Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:25:02 GMT

We are now at over 410K total and 267K first year. Who posted that we only raised 150K in 3 weeks? It hasn't been 3 weeks yet.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:36:29 GMT

And Geek...in the scope of things your "only one week" is total BS...thats a bout a 33% error. If you are going to take me to task on my error, which I've freely admitted, please do some correct math. I was off by 50%, not 33%. So, I guess NASA would probably choose me over you, unless they wanted you in charge of their budget, in which case gross financial miscalculations are not only expected, but encouraged. I'm here all day if you want to rub it in some more. I made a mistake, again. I was off, again. I am sorry, again. Alternatively, feel free to fabricate more swimming figures, your specialty. Or, better yet, it's been at least a week since you whined and cried like a baby about Title IX, I know that's gotta be about to explode. Let it out - berate the women some more, feels so good.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

pwolf66 — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:25:41 GMT

Big time/big money: Jerry Colangelo www.azcentral.com/.../24410 FYI folks, there is a potential malicious exploit on that web page.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Paul Smith — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:20:12 GMT

How the heck do a bunch of meathead wrestlers save their program so quickly? Did they hold up a bunch of liquor stores or shakedown some local businesses? Big time/big money: Jerry Colangelo www.azcentral.com/.../24410 And Geek...in the scope of things your "only one week" is total BS...thats a bout a 33% error. Guess you would probably have been a great addition to the team that sent the last Mars lander into the dust because they calculated in centimeters vs. inches...hey its only a small difference between the two correct?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:56:52 GMT

We are talking 7 days here, not a year. It's not like I stated swimming was on its deathbed without any supporting facts or figures. How the heck do a bunch of meathead wrestlers save their program so quickly? Did they hold up a bunch of liquor stores or shakedown some local businesses?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Paul Smith — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:37:19 GMT

It was me, I got my dates wrong, shoot me. Simon...Geek is only concenred with accuracy when it has to do with someone else's mistakes.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:51:24 GMT

FYI folks, there is a potential malicious exploit on that web page. What does this mean?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:26:28 GMT

We are now at over 410K total and 267K first year. Who posted that we only raised 150K in 3 weeks? It hasn't been 3 weeks yet. It was me, I got my dates wrong, shoot me. Congrats on your fundraising!

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:04:38 GMT

Touche, Slats.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Paul Smith — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:13:44 GMT

Paul, easy big fella. Geek said my bad. I just met with the wrestling people. ASU wrestling had the distinct advantage of having just done a capital campaign to build a new facility 3 years ago. They knew where their money was, and was able to mobilize quickly. Wrestling as a sport has been aware of their risk longer than swimming and is more prepared as a sport. My words of wisdom, to everyone who wants college swimming to survive, are "look to your endowments" even a partial endowment would have made it tough to cut us. A history of giving would have been good. We will get there, but we do need our big hitter. Are you out there? Simon...beware as he is an evil, evil man...at least we think he's a man, hard to tell with that girly avatar. Speaking of which, given that he spent as muhc as a one year full ride on that bike he may be that donor your looking for!

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:22:30 GMT

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:33:10 GMT

Dear all, I am Simon Percy. Assistant coach at ASU and Head Coach of Sun Devil Masters Swimming. I'm ASU swimming alumni and heading the charge to reinstate Swimming. I'm not a Forum/Blog guy by any means. ASU Swimming has now raised over 300,000 in pledges. 100,000 of that is long term. We are working on a proposal to get reinstated. I hope by the end of the week. Couple of concerns that need to be addressed. 1. The webpage. It was put together hastily, but haste was needed. Unfortunately the US and AZ gov don't work at the pace of fund raising, so I dont have a EIN# yet and can't post the ASU Swimming foundation 501 c 3 status. As soon as I have it I will. No credit card has been processed yet. No Check has been cashed. Nor will we until we have that in place. We are considering everything as pledges until that point. If for some reason we don't get a 501 c 3 status, we will work through the ASU Foundation which is already organized, but has higher operating costs. 2. If we don't get reinstated, you'll get your money back. We wont be depositing money into an athletic department that does nto support us. 3. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Simply pledge. What the athletic department is looking for is our ability to cover our operating cost until the foundation is in place. If you are tired of seeing our sport erode, pledge. Pledge $10.00 a month for 3 years. More if you can. It's my strong feeling that if we can get commitments of $200,000 for 3 years we'll get reinstated. The remainder can be raised via annual events. I thank you all for your support. www.saveasuswimming.com

