To All -
I graduated from Dartmouth in 1976 - swam varsity all 4 years.
There is a little more to the issue of Dartmouth eliminating Swimming & Diving that has not been touched on in this thread. The issue is far more than the $211K it costs to operate the men's and women's teams.
The real issue is tha natatorium is 40 years old. It was a darn good pool in the 60's and 70's and is still a nice pool for practicing, but by Division 1 standards of the Ivy League, it has a long way to go.
The estimated cost for a new facility is $20 - 25MM and there is not a good location for it to be built and, unlike the other Ivy League schools which are in major metro areas, the opportunity to generate revenue from a new facility is very limited.
So, why build a great big facility for 53 athletes and some swim classes that won't generate a significant amount of revenue compared to other sports facilities that get used more?
It is a business decision that I have mixed feelings about. I understand their point even though I am sad about it. And, face it, Dartmouth swimming hasn't exactly set the Ivy League world on fire during the past 25 years.
Some might say a better facility would draw better swimmers, but I don't think so. You go to Dartmouth for the education and experience of a rural campus in the green paradise of New Hampshire. You don't go there because you are a world class athlete in any of the sports they have there. If you are national caliber and go there, it just happens that way.
Peter Crumbine - your thoughts.....?
Paul Windrath
To All -
I graduated from Dartmouth in 1976 - swam varsity all 4 years.
There is a little more to the issue of Dartmouth eliminating Swimming & Diving that has not been touched on in this thread. The issue is far more than the $211K it costs to operate the men's and women's teams.
The real issue is tha natatorium is 40 years old. It was a darn good pool in the 60's and 70's and is still a nice pool for practicing, but by Division 1 standards of the Ivy League, it has a long way to go.
The estimated cost for a new facility is $20 - 25MM and there is not a good location for it to be built and, unlike the other Ivy League schools which are in major metro areas, the opportunity to generate revenue from a new facility is very limited.
So, why build a great big facility for 53 athletes and some swim classes that won't generate a significant amount of revenue compared to other sports facilities that get used more?
It is a business decision that I have mixed feelings about. I understand their point even though I am sad about it. And, face it, Dartmouth swimming hasn't exactly set the Ivy League world on fire during the past 25 years.
Some might say a better facility would draw better swimmers, but I don't think so. You go to Dartmouth for the education and experience of a rural campus in the green paradise of New Hampshire. You don't go there because you are a world class athlete in any of the sports they have there. If you are national caliber and go there, it just happens that way.
Peter Crumbine - your thoughts.....?
Paul Windrath
