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
Tracy,
Agreed and not disputing! Just pointing out that if you put aside the expenditures, football and basketball are generating the income. While they may run deficits, they've gotta generate the income to pay off the loans in order to keep running those deficits, and thats where football/basketball come in.
This is a common misconception. Football does not generate profits for the athletic department. At Rutgers, for example, football lost money last year. The AD has said it will never generate profits. All of the extra revenue will get plowed back into the program.
The business model for football in Division I is that the sport breaks even. Alumni giving to the school's general funds increases. That money gets distributed across the entire university.
It's a pet peeve of mine - the pointing at Title IX and women's sports for the cutting of men's sports. I remember the days before Title IX - women weren't allowed to play any sports, and the attitude trickled all the way down to grade school. My sister, for example, was told to stand along the sideline at recess and watch the boys play.
I think other threads have talked about the 'noodlers' that get so much abuse here - they are pre-Title IX women. I can't tell you how different the attitude toward women's sports is now vs. then, and Title IX was the driving force.
The problem with the loss of men's programs isn't Title IX. It's football. (BTW I love football. But facts is facts.)
Tracy,
Agreed and not disputing! Just pointing out that if you put aside the expenditures, football and basketball are generating the income. While they may run deficits, they've gotta generate the income to pay off the loans in order to keep running those deficits, and thats where football/basketball come in.
This is a common misconception. Football does not generate profits for the athletic department. At Rutgers, for example, football lost money last year. The AD has said it will never generate profits. All of the extra revenue will get plowed back into the program.
The business model for football in Division I is that the sport breaks even. Alumni giving to the school's general funds increases. That money gets distributed across the entire university.
It's a pet peeve of mine - the pointing at Title IX and women's sports for the cutting of men's sports. I remember the days before Title IX - women weren't allowed to play any sports, and the attitude trickled all the way down to grade school. My sister, for example, was told to stand along the sideline at recess and watch the boys play.
I think other threads have talked about the 'noodlers' that get so much abuse here - they are pre-Title IX women. I can't tell you how different the attitude toward women's sports is now vs. then, and Title IX was the driving force.
The problem with the loss of men's programs isn't Title IX. It's football. (BTW I love football. But facts is facts.)
