College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

knelson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:25:56 GMT

The number of people who go pro is very small. The school would not get much money back with your idea. In swimming sure, but obviously more prevalent in basketball. Still I don't see why this would be a good idea. The university is getting their money's worth while that student-athlete is on the school's team. Those stars put butts in seats and bring in lots of donor dollars.

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

DanSad — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:48:34 GMT

How about a great idea - Every scholarship winner be required to pay back ALL money given if they turn PRO?? The number of people who go pro is very small. The school would not get much money back with your idea.

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

osterber — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:37:20 GMT

Wow.... that's a tall order. They need to find a wealthy benefactor to endow the program. That probably requires an endowment gift of around $6 million. Asking a program to raise $400K per year is astounding. There are lots and lots of programs that are thrilled to pull in $50K in fundraising. -Rick

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

mattson — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:25:26 GMT

President Andrew Benton gave the following promise, raise $400,000 by January 31, 2010 and the program could be saved. Depends if he also asks for the money to be delivered in small, unmarked bills, and for the police not to be involved! :afraid:

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

Former Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:34:21 GMT

The whole thing is messed up. I agree - the $400K is very low for a full program. I am not sure, but I think they only have a few scholarships. It's even lower if you take one look at the campus on it's billion dollar real estate in Malibu overlooking the ocean. But then again - what is budget for an age-group training group with 25 swimmers ? You can probably train 250 kids with $400K - why is that so much different ?

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

orca1946 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:01:54 GMT

I was a walk on at ILL State Univ. Swam for 3 yrs on Varsity & got not one dollar. I swam because I like it. If I got "paid" to swim then it would be different. How about a great idea - Every scholarship winner be required to pay back ALL money given if they turn PRO??

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

knelson — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:39:03 GMT

Scholarships account for probably 50% of that budget, even if they are only offering a few. The best way to save the team--unfortunately--would probably be to make it a walk-on only team.

RE: College swimming numbers don't add up $$$

Chris Stevenson — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:47:58 GMT

They need $400,000 per year -- BUT at most they train 8 months out of the year (if that - their season ends very early). With 8 months - each month will cost $50,000 for the program. Each season is $16,000 per swimmer. That makes no economic sense or cents. Does the head coach only get paid an 8-mo salary? The diving coach and the assistant coaches? I think it sucks that the President says the sport must support itself -- how many others have to do that? -- but I am not so sure that $400,000/year is an unreasonable price tag when salaries + benefits, scholarships and operating costs are all added in there. In fact, for a scholarship program at a private school, it is a low figure. USNWR has Pepperdine's annual tuition at just south of $38,000/year. How many scholarships do they have?