Do any of you guys who follow college swimming have a sense yet about the impact of the FINA tech suit ban is having on elite swimming times?
I tried looking up results this year and last year--I know the Championships haven't taken place yet for the top tier, but some big meet started Feb 17th (and is presumably over now)--but I just couldn't figure out how to find the data necessary to make a preliminary comparison.
Thanks.
Yes. Very controversial, they did it in the early 00's when we hired a new AD.
It was driven by basketball: the A10 was viewed (with some justification) as more likely to get at-large bids. The problem is that the CAA had all our local "rivals" like JMU, VCU and William and Mary. Now we play teams who are far away (adding to the budget, of course).
From a swimming perspective, it wasn't a good move: the CAA was a stronger swimming conference at the time (I don't know about now, I haven't kept up). And there is the distance thing: I don't think UR swims ANY conference "rivals" in meets until they see them at A10s.
Sounds very similar to why American U changed to A10. When I was in the CAA, James Madison and East Carolina had the great teams.
Yes. Very controversial, they did it in the early 00's when we hired a new AD.
It was driven by basketball: the A10 was viewed (with some justification) as more likely to get at-large bids. The problem is that the CAA had all our local "rivals" like JMU, VCU and William and Mary. Now we play teams who are far away (adding to the budget, of course).
From a swimming perspective, it wasn't a good move: the CAA was a stronger swimming conference at the time (I don't know about now, I haven't kept up). And there is the distance thing: I don't think UR swims ANY conference "rivals" in meets until they see them at A10s.
Sounds very similar to why American U changed to A10. When I was in the CAA, James Madison and East Carolina had the great teams.
