I just heard that two more universities, Rutgers and James Madison, are ditching men's swimming while spending zillions on football and golf. My own alma mater almost cut women's swimming several years ago. They were saved by alumni fundraising, but not until the swim team put itself up for sale on ebay. Endurance sports get no respect. It makes no sense. I thought open water swimming and triathlons and road racing were on the rise even among young kids. If so, why cut all those sports in college? I guess it's still just a miniscule percentage that participate compared to other sports, like my least favorite youth sport -- travel soccer.
Parents
Former Member
Geek,
I keep tellin' yah.... mens swimming in the US is under attack all the way from the youngest age groupers to the NCAA level. Enrollment is not impressive for males at all levels (especially when compared to the overall population growth since 1970s when you and I grew up). Here's a couple more programs shot out of the sky. Hell, the Big 12 is a joke at the conference meet each year. There's only a few teams left participating.
I find it interesting how the US prides itself every 4 years on the total gold medal count at the Games. Swimming consistently wins more medals than other sports. Yet we have little interest in funding it compared to the Big 3.
John Smith
Geek,
I keep tellin' yah.... mens swimming in the US is under attack all the way from the youngest age groupers to the NCAA level. Enrollment is not impressive for males at all levels (especially when compared to the overall population growth since 1970s when you and I grew up). Here's a couple more programs shot out of the sky. Hell, the Big 12 is a joke at the conference meet each year. There's only a few teams left participating.
I find it interesting how the US prides itself every 4 years on the total gold medal count at the Games. Swimming consistently wins more medals than other sports. Yet we have little interest in funding it compared to the Big 3.
John Smith
