Western Washington eliminates football program

[Mark2010]

http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010809aaa.html

I knew the program was having problems, not the least of which was the lack of suitable (Div. II) competition in geographically acceptable range. Having to go to Minnesota and North Dakota for games doesn't cut it. Playing some of the BC schools could have helped.

Still, for someone who worked in that market, it's sort of sad to see.

The AD's statement strikes me as ass-backwards. Yes, football is more expensive, by far, than any other sport. But don't try to sound high-minded that you are chopping football in order to save women's crew.

 

[RossLT]

That sucks, I had a bunch of guys who I played with in high school who played at WWU. They were a pretty solid team.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen is an alumnus of WW.

 

[cjericho]

http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010809aaa.html

I knew the program was having problems, not the least of which was the lack of suitable (Div. II) competition in geographically acceptable range. Having to go to Minnesota and North Dakota for games doesn't cut it. Playing some of the BC schools could have helped.

Still, for someone who worked in that market, it's sort of sad to see.

The AD's statement strikes me as ass-backwards. Yes, football is more expensive, by far, than any other sport. But don't try to sound high-minded that you are chopping football in order to save women's crew.

that's called Title 9. no offense to Western Washington, but there have been a lot
more D1 wrestling and a few baseball
programs that have been dropped and not many people cared.

 

[Mark2010]

I agree, Title IV has been a complete disaster when it comes to collegiate athletic programs and their budgets. Add in the fact football teams are far larger than any other squad and don't have female counterparts and the problem is magnified.

I understand the legalities of it and the opportunities it has created for women. But other than family and friends, no one gives a rat's ass about women's crew, golf, tennis, gymnastics, etc. Ever covered or attended one of those events?

Why on earth are people given scholarships for that at the same time you are cutting the one sport with a flying chance of actually making money?

Yes, Koenan was a WWU alum. I did the story on him when he signed with the Falcons after going undrafted back in 2005. Very nice, courteous young man. Pretty good on placements, too, which is why I figured he'd be great in the CFL if the NFL didn't pan out.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

I agree, Title IV has been a complete disaster when it comes to collegiate athletic programs and their budgets. Add in the fact football teams are far larger than any other squad and don't have female counterparts and the problem is magnified.

I understand the legalities of it and the opportunities it has created for women. But other than family and friends, no one gives a rat's ass about women's crew, golf, tennis, gymnastics, etc. Ever covered or attended one of those events?

Why on earth are people given scholarships for that at the same time you are cutting the one sport with a flying chance of actually making money?

Yes, Koenan was a WWU alum. I did the story on him when he signed with the Falcons after going undrafted back in 2005. Very nice, courteous young man. Pretty good on placements, too, which is why I figured he'd be great in the CFL if the NFL didn't pan out.

Sorry to nitpick, but it's Title IX, not Title IV.

 

[buckweaver]

I agree, Title IV has been a complete disaster when it comes to collegiate athletic programs and their budgets. Add in the fact football teams are far larger than any other squad and don't have female counterparts and the problem is magnified.

I understand the legalities of it and the opportunities it has created for women. But other than family and friends, no one gives a rat's ass about women's crew, golf, tennis, gymnastics, etc. Ever covered or attended one of those events?

Why on earth are people given scholarships for that at the same time you are cutting the one sport with a flying chance of actually making money?

Paging Cadet ...

You clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about. Title IX is about far more than athletics. ::)

 

[DanOregon]

I used to love going to small college football games as a kid. You don't find that many below FCS now. Seems a lot of schools moved up to FBS or bailed completely. At least there are some DIII programs.

 

[Mark2010]

I agree, Title IV has been a complete disaster when it comes to collegiate athletic programs and their budgets. Add in the fact football teams are far larger than any other squad and don't have female counterparts and the problem is magnified.

I understand the legalities of it and the opportunities it has created for women. But other than family and friends, no one gives a rat's ass about women's crew, golf, tennis, gymnastics, etc. Ever covered or attended one of those events?

Why on earth are people given scholarships for that at the same time you are cutting the one sport with a flying chance of actually making money?

Paging Cadet ...

You clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about. Title IX is about far more than athletics. ::)

Of course. I'm simply referring to the ramifications of such on athletic programs at the collegiate level.

 

[Bubbler]

Down with Title 4!

 

[The Good Doctor]

What does Mark have against SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES?

 

[Mark2010]

That's obviously not the part I was referring to.

The idea that a university has to have as many female athletes as male athletes is stupid.

 

[buckweaver]

Of course. I'm simply referring to the ramifications of such on athletic programs at the collegiate level.

The "ramifications" are only as bad as they are re: teams being cut because the short-sighted leaders of athletic programs refuse to look at other ways to comply with the law. Instead, they blame Title IX as an easy scapegoat for their decisions rather than using the three-pronged approach the law gives them in order to comply.

 

[mike311gd]

Title IX killed my dog.

 

[Cadet]

Why on earth are people given scholarships for that at the same time you are cutting the one sport with a flying chance of actually making money?

You really think a Division II football program at a directional state school is making any money? All but a handful of Division I football programs operate in the red each year. It's ****ing expensive to run a football program.

And I think Mark2010 is not trying to pick any fights, so I'll save my fire-and-brimstone Title IX speech, but Buckdub's right -- the law does not say there have to be equal number of male and female athletes. It's proportional based on enrollment and interest, and that's just one way to be in compliance with the law. I encourage you to <a href="http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/gender_equity/faq.html">learn more</a>.

Athletic administrators hide behind Title IX the way newspaper executives are hiding behind the economy: it makes sense in a press release, but it's only an excuse to cover up years of bad management.

 

[Football_Bat]

Title IX built my hotrod.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Athletic administrators hide behind Title IX the way newspaper executives are hiding behind the economy: it makes sense in a press release, but it's only an excuse to cover up years of bad management.

Can I steal that line? Because it is awesomely factual.

I forget which school it was that dropped a men's program and blamed Title IX. But the local newspaper pointed out the school handed out raises to the football assistants and built a new weight room that all totaled the exact budget of the dropped sport.

 

[TrooperBari]

http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010809aaa.html

I knew the program was having problems, not the least of which was the lack of suitable (Div. II) competition in geographically acceptable range. Having to go to Minnesota and North Dakota for games doesn't cut it. Playing some of the BC schools could have helped.

Still, for someone who worked in that market, it's sort of sad to see.

It is. Staying alive was probably hard enough when the North Central Conference was in existence and WWU had travel partners within a "reasonable" distance. Now that the NCC is kaput, it only makes sense Western would be out of luck. I wonder how long Central and WOU can hang on with only Humboldt and Dixie for company.

It's too bad the NCAA couldn't pull the trigger on bringing UBC and Simon Fraser into D-II. A little birdie (albeit one with an impressive title) told me those two approached the GNAC first but were turned down. Now it sounds like they're more likely to join the Pacific West Conference instead.

 

[kingcreole]

I did a story once in college on Title IX and the impact it had on men's sports. talked to a lot of pissed off college guys who were told they couldn't compete for their college any more because of Title IX. The first dude I talked to was a wrestler from Miami, Ohio, who was in his senior year which was the year the school dropped wrestling. