To a large extent university's are ranked by the amount of research they do.
The information on this link about the Carnegie Foundation ranking is a very important and is of substance, unlike the original posted information.

https://cq5publish.ou.edu/content/publicaffairs/archives/CarnegieClassification.html

Since this ^ announcement

"Research expenditures in FY 2013 across all three campuses (Norman, Health Sciences Center, and OU-Tulsa) exceeded $284 million, with more than $250 million in new awards from numerous federal agencies, private companies and private foundations. During the past five years, research expenditures from funding provided directly by federal agencies increased by 45%. OU’s share of higher education research expenditures in Oklahoma for 2012 was 55.1%."

Welcome to OU Research | Research Norman & Tulsa Campuses (http://vpr-norman.ou.edu/welcome-ou-research)

OU Research Campus named 2013 Outstanding Research Park by the Association of University Research Parks | Research Norman & Tulsa Campuses (http://vpr-norman.ou.edu/ou-research-campus-named-2013-outstanding-research-park-association-university-research-parks)

Norman, Okla.—The University of Oklahoma Research Campus has been named the nation’s top research park for 2013 by the Association of University Research Parks.*
The award recognizes the OU Research Campus for excellence in innovation and places it among such past recipients as the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, Purdue Research Park in Indiana and University City Science Center in Pennsylvania.

In less than a decade, the 277-acre OU Research Campus has been transformed from an empty field to a thriving economic engine shaped by a community of public- and private sector collaborations located in nearly 1 million square feet of occupied space representing $300 million in investment.* Today, the Research Campus brings together 1700 workers across academic, federal, state and industrial organizations in a mutually beneficial environment

I find this^ to be true.
There are examples that show how OU football has made OU a better academic institution.

I would think it does make it better. It's a revenue generator. It shows the university in a positive light. It keeps it's name out there. People know OU national because of football. Is it ever going to be known for academics like Harvard, probably not, but for most neither is Texas. Most people think of them as as an athletic powerhouse, but frankly UT is a great academic school. (yes as an OU fan that hurts to say, but it's true) Now I'm not saying athletics should take presidence, but I think there is some balance and I definitely believe a good successful athletic department can make a university better.

It's unfortunate that this turned into another praise OU thread. Mainly because it started out specifically about OSU.

It's unfortunate that this turned into another praise OU thread. Mainly because it started out specifically about OSU.

The article doesn't do OSU justice. It doesn't really prove anything like stated before. As far as athletics goes, OSU benefits like other schools have. Recently the spike in their football program I guarantee has helped their national appeal. Also historically Basketball and the big one Wrestling has done a lot for OSU. One could argue that if OSU wasn't so dominate in Wrestling, it might have little national presence. OSU has plenty going for it, and IMO doesn't need some crappy article to tell people that.

I would think it does make it better. It's a revenue generator. It shows the university in a positive light. It keeps it's name out there. People know OU national because of football. Is it ever going to be known for academics like Harvard, probably not, but for most neither is Texas. Most people think of them as as an athletic powerhouse, but frankly UT is a great academic school. (yes as an OU fan that hurts to say, but it's true) Now I'm not saying athletics should take presidence, but I think there is some balance and I definitely believe a good successful athletic department can make a university better.

If your familiar with the M. Price school of business and his story you may know that he grew up in a very wealthy NYC family. I would bet that he could have attended any university he wanted... But he is on record that he based his university decision 100% on OU's fine football tradition..... Years later he made a major donation (20 or more million I think) (or donations) back to OU...... All because of OU football.

I would think it does make it better. It's a revenue generator. It shows the university in a positive light. It keeps it's name out there. People know OU national because of football. Is it ever going to be known for academics like Harvard, probably not, but for most neither is Texas. Most people think of them as as an athletic powerhouse, but frankly UT is a great academic school. (yes as an OU fan that hurts to say, but it's true) Now I'm not saying athletics should take presidence, but I think there is some balance and I definitely believe a good successful athletic department can make a university better.

This is something that I have said over and over from time to time that would benefit both university’s in major ways.

I would really like to see our state establish a permanent oil & NG endowment fund to help fund higher education, mostly at OU & osu and much like other states have done such as Texas.
If Harold Hamm is correct about the SCOOP play, then doing this is completely reasonable.

In my mind when prices are exceptional low the fund would not receive money but when prices exceeded certain very high levels the fund would receive even larger amounts of money..?

We are not going to have large amounts of OIL & NG forever. A well managed endowment can help our university’s diversify our states economy and raise our states standards of living and add more high wage jobs that would enhance our tax base in the future.

It's unfortunate that this turned into another praise OU thread. Mainly because it started out specifically about OSU.

It's not surprising. OKC has become a lot oranger in recent years as we are now a more poplar post grad destination than Tulsa or Dallas, but it still has a ways to go, particularly outside of Edmond. Pete also got this thread going in this direction with posts more befitting of ou48a. A lot of the OU fanbase is galvanized about OSU right now.

I think to some degree there is still this little man syndrome. Just because an OU fan mentions OSU doesn't mean they are putting them down. I'm from Stillwater and personally like to see both schools succeed. Again, for the right reasons.

It's not surprising. OKC has become a lot oranger in recent years as we are now a more poplar post grad destination than Tulsa or Dallas, but it still has a ways to go, particularly outside of Edmond. Pete also got this thread going in this direction with posts more befitting of ou48a. A lot of the OU fanbase is galvanized about OSU right now.

Actually, I was just responding to what was misleading propaganda.

I want OSU to improve because it helps OKC and the entire state, and it's not going to get there by claiming to be something it is not.

Even though I went to OU, if OSU suddenly became way, way better that would be great for the state and OU, too. The bar needs to be raised and competition is a good thing.

Actually, I was just responding to what was misleading propaganda.

I want OSU to improve because it helps OKC and the entire state, and it's not going to get there by claiming to be something it is not.

Even though I went to OU, if OSU suddenly became way, way better that would be great for the state and OU, too. The bar needs to be raised and competition is a good thing.

Pete, most of us got it. But this thread has turned into just another silly OU v. OSU pi$$ing match. So juvenile. OSU is heavy into self promotion these days. Burns Hargis is a businessman and he understands the power of creating perception...they just need to create the reality, as well. And what is with OU's constant proclamation of their prowess in attracting more national merit scholars than any other state school? Both schools get a little carried away with the smoke and mirrors.

The truth is both schools have certain colleges that are nationally and internationally recognized for excellence and attract students from all over the world. OU in Petroleum Land Management, Geology, Musical Performance and Show Management. OSU in Animal Husbandry, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and others. They have other colleges and programs that are excellent. We should capitalize on both schools' strengths.

OU shouldn't settle for being 101 and OSU certainly needs to elevate above 142. But, they will do it better by working together than by tearing into each other. Their competition shouldn't be each other, but rather the 100 ahead of OU and the 141 ahead of OSU.

It's not surprising. OKC has become a lot oranger in recent years . I hate to break this news to you but I have heard a good number of OU people commenting this spring that they have seen much less orange and by huge amounts around the state compared to just last fall and summer. Some say their friends are saying the same things....
But this really shouldn’t be that surprising to anyone.

I think to some degree there is still this little man syndrome. Just because an OU fan mentions OSU doesn't mean they are putting them down. I'm from Stillwater and personally like to see both schools succeed. Again, for the right reasons.
Yes, such as post # 67 in this thread.

Actually, I was just responding to what was misleading propaganda.

I want OSU to improve because it helps OKC and the entire state, and it's not going to get there by claiming to be something it is not.

Even though I went to OU, if OSU suddenly became way, way better that would be great for the state and OU, too. The bar needs to be raised and competition is a good thing.

It's not misleading propaganda. They have a mission to make the strongest case that they can to 16 and 17 year olds, or else alumni such as myself will demand better before we give back. It's that simple. I'm livid about the minor adjustment in admissions standards, but ultimately it just underscores the dire need to do away with automatic admissions period. Both universities would benefit from keeping their bare minimum standards to an internal process.

No competitive land grant university does that - if OSU/OU did that they would jump overnight in the USNWR rankings. We set put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage in a system where universities are judged by the % of applications they reject, even though in reality I would count those bad applicants against the school that said bad applicant thinks they can get into.

If only the Oklahoma City University School of Law had a football team? :)

There was a powder puff game, I think.

My UCO fightin' Bronchos are kind of the doormats of the MIAA.

I think all of you OU fans have gotten your digs at us OSU grads. Your academic programs are ranked higher, your athletic programs are better, your endowment is bigger, and you'll always be big brother. Did I get that right or did I miss something? I'm sorry my degree isn't as valuable as yours. Can we move on to more important things like talking about OKC and not things like is my dick bigger than yours?

Jesus Nancy. Lighten up a little.

Jesus Nancy. Lighten up a little.

It just gets pretty tiring constantly hearing the same things for as long as I can remember about OSU from OU people. Honestly, we get it. We don't need to continually be told that we are second rate.