UC joining Big 12 may give players a local D1 option

[Cat-Man]

Sorry...meant to say ANOTHER D1 option. Couldn't figure out how to change the title.

New team? The Big 12 puts a big emphasis on softball, and UC could be required to eventually add softball as a varsity sport. The Big 12 overall has perennially competed for national championships. As with football, the conference will be looking to fill Oklahoma's void. The Sooners have won five national softball titles, including this year.

It's not currently a requirement for a Big 12 member school to have a softball team. But the conference will be left with five softball-playing schools when Texas and Oklahoma depart.

The additional Big 12 revenue shouldn't make adding softball a problem for UC long-term, but there's currently no room for a softball facility on UC's landlocked campus.

https://www.cincinnati.com/restricted/?return=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/columnists/2021/09/08/sources-cincinnati-bearcats-submit-application-big-12-conference/5770273001/

 

[CARDS]

I am sure softball was not a consideration in acceptance into the league. It would be nice to see UC start up a varsity softball program but its highly doubtful.

UC in previous conferences like: C-USA (that is a big softball conference as far as member schools participating), UC did not make a move.
Same when they were in the Big EAST. While in the American Conference (that has 7 softball schools that UC may have been able to develop a program) they chose to stay with club.

U.C. just dropped men's soccer a couple years back due to the 700k per year operating cost and has cut 14 athletic department positions over the past 2 years.

I cannot see U.C. now wanting to make an investment in salaries and facilities and take the beatings in the Big 12 with softball.

https://campuslink.uc.edu/organization/women-s-fastpitch-softball-club