Okay, playing devil's advocate here. I hate that Clemson is losing its program. But all of this depends on one's own personal bias. The Clemson football program yields a profit. Many folks are up in arms because the football program is keeping more of its own money instead of 'sharing' with the swim team. But someone who doesn't care a thing about any sports could argue that we who support NCAA swimming are also being greedy. After all, it takes several hundred thousand dollars a year in university funds to pay for swim coaches' salaries and travel and scholarships that directly benefit only 30-40 (probably upper-middle class) swimmers. Those funds could be diverted to pay for scholarships for needy students or university facilities or amenities available to all students. I'm just sayin'.....
College swimming matters because:
Swimming is a sport that can be done by almost anyone, at any age, and is one of the healthiest, most low impact forms of exercise.
Kids are inspired to swim in part because of the promise of college scholarships and college competition.
College swimmers feed Masters programs which draw in many other swimmers for a lifetime of swimming.
It is the job of universities to produce people who are prepared to engage in the world as healthy, productive, and engaged citizens (in this professor's opinion). Swimming can play a big role in that.
College swimming is the linchpin.
Okay, playing devil's advocate here. I hate that Clemson is losing its program. But all of this depends on one's own personal bias. The Clemson football program yields a profit. Many folks are up in arms because the football program is keeping more of its own money instead of 'sharing' with the swim team. But someone who doesn't care a thing about any sports could argue that we who support NCAA swimming are also being greedy. After all, it takes several hundred thousand dollars a year in university funds to pay for swim coaches' salaries and travel and scholarships that directly benefit only 30-40 (probably upper-middle class) swimmers. Those funds could be diverted to pay for scholarships for needy students or university facilities or amenities available to all students. I'm just sayin'.....
College swimming matters because:
Swimming is a sport that can be done by almost anyone, at any age, and is one of the healthiest, most low impact forms of exercise.
Kids are inspired to swim in part because of the promise of college scholarships and college competition.
College swimmers feed Masters programs which draw in many other swimmers for a lifetime of swimming.
It is the job of universities to produce people who are prepared to engage in the world as healthy, productive, and engaged citizens (in this professor's opinion). Swimming can play a big role in that.
College swimming is the linchpin.
