It is correct that the UNO wrestling program raises a large portion of the funds required for the team. Trev Alberts has told several different stories about why he wants to drop the wrestling team - the Summit League doesn't have wrestling, the team would not be successful in D1, it costs too much to take the team to DI. He has also said it is not about money. Not all teams are as well funded as UNO is through hosting large open tournaments or booster donations. That is why I think this proposed fund to help Kansas Wrestling is a good idea.
Believe me UNO wrestling was caught off guard. There had been rumors for some time that they would eventually move to DI. Never was there a thought that in the move to DI that wrestling would be dropped. Of all UNO sports, wrestling is probably the best suited to achieve DI success in the shortest amount of time. If the decision is not financially based and UNO has experienced great success on the mat and in academics, why drop the team? I believe it is personal with Alberts. He is intimidated by the great respect Coach Denney enjoys within the university and the community. Alberts is all about himself and padding his resume for his next career move. It has been said he has his eye on the AD job in Lincoln when Tom Osborn retires. Also heard he was told he would not get that job coming from a DII AD position
Back to the topic at hand which is the Proposed Kansas Endowment - I am favor of protecting all wrestling opportunities in Kansas and elsewhere. It is easier to raise an endowment in advance of an urgent need. Money seems to be the excuse most programs use to drop a team.
