University of Toledo - Dropping Men's Swim and Dive?

I heard the same today from a Toledo swimmer - no details, just that the men's program has been eliminated. I checked their website for press releases also - nothing there. Don't know if this helps, but at least I can confirm the rumor.

I already mention about Fresno State dropping the women's program. But probably that doesn't get attention as much since now there are more women college programs than men. Back in the 1970's it was the reverse. And UCLA didn't even try to convince Shirley Bashashoff to stay another year, she did her first two years of college swimming on the Men's team at Golden West college. So, women's swimming was not seen as important as men about 30 years ago, now the tables have reverse and now colleges are starting to ax programs of both sexes.

Nate - it's official. A press release on the UT website confirms the elimination of both men's swimming and men's indoor/outdoor track for a savings of $1/2 million.

Here's the web link (I hope): web00.utad.utoledo.edu/.../article_817.shtml

Another aside, a lot of the top swimmers done't finish all 4 years swimming at a college like they did 30 years. This has nothing to do with Toldeo which doesn't have any swimmers in the top 5 at their college but it does change the important of college programs when people like Amanda Beard workout for the national team of the University of Arizona but she only swam competitvely for 2 years for at the University because she took endorsments. Maybe, the NCAA should enter the 21st century and let people compete and keep the money. I know that probably football and basketball are the reasons they will not let anyone in college make money when they are competing for the University and they don't want more corruption but swimming and other sports are losing the top performers during the college years because they are not allowed to keep money. Maybe, if the top men and women finished all four years of college like they did before the 1992 olympics, maybe, the colleges would view that they are important in developing top swimmers like they did in the olden days particulary with men swimmers who develop a little later. I know that their are other reasons for cutting these programs. But 30 years ago, universities frown on you being a lifeguard and swimmers like Jack Bashashoff needed the money, also his sister Shirley would have swam longer if the colleges let people have some money.

There are many across the country who are not aware of which schools belong to the MAC and who currently has a swimming program. It might be useful to list those participating schools so that alumni and friends can contact those colleges (along with U of T) and provide some added support. I know that Kent is an MAC school but I don't believe has a swimming program. Bowling Green is an MAC school and I don't know if they have a swimming program.

This is from SwimInfo's, Lane 9 University of Toledo President Rebuffs Men's Swim Team, Even Though They Have Raised the Money to Fund the Team. Swim Community Asked to Write to Board of Trustees -- April 25, 2003 By Phillip Whitten TOLEDO, Ohio, April 25. AFTER meeting with supporters of the axed University of Toledo swim team and listening to their plan that in one week raised the funds needed to sustain the team for an entire year, U.T. President Daniel Johnson apparently has decided not to support the effort to save the men's swim team. The President's reasons are not clear at this point as he has not yet issued a statement explaining why he would reject a proposal that spoke specifically to the rationale behind his original decision. After all, if a budgetary shortfall were really the reason for cutting the team, and supporters raised sufficient funds to support the team, then there is no longer a reason to cut the team. Despite President Johnson's apparent decision, supporters of the beleaguered team are pressing on. Last night they met with the Student Government and the Student Body President has chosen to support the plan. The next step will be a meeting with the U.T. Board of Trustees next Wednesday. Accordint to a spokesman for the team, "it will be the president's recommendation to the Board of Trustees that the men's swim team be eliminated for budgetary reasons." The Board of Trustees can be reached at: BOT@utoledo.edu. Supporters hope that if the Board hears of the support and concern for the swim team from within and OUTSIDE U.T., they will chose not to cut the team. In similar cases in the past, Boards of Trustees have proven themselves to be responsive to such support. The entire U.S. swimming community should rally in support of the U.T. program as it did for Dartmouth. Write to the Board of Trustees at: BOT@utoledo.edu. The outcome of this case is critical as the Mid American Conference (MAC) charter requires six participating schools to have a MAC-sponsored sport. If UT eliminates men's swimming, the MAC will be left with only five schools that offer men's swimming. This could possibly lead to a ripple effect that kills five more programs. Sit down and write tonight!!! This is from SwimInfo's Lane 9