I believe Mark Williams, the men's gymnastics coach has 7. But it's a very different bar. There are less than two dozen programs in the country in Division I. I think something around 16 or 17. So winning that national title is a little different task. Not easy, but ...
There are more WCWS teams in the 64 bracket playoff, than the entire country of men's gymnastics team by more than threefold.
I heard the story of the 2000 title early in the playoff that I'd never known before. Maybe it's common knowledge, but I'd never heard it.
Heading into the 2000 season, Patty had made up her mind that it would be her last year at OU. They didn't even have a dressing room for their city softball diamond used for home games and she wasn't getting paid enough to support her family She had feelers out.
But when she won the NC, all that changed. The university made a commitment to her and to the program. Her pay went up substantially and they finalized plans for the present facility which is about to be grown.
I'm sure that being a title game had something to do with it, but there were likely 8000 Sooner softball fans in OKC tonight.
I believe they could pretty regularly fill a 2500 seat stadium most of the time, and double that for the playoffs. But without the 2000 playoff run, which was the first one in forever from a team not from the west coast, none of this happens. At least not happening at OU. They caught lightning in a bottle, and it's not an accident.
Gasso is an elite coach on several levels. And now, she has the kind of credibility to build on it. Some people are going to have to step up financially to make the expansion happen, but this NC might secure that. It was an awesome night.
Screw the committee.
