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?
I thought a little data might be of use in the discussion.
In Illinois, this is what the state university situation looks like:
Eastern: Mens & Womens Swimming, number of sports about equal.
Illinois State: Womens Swimming, Women have more sports teams.
Northern: No swimming, number of sports about equal.
Southern @ Carbondale: Mens & Womens Swimming, sports about equal.
Southern @ Edwardsville: No swimming, sports about equal.
Western: Mens & Womens Swimming, sports about equal.
University of Illinois: Womens Swimming, Women have more sports teams.
Of interest, the University of Illinois and Illinois State are the two largest schools by enrollment. They also stick out as the schools where only one gender has swimming, and that gender has more sports to choose from.
At Illinois, football is huge. Not so at Ill State. Both have venues in place that are adequate.
So, the data here is mixed, at best, although in terms of swimming, women have the edge in Illinois at State Schools.
I thought a little data might be of use in the discussion.
In Illinois, this is what the state university situation looks like:
Eastern: Mens & Womens Swimming, number of sports about equal.
Illinois State: Womens Swimming, Women have more sports teams.
Northern: No swimming, number of sports about equal.
Southern @ Carbondale: Mens & Womens Swimming, sports about equal.
Southern @ Edwardsville: No swimming, sports about equal.
Western: Mens & Womens Swimming, sports about equal.
University of Illinois: Womens Swimming, Women have more sports teams.
Of interest, the University of Illinois and Illinois State are the two largest schools by enrollment. They also stick out as the schools where only one gender has swimming, and that gender has more sports to choose from.
At Illinois, football is huge. Not so at Ill State. Both have venues in place that are adequate.
So, the data here is mixed, at best, although in terms of swimming, women have the edge in Illinois at State Schools.