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:31:51 GMT

How to Save ASU Men’s Swimming There were a number of things that saved ASU Wrestling. It was a very coordinated effort that started with a few people to get the ball rolling. 1. Active and Immediate Support from the Wrestling Community 2. Coordinated Support Raising 3. Influential Donors I think ASU Men's Swimming could also be reinstated if enough of us were to get involved in this effort. The Mono Plummer Swimming facility at ASU to this day it is still one of the finest outdoor swimming facilities around the country. I came to ASU and swam for the men's team in the mid eighties when my school in Colorado cut their Men's Swimming Program for Title IX compliance. ASU Swimming got me through college and helped me grasp foundational disciplines, teamwork, healthy competitiveness, and concepts I use throughout my business everyday. I sure hope this program can be saved. ASU has generated numerous world class and Olympic swimmers across the planet. It is sad to see the Athletic Director rip out this program without reaching out to the community. Since 1991 over 60 United States College swim teams have been cut for "budgetary" or for Title IX purposes. This is absolutely sickening when you think about the fact that swimming has been the USA's most successful sport in the modern Olympics since the late 1800's. With all of our concern about health & obesity, I wonder if ASU thought about the fact that they were "cutting" support for the best all-around sport to maintaining a lifetime of health and fitness. Even 20 years ago when I was on the team, ASU swimmers were always among the top performing athletes in the country and the classroom. Even though college swimmers typically train year round for at least 4-5 hours every day, it is very common for swimmers to have the highest Grade Point Average out of all the school’s athletic teams. www.collegeswimming.com/.../ Get involved if you can. If you’re not a fan of ASU, the PAC-10, or even if you’re from the U of A, we can find some common ground in the love of our sport. Unfortunately, our sport is being eliminated across the country as a collegiate program so lets see if we can do something about it.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:35:35 GMT

First, It has only been 14 days since the program has been cut. The University has guaranteed reinstatement if 240,000 is immediately raised for one year of general operating costs,while endowment funds are being raised. The total is now about 200,000. The organization is a 501 3 c non profit corporation and all monies collected will either go to reinstating the program,or the endowment for the program. Simon Percy is the main contact and he will be glad to speak with you about the specifics and you are more than welcome to share your great ideas on how things should be done to save the program. I just came here to this site to get the word out and solicite support for a great program. Not interested in doing anything else but that. ASU needs positive support,commentary and a can do approach. I am a coach and that is what I believe in and practice everyday. The swim team is right in the middle of intense training, meets. etc. in preparation for the Olympics and Olympic Trials. They just had a large meet at their facility and are doing the best they can to prepare websites, get the word at, meet with large donors, the press, recruits,swimmers who are hurt by this, and negotiate a plan with the administration. Donate if you please with the stipulation you want your money back if the program is not brought back. www.saveasuswimming.com. I will speak to the powers that be about the perceived less than adequate web site. There is support for the team, it is just that no one has yet stepped up to be a long term guarantor of funding. I believe it will happen. It has only been 14 days. I believe hard work, faith, goal setting and positive attitude are everything. This is what a coach believes. I am helping get the word out.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:50:40 GMT

I have had some email communis with the person at the Web site you linked, who did not give a name. This does seem odd.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:41:15 GMT

Arizona State Wrestling Saved, Men's Swimming Next? -- May 23, 2008 TEMPE, Arizona, May 23. CONTRARY to much of the conversation going around the online swimming community calling it lip service that Arizona State University would reinstate the three cut sports if they came up with funding, ASU wrestling has been reinstated immediately thanks to a strong fundraising push since the cuts were announced. From... www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../18111.asp I can't speak for any missing information on the save swimming website, but it appears as if a strong fundraising drive for the swimming program could very well reinstate the program. In the video that goes along with this whole debacle, the ASU swimming coach stated that the AD would give them a promise in writing to keep the program open forever once the funding has been secured.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:52:26 GMT

What we need is help, not negativity and while there are those who don't care, there are plenty of us who do. Apparently the Board of Regents and the Department of Athletics fall into the category of those who don't care. Perhaps I am missing something here. The university can afford the $1.5 million per year salary of the football coach, but outside donors will have to pay for the swimming program's $250K annual budget. I feel sorry for the swimmers, but can't we think of other uses for the $5 million you are trying to raise?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:56:54 GMT

I have to agree with gull on this. While regrettable the program is being shut down, without any noticeable support from anyone in the administration or athletic department, this is a losing cause. If only $150K has been raised in the 3 weeks since the program was cut, it can't bode well for the overall effort. Is there something concrete from the school that states the program will be saved if the money is raised or is this more of a grassroots effort?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

