in the women’s basketball program, because they have that’s a part of it but nothing that major that would justify dropping their program, especially when you look at some other sports at that same campus.
“The real issue is not with the coach, the program or the players. The real issure is the lack of commitment for women’s athletics at that university.”
The Sooners, who were 7-22 this season, had a 233-213 record since 1974.
Washington said legal action has been discussed.
“I can only tell you there is some talk of an injunction,” she said, “but I don’t know if it will happen.”
Washington said she had spoken with members of the OU women’s basketball staff.
“Everyone was shocked and appalled,” she said. “Obviously they’re devastated.”
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Assn., a group that includes more than 2,000 members, took a strong stand against Oklahoma’s decision, Washington noted. The statement released by the WBCA:
“The WBCA is appalled and angered at the decision by the University of Oklahoma to discontinue its women’s basketball program. The action taken by the University of Oklahoma is inexcusable and cannot be tolerated. No program is safe if short-sighted decisions are unilaterally made to drop the No. 1 participatory sport for girls and women in edcuation today.
“The WBCA has requested its legal council to pursue this matter. We are prepared to support any legal action necessary against the University of Oklahoma to assure the reinstatement of the women’s basketball program.
“The WBCA is committed to the support of women’s basketball at all levels and will not tolerate the exploitation of the athletes or the sport of women’s basketball.”
