Coach Williams Answers Your Questions

Jan. 5, 2001

Q: Coach Williams, what are your main goals for this season and which teams do you feel are your primary competition?
Jeremy Killen, Phoenix, Arizona

A: Our primary goal this season is to qualify for the NCAA team finals (top six teams in the country) and contend for the national championship. We have a strong group returning and some great newcomers. A pre-season coaches poll ranked us third in the country, which is an honor for me and the team, and lets us know how much we're respected.

During the regular season we'll have a chance to battle all of the teams which made last year's NCAA "Super Six," giving us a good feel for where we stand against top teams like Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska and Cal.

On the way to NCAA finals, we look to repeat as the conference champions.

Q: Coach Williams, I'm a 16 year old male gymnast who would love to compete in the NCAA. What do I need to do to get college coaches to notice me and how good do you have to be to get a scholarship?
Andy Adams, Dallas, Texas

A: This is a question lots of young gymnasts have. As you are finishing your junior year in high school, write a letter to the schools that you are interested in attending (you can find lists of colleges with men's programs on the Internet). You should also put together a video tape of some meets that you have competed in during the last year and send that to the coaches along with your letters so that they can assess your potential even if they're unfamiliar with you.

Scholarships are hard to come by due to the limited number of programs. Generally, scholarship gymnasts need to perform well at the Junior Olympic National Championships and preferably compete in the US National Championships. Many times partial scholarships are available to athletes who are very good on a couple of events that would fill a weakness in a particular team.

Q: Coach Williams, How will the new, tougher rules affect men's college gymnastics?
Paul Massey, Lubbock, Texas

A: In 2001 the NCAA men's program will begin using the International Gymnastics Federation's (FIG) Code of Points without modifications, which will create more separation between the weaker and stronger teams. I feel it lead to less parity between teams this year. On the upside, more gymnasts will be working with the rules used in international competitions and this may help more college gymnasts compete on our Senior national team.

Q: Coach Williams, what do you have to do to become a gymnast at OU?
Darold Ross, Norman, Okla.

A: Now that there are squad size limitations as result of Title IX legislation in NCAA institutions, a gymnast wanting to make the University of Oklahoma's team must demonstrate the ability to help the team's score through his level of gymnastics. This may be through being a strong all-arounder or being exceptional on one or two events. Generally, three to five spots on our roster are filled each year with new recruits.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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