ViveBene — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:41:31 GMT

Coach Dia: Please stop hectoring. I have had some email communis with the person at the Web site you linked, who did not give a name. There is NOTHING on the Web site to show that a nonprofit corporation has been set up, nor did the respondent say so, altho' more information was conveyed privately than is on the Web site. Your comment about negativity is unwarranted. I am prepared to make some donation; I am not prepared to work so hard to chase down basic information that should already have been made publicly available. This effort needs big names and connections to make it work. The Web site should show lead donors. I would also like to know who is advising the fundraising activities. It is a telling comment from a poster that ASU athletic supporters are not supporting swimming. That was not reported negatively; rather, I would say, in sympathy with the plight of swimming. As I have said, I wish ASU men's swimming good luck. I hope they succeed. The effort in providing information is slow off the ground. Without lead donors willing to publicize their names and go out and beat the bushes and hit up their friends for donations, I do not believe fundraising will succeed. Without a more informative Web site, I do not believe it will. With $5 and $10 donations from individuals, I do not believe it will. And it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't. Regards, VB

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:28:54 GMT

coachdia: Don't confuse questions with lack of caring. The website is pretty bad. There is nothing, other than your word, that gives a guarantee the program will be saved if $XX is raised. What is your affiliation to the program and how are you aware of the guarantee while the website nor press release states it? If you are trying to raise money, people need assurances. Blindly sending money from around the country requires more than the assurance and a statement of 503-c status. An aside question, what does this do the program long term, assuming it is saved? Would this discourage swimming talent from going to ASU knowing it could very easily be cancelled? I supposed if you are (now were) good enough to swim at ASU you probably have a myriad of other schools to choose from as well. I know I sure as heck wouldn't let my kid go swim there now if he/she were a rising collegiate swimmer. These are valid questions to bring up. Please understand that I did not comment to be negative. I know Simon very well and like the guy, he is a stand up person and I believe he is fighting hard to save ASU swimming. My only comments were from actual very large supporters of ASU athletics and their feelings on the whole matter. There have been rumors of developers wanting Mona Plummer's property to develop housing, and it would not surprise me at all if there is some validity to this. They have another pool on campus at the SRC and could keep a training facility for the women's team. That property where Mona Plummer sits is prime real estate on campus. Like it or not most developers weren't attending the Swimming World Classic and could care less if the team survives. It is a sad statement, but it is what it is. We have the same issue that has been over us at Brophy where I swim for about 7 years. I for one, would love to see Lisa Love's commitment in writing (as if that means anything these days, but it is something) as to keep swimming if the money is raised. Believe me, the ASU supporters I know could get $5MM in about a month if they really wanted to keep swimming. Like it or not, LL will do what her main supporters want, that is ultimately who she works for. There were some very influential people here that got the money for wrestling and that is why it has been reinstated. I have yet to see any major influential people step up and speak for swimming. Don't get me wrong, I am a supporter for our sport and hate to see this happening. I am also a realist and trying to communicate what I hear from folks here who are influential in the decisions Lisa Love is making.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:09:56 GMT

Despite what was said before, there are many who are positive about reinstating and building an endowment for ASU swimming. We are doing what we can to save it for the young men who want to swim in college at a D-1 school with rich tradition. The money will go into a 501 3c Non Profit Corporation and will only be used to endow the operating budget of the swim team at ASU. This is the mission and purpose of the 501 3c. Any other use would be criminal (and the money will be sent back to the donors if the program is not reinstated). What we need is help, not negativity and while there are those who don't care, there are plenty of us who do. Over 7,000.00 high school and college age young adults have committed to helping the ASU team raise what they can. $150,000.00 in ten days isn't bad. But it is just a start. If everyone who actually cares, helps a little with a generous donation, we can save this program. Go to www.saveasuswimming.com We shouldn't concern ourselves with who doesn't care. We have a program to save. Young male swimmers are depending on those of us who are fotunate to give to the sport to do so now.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

chowmi — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:24:41 GMT

Another question: is there a hard cut off date? Does the 240k-ish amount and the $5million ish amount have to be raised/guaranteed/in the bank/whatever by any certain date?

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

aquageek — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:15:08 GMT

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:43:50 GMT

ASU wrestling found their guarantor of annual funding, while they finish raising funds for the endowment fund. Lisa Love AD of ASU reinstated the wrestling program on 5/23/08. ASU will reinstate swimming if a long term guarantor of the annual budget of $240,000 is found, and a good amount of money is raised towards the targeted 5 million dollar endowment. In less than 2 weeks approxiamately 150,000 has been raised. Any one can help with a donation large or small. Go to www.saveASUswimming.com We can do this.

RE: Arizona State Men's Swimming Cut

Former Member — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:31:29 GMT

ASU men's swimming program needs $240,000.00 per year to run the program. A long term guarantor of that $240,000.00 per year, while fundraisning brings in enough money to build an endowment of 5 million. Yes, the administration is involved and has told them this is what they need. This is what the administration says they need to reinstate the program. Moneys can be donated through the web site: www.saveasuswimming.com or mailed directly. Simon Percy, who has his email linked to the site would be more than happy to answer any questions that you have.