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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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!
