I have written this idea to Swimming World and USA Swimmer and now I want to share it with my Forum Friends to see if I can garner any support. I just read the report in the ASCA magazine on how the implementation of Title IX has hurt men's swimming. As a supporter of womens sports I think Title IX has done much more good than harm. As a fan of college swimming I think the NCAA has done more harm than good. I was searching for a solution that would get swimming out of being at the mercy of the NCAA.The solution seems to be to start a scholarship fund for swimmers to be administered by USA Swimming. Criteria would be set up,both athletic and academic,for deserving swimmers to earn college scholarships to the college of their choice. The swimmer would be free to swim for the college if they had a team if desired or for the appropriate club if they don't. If they earn a swimming scholarship from the college the extra funds could be recycled back into the program.In the interest of fairness the scholarships would go to an equal number of men and women. This program would not be a way to get around Title IX but to get around the NCAA. Yes,it would take a massive fund raising effort,but I think most swimmers,parents,Masters,and corporate sponsors would be interested in donating(I would.) It would give swimming great publicity and would be a great recruiting tool. What do Y'all think?
Parents
Former Member
Suppose there were NO swim teams in the NCAA. Suppose that ALL college teams were clubs. What is to prevent a benevolent organization with very deep pockets from giving the students who swam for these clubs an academic scholarship? How would that involve the NCAA?
In other words, is there a way to remove swimming from the governance of the NCAA and still fund the students who swim? I see a parallel here to the problem in the USA with the national cross country skiing team. All the money for skiing goes to USSA and gets divided out from the top. Management always seems to find that the bag is pretty empty when the funding for cross country skiing comes to the table.
A number of years ago, biathlon (that's cross country skiing and shooting) broke away from USSA for just this reason. They now raise their own money and, this season, have had the most successful set of races in a long time (maybe ever).
Why not explore ways to get the NCAA out of the picture altogether.
By the way, I worked at the University of Wyoming during the time when its ski program was canceled in order to help with title nine. What actually happened (an old story) is that the football coaches and staff got raises. This was at a time when the football team lost more than $1M per year.
Skiing was the only sport at Wyoming that garnered a legitimate NCAA championship team.
I have difficulty in making any financial contribution to any university because of the sorry nature of college sports. This is largely due to the numbers of ADs who have footballs wedged firmly in an unmentionable place.
-- mel
Suppose there were NO swim teams in the NCAA. Suppose that ALL college teams were clubs. What is to prevent a benevolent organization with very deep pockets from giving the students who swam for these clubs an academic scholarship? How would that involve the NCAA?
In other words, is there a way to remove swimming from the governance of the NCAA and still fund the students who swim? I see a parallel here to the problem in the USA with the national cross country skiing team. All the money for skiing goes to USSA and gets divided out from the top. Management always seems to find that the bag is pretty empty when the funding for cross country skiing comes to the table.
A number of years ago, biathlon (that's cross country skiing and shooting) broke away from USSA for just this reason. They now raise their own money and, this season, have had the most successful set of races in a long time (maybe ever).
Why not explore ways to get the NCAA out of the picture altogether.
By the way, I worked at the University of Wyoming during the time when its ski program was canceled in order to help with title nine. What actually happened (an old story) is that the football coaches and staff got raises. This was at a time when the football team lost more than $1M per year.
Skiing was the only sport at Wyoming that garnered a legitimate NCAA championship team.
I have difficulty in making any financial contribution to any university because of the sorry nature of college sports. This is largely due to the numbers of ADs who have footballs wedged firmly in an unmentionable place.
-- mel
