OT: Stephen F Austin dropping 4 sports

[shizzle787]

SFA Announces Sports Sponsorship Changes - Stephen F. Austin

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University announced today that it will reduce the number of athletics programs it sponsors by four, effective a...

sfajacks.com

Down to the NCAA Division 1 minimum. I expect to see more stories like this in the next 13-14 months.

 

[Kolumbo]

While unfortunate to have to drop sports, bowling, golf and beach volleyball are questionable NCAA sports anyway. Playing golf is the most country clubbish of college sports. Spending your afternoons playing golf is really grueling. I can only imagine what the bowling workouts are like.

 

[WrenchFan69]

This is the future for practically all non-P5 d1 schools. And it wouldn't shock me if the NCAA dropped the minimum number going forward, too. The math doesn't make sense anymore.

UConn would already be at the minimum if not for Golf donors funding most of the program in the meantime. We'll see where Golf and Men's Track end up in the next 5-10 years.

 

[BlueHen]

While unfortunate to have to drop sports, bowling, golf and beach volleyball are questionable NCAA sports anyway. Playing golf is the most country clubbish of college sports. Spending your afternoons playing golf is really grueling. I can only imagine what the bowling workouts are like.

You have to be able to handle a 12 oz curl, a 16 oz bowling ball, and throw strikes.

 

[Kolumbo]

You have to be able to handle a 12 oz curl, a 16 oz bowling ball, and throw strikes.

I think you meant a 16 oz curl and a 16 lb bowling ball. and yes, strikes are key. the 7-10 split is also nice.

 

[Vowelguy]

Surprised they’re cutting 3 women’s sports and 1 men’s. Would’ve thought there be title 9 issues

 

[Kolumbo]

SFASU women's bowling won the national championship in 2016 over Nebraska and 2019 over Vandy. Crazy.

Stephen F. Austin wins 2019 bowling national title

Stephen F. Austin defeats Vanderbilt in five games to earn the school's second national bowling title.

www.ncaa.com

 

[huskymedic]

The ball is rolling in many academic zip codes..

Purdue Fort Wayne announces discontinuation of baseball and softball programs - Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics

Link to frequently asked questions

gomastodons.com

-> FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Purdue University Fort Wayne announced on Friday the discontinuation of its baseball and softball programs, effective immediately. The decision, which includes an expected cost savings of upwards of $1 million, is directly related to $6 million in budget cuts the university announced Thursday. <-

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Has been schools in the B12 that only carry the minimum. Never got how that worked because of football,

 

[uconndogs]

Well, remember, this is all about developing student athletes as people, students and athletes. So whatever needs to be done for the benefit of these young people………..

……and that’s how absolutely and totally ****** up this system has become. Leadership at all NCAA institutions should be embarrassed by this.

 

[Chuck]

Well, remember, this is all about developing student athletes as people, students and athletes. So whatever needs to be done for the benefit of these young people………..

……and that’s how absolutely and totally ****** up this system has become. Leadership at all NCAA institutions should be embarrassed by this.

I don’t know. A university doesn’t to educate athletes. It’s exists to educate students (and maybe produce research that can change the world). If a football team can help with that mission by bringing in revenue, research dollars and better students, then it makes sense to keep. But if a crew team just costs money and only really brings benefit to the team, then why should other student tuitions (or taxes, donations, etc,) be used to fund that team?

Schools are absolutely being greedy with sports, but our university system is the only one in the world that integrates semi-professional sports. Maybe it’s time to delink sports and academics.

 

[UConnJim]

Schools are absolutely being greedy with sports, but our university system is the only one in the world that integrates semi-professional sports. Maybe it’s time to delink sports and academics.

Canadian universities have sports and they do play US colleges in some sports. And, many Canadian schools offer athletic scholarships. The big difference between Canada and the US is fan interest and money generation. Canadian sports more closely resemble US D2.

 

[huskymedic]

Just need to keep scrolling through ad breaks for full read:

While other mid-majors drop sports, Pacific is adding them. Here's why:

I talked to the school's AD to understand why they're zigging while others are zagging

www.extrapointsmb.com

 

[Kolumbo]

I don’t know. A university doesn’t to educate athletes. It’s exists to educate students (and maybe produce research that can change the world). If a football team can help with that mission by bringing in revenue, research dollars and better students, then it makes sense to keep. But if a crew team just costs money and only really brings benefit to the team, then why should other student tuitions (or taxes, donations, etc,) be used to fund that team?

Schools are absolutely being greedy with sports, but our university system is the only one in the world that integrates semi-professional sports. Maybe it’s time to delink sports and academics.

Interesting point. Many sports are club sports so if you want to play rugby for example, you join the rugby club, pay dues, buy your uniform and practice gear, have fun. Scholarship sports are great avenues for average or lower income kids to play a sport in exchange for an education.

You have kids from very wealthy families or kids living in wealthy towns playing more niche sports like golf or lacrosse. In general, only these kids become any good because they have the money to play and get the best training. Even soccer in the USA struggles because many great athletes don't play soccer or can't afford the premiere clubs. The wealthy kids go on to get scholarships at private and public universities. Why should we as tax-payers and kids paying tuition pay for wealthy kids to play a sport no one watches when they can more easily afford tuition? I know this has been debated before but many of these sports should be dropped to club level.

 

[uconndogs]

I don’t know. A university doesn’t to educate athletes. It’s exists to educate students (and maybe produce research that can change the world). If a football team can help with that mission by bringing in revenue, research dollars and better students, then it makes sense to keep. But if a crew team just costs money and only really brings benefit to the team, then why should other student tuitions (or taxes, donations, etc,) be used to fund that team?

Schools are absolutely being greedy with sports, but our university system is the only one in the world that integrates semi-professional sports. Maybe it’s time to delink sports and academics.

That's a reasonable take. Personally I am so disappointed about the direction of college athletics that it elicits an emotional response. With that said, I would note the following:

• The current model is a professional model. Call it what it is and have the schools that want to have off shoot professional sport franchises to so. No NCAA, no pretention of student or academics.
• The playing field is unfair even by comparison to professional sport leagues. No salary cap type system means that none of this is sustainable over the long-term and I fully expect that schools will get into budget binds with this stuff.
• What the BiG and SEC are attempting to do with the college football playoff is indicative of just how corrupt the system has become.
• Finally, the non-revenue sports (volleyball, track, rowing, etc.) provide a valuable athletic experience to many student athletes. This use to be about student athletes and supporting them. Some or a lot of that used to be funded by the revenue generating sports. Now we're seeing such programs being cut so schools can pay QB1 millions of dollars. Is that really consistent with an educational mission?

 

[Patman]

Well, remember, this is all about developing student athletes as people, students and athletes. So whatever needs to be done for the benefit of these young people………..

……and that’s how absolutely and totally ****** up this system has become. Leadership at all NCAA institutions should be embarrassed by this.

You realize these sports programs dont have infinity dollars, yes?

 

[Chuck]

Interesting point. Many sports are club sports so if you want to play rugby for example, you join the rugby club, pay dues, buy your uniform and practice gear, have fun. Scholarship sports are great avenues for average or lower income kids to play a sport in exchange for an education.

You have kids from very wealthy families or kids living in wealthy towns playing more niche sports like golf or lacrosse. In general, only these kids become any good because they have the money to play and get the best training. Even soccer in the USA struggles because many great athletes don't play soccer or can't afford the premiere clubs. The wealthy kids go on to get scholarships at private and public universities. Why should we as tax-payers and kids paying tuition pay for wealthy kids to play a sport no one watches when they can more easily afford tuition? I know this has been debated before but many of these sports should be dropped to club level.

Your second paragraph can also fit D3 schools. A lot of kids in my area play a college sport at a D3 school. They're paying their own way. A number of them got into NESCAC-level schools and their sport helped them get in. It's a win-win for the kid and the school. Most, however, are just extending their pay-for-play career by going to a mediocre (or worse) school so they can brag about playing a college sport. I find the parent/student decision questionable (at best), but it's a great way for some schools to bring in revenue and enrollment.

There also seems to be a few schools that exist mostly for kids that want to play college sports. I'm not opining on the quality of these schools, because I don't know much about them, but Springfield College and Hartwick College are two where I know a number of kids that went there, but none that didn't play a sport. Scranton is another (but I do know a few kids that go there that don't play sports).

 

[Patman]

Your second paragraph can also fit D3 schools. A lot of kids in my area play a college sport at a D3 school. They're paying their own way. A number of them got into NESCAC-level schools and their sport helped them get in. It's a win-win for the kid and the school. Most, however, are just extending their pay-for-play career by going to a mediocre (or worse) school so they can brag about playing a college sport. I find the parent/student decision questionable (at best), but it's a great way for some schools to bring in revenue and enrollment.

There also seems to be a few schools that exist mostly for kids that want to play college sports. I'm not opining on the quality of these schools, because I don't know much about them, but Springfield College and Hartwick College are two where I know a number of kids that went there, but none that didn't play a sport. Scranton is another (but I do know a few kids that go there that don't play sports).

Any school that plays ncaa below a certain size, let's say a quarter or more are athletes, has to be looked at with a weary eye.

 

[uconndogs]

You realize these sports programs dont have infinity dollars, yes?

Sure do!

 

[Windham4th]

Your second paragraph can also fit D3 schools. A lot of kids in my area play a college sport at a D3 school. They're paying their own way. A number of them got into NESCAC-level schools and their sport helped them get in. It's a win-win for the kid and the school. Most, however, are just extending their pay-for-play career by going to a mediocre (or worse) school so they can brag about playing a college sport. I find the parent/student decision questionable (at best), but it's a great way for some schools to bring in revenue and enrollment.

There also seems to be a few schools that exist mostly for kids that want to play college sports. I'm not opining on the quality of these schools, because I don't know much about them, but Springfield College and Hartwick College are two where I know a number of kids that went there, but none that didn't play a sport. Scranton is another (but I do know a few kids that go there that don't play sports).

What's a "number"? Do you mean 50% of the student population or just like 3 people. It's worth posting and disparaging schools you said you know nothing about if it's the former otherwise you are making gigantic leaps in logic.

 

[Chuck]

What's a "number"? Do you mean 50% of the student population or just like 3 people. It's worth posting and disparaging schools you said you know nothing about if it's the former otherwise you are making gigantic leaps in logic.

I'm NOT disparaging those schools. I have two in college and they love the schools they're at. I can type in both schools on reddit and see people crapping on the schools for a number of reasons. People love belittling colleges for some reason.

I was bringing up the schools listed because I find it interesting. I live in a small town. Each of those schools I mentioned have had about 5 kids attend in the last 10 years (more at Scranton). Every kid that went to Hartwick or Springfield played a sport. I think there may have been one or two that went to Scranton that didn't play a sport. We aren't a particularly athletic town. We probably only have about 5 kids commit to a college sport each year. So, again, nothing against those schools. In fact, kudos to them if they've found a niche in attracting kids (paying tuition unlike many D1) to play sports when other schools (public and private) are struggling with enrollment.

The decisions I do question are based on the choice of school on the whole. I know 3 kids that committed to play sports at small state schools (out of state) that are known for typically attracting local kids that commute or leave on weekends. One lasted one semester. They are going exclusively because they wanted to play a sport and that was their only opportunity (or a similar school).