Pretty scary when even women's programs are getting the axe...I fear we are going to see quite a few more.
blog.seattlepi.com/.../167785.asp
Title XI at work, no doubt.
I blame Tyrone Willingham.
Ty wasn't successful, that's for sure, but I don't blame him. I'd be more apt to blame Rick Neuheisel (New Weasel) for turning the program into a disgrace.
But really the Athletic Department at UW has never given the swim team any support at all.
I do not want to seem/be pollyannaish, but I'm sure this will come across that way:
It's too bad that "the powers that be" do not realize that swimming, unlike football, is one of the few sports that the athletes can participate in until they die. I have never seen organized Masters football. I'm disappointed that the alum haven't stepped up to help either.
I do realize that it comes down to the almighty dollar, but for the swimmers it really is a quality of life thing. Sucks they will have to go elsewhere, but hopefully they all will be able to swim somewhere.
Pretty scary when even women's programs are getting the axe...I fear we are going to see quite a few more.
blog.seattlepi.com/.../167785.asp
I blame Tyrone Willingham. The football program's revenues(85% of the budget) have dropped so much, it kills the entire athletic dept.
I do not want to seem/be pollyannaish, but I'm sure this will come across that way:
It's too bad that "the powers that be" do not realize that swimming, unlike football, is one of the few sports that the athletes can participate in until they die. I have never seen organized Masters football. I'm disappointed that the alum haven't stepped up to help either.
I do realize that it comes down to the almighty dollar, but for the swimmers it really is a quality of life thing. Sucks they will have to go elsewhere, but hopefully they all will be able to swim somewhere.
Providing an avenue to health and fitness for life... What a concept!
On Wednesdays, the UCI women's basketball team comes in to swim the hour before I coach the masters practice. None of them can swim with their faces down in the water.
You know me... after watching one practice, I couldn't help myself. I started talking to them while they were waiting for their instructor at the very next session.
I told them about the Beijing Olympics where all the pro b-ball players were out at The Cube watching the Team USA Swimmers. And the swimmers went to the basketball game to support them in return.
I got their attention!
The next week, I brought out a pile of swim caps (none had them) and goggles and in less than 5 minutes, they were all snap-capped - and laughing about being "professional swimmers".
I wish I could teach that class...
Course I would be an even bigger joke on the basketball court and I told them so!
They think I should show up and try it!
I've been so stoked to imagine that these women athletes have been introduced to swimming. Tough to play basketball later in life for all kinds of reasons as Karen mentions for football players.
Besides, I love basketball players. They're real athletes who have to train hard to be anywhere near good at their sport.
Great athleticism is required - but they get a lot of injuries and often need a backup activity.
Athletes and coaches need to support and educate eachother about their various sports.
It should be a school pride issue that all the teams are the best they can be - fully supported with spectators at events, active alumni, and athletes supporting athletes.
Perhaps if we begin to attend football and basketball games enmass, show gratitude for the support they do offer, and invite them to be a part of our aquatic world they may take some ownership in our program as a part of their own.
(who is the pollyanna Karen?)
"Liar!" Ahelee means pollyanna! :lmao:
Well said. And well done. School is in the pool for those bball players.
(I know that I will need to become savvy with bball in the near future. I don't know much about it. I played vball. My daughter is off the charts for height, and "they" think she will be at least 6 feet tall. We want her to swim, but vball and bball would be good too. She is already really athletic : ] )
Another lesson that life is all about the money. Since they depend on these programs to groom and produce their future players, the NFL, MLB and the NBA should be totally funding college and university programs for those sports. As far as I know they kick little or nothing back to the source of their future players. that would certainly free up funding for those activities that are lifelong sports, including swimming, tennis, golf, track and field, etc.
