There has been a lot of discussion since Athens about foreign swimmers training in the United States. Most of them attend U.S. Universities, receive athletic scholarships, and compete at NCAA's. Some notable examples include Duje Draganja (Cal), Fred Bousquet and Kirsty Coventry (Auburn), Markus Rogan (Stanford), and the South African sprinters (Arizona). Some train in the U.S., but don't compete for a university (Inge de Bruijn). All of these athletes benefit from U.S. coaching, from training with U.S. swimmers, and in some cases, from financial support provided by U.S. entities (athletic scholarships). They all turn around and then win medals for other countries.
A couple questions: 1) What do you think about this arrangement generally? 2) Is it of benefit or detriment to U.S. swimming to have these foreign athletes training and competing here? 3) Should we be giving athletic scholarships, which are a scarce resource in swimming, to foreign athletes who will represent their own countries internationally instead of U.S.-born swimmers who will represent us internationally?
I'm sure there are other issues, but these come directly to mind.
Why does the SEC allow foreign athletes to be charged "in state" tuittion their second year? Hmmm, maybe a reason Auburn , FL, etc. all have so many on their teams!
Originally posted by Paul Smith
Why does the SEC allow foreign athletes to be charged "in state" tuittion their second year? Hmmm, maybe a reason Auburn , FL, etc. all have so many on their teams!
It would be helpful if you did even a moment of research before posting stuff like this. In-state residency status is determined by state laws/statutes, not by athletic team status.
GO DAWGS!
Geek, it was well researched with two very well known coachs I know who have to go up against SEC teams and doen't like how some use thier funding in ways that other conferences can't.
To much detail to go into on this forum so I threw ot the "gist" of problem.....but you are correct in calling me out on not providing all the details.
I still stand by my original postion; let as many foreign swimmers come to the US and swim at our universities who wish to apply and are accepted.....BUT, limit the number of scholorships each college can give to them to 2.
It's this type of antiquated and isolationist philosophy that ultimately puts the US at a competitive disadvantage - just ask any college that is accredited or any multi national corporation that makes money. Or, conversely, ask GM and Ford how this head-in-the-sand stance is working for them.
Fortunately for the Smiths there are still many unaccredited colleges out there where they can send their kids so as to avoid the pitfalls of a quality education.
Originally posted by TheGoodSmith
Foreign athletes are free to come swim on their own dime.
Yes, you may be correct, at substandard unaccredited colleges.
