Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Jeanne — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:34:21 GMT

Why do away with one of the few sports you can do after college is over? Really, what can you do with either football or basketball later in life? Sit in front of a television with chips?

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Former Member — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:28:24 GMT

I have signed the petition. I hope a lot more do.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

__steve__ — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 07:12:33 GMT

I signed the petition, but I think I accidentally signed something else too that I didn't mean to. oooops

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Swimmy — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:17:15 GMT

Everyone spread the word among masters swimmers. Please sign the petition to save Maryland Swimming and Diving! :cheerleader:

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Former Member — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:44:54 GMT

Terrible. My alma mater (St. John's University) also cut its swim team; they had one year after my senior year and then it was dropped. I was around for the discussions with school administration, which I would categorize as a complete sham. By the time the school goes public with it, they've already made up their mind and there's no turning back. I'm not aware of any DI school successfully bucking the trend. Some programs have managed to retain the team, but without scholarships (Cincinnati) or with limited funding (ASU). Providing opportunities to swim is great, but the teams are far less competitive as a result. In part, there is the constant threat of complete shutdown of the program that it is difficult to recruit. I wish them best of luck though. I think there have been a few successful saves. I think one of the Iveys got a $2,000,000 permanent fund, which seems to be the only route that is permanent. It appears that the athletic department agreed to rent the facility from the rec department. This seems silly and inconsequential, but it indicates that the funds were not there in the first place. The athletic department didn't have the funds to build the pool so they "combined" resources with another department. Swimmers were recruited under false pretense.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Former Member — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:08:02 GMT

Yes, i saw that they were cutting swimming, along with great amount of other sports at UMD. I would think that the state university woud be the last one to lose a sports team.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Former Member — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:03:49 GMT

My brother Thurlow swam for U of Maryland and I was going to go there myself (1957) until I found out my wife was pregnant.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

The Fortress — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:56:21 GMT

I think there have been a few successful saves. I think one of the Iveys got a $2,000,000 permanent fund, which seems to be the only route that is permanent. The athletic department didn't have the funds to build the pool so they "combined" resources with another department. Swimmers were recruited under false pretense. No kidding ... That was my school. The swimmers first listed the team for sale on ebay. That seemed to grab everyone's attention, and a huge alumni fund raising effort was ultimately successful. However, there are no athletic scholarships. And the pool is beyond ancient, while there are some spanking new other athletic facilities there.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

gdanner — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:15:15 GMT

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

swimshark — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:48:42 GMT

I signed it as well. One of my teammates had just decided to sign with them to swim when this news came out. I hope she can still swim there.

RE: Yikes, UMD Swimming in Jeopardy

Former Member — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:48:43 GMT

Signed. Thanks for posting ... sad how much swimming is taking a hit at the collegiate level (especially men's)