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
First, when I was a sophamore, at the time thats when I hometown started high school, I took my life guard training. We were paired boy-girl. I was assigned to a senior who was tall & blond and very intelligent and a great swimmer. I was skinny, frightened and was sure it would end horribly. It did.
Secondly, back to the topic. The editor's message this month in Swimming World is about Rutgers. One of my brothers in law's family mostly went to Rutgers. There is a dorm with their last name on it. He didn't go there though.
I wonder what effect closing all of these university swimming programs will have on swimming in about 5 to 10 years. Will we go the way of Australia and have some swimming in colleges but mostly clubs? We seem to be moving that way with so many top level college swimmers staying in swimming now after they graduate. Or will private universities and small liberal arts colleges take it over? Already I know many high school guys who had parents who swam in college who have never swam.
First, when I was a sophamore, at the time thats when I hometown started high school, I took my life guard training. We were paired boy-girl. I was assigned to a senior who was tall & blond and very intelligent and a great swimmer. I was skinny, frightened and was sure it would end horribly. It did.
Secondly, back to the topic. The editor's message this month in Swimming World is about Rutgers. One of my brothers in law's family mostly went to Rutgers. There is a dorm with their last name on it. He didn't go there though.
I wonder what effect closing all of these university swimming programs will have on swimming in about 5 to 10 years. Will we go the way of Australia and have some swimming in colleges but mostly clubs? We seem to be moving that way with so many top level college swimmers staying in swimming now after they graduate. Or will private universities and small liberal arts colleges take it over? Already I know many high school guys who had parents who swam in college who have never swam.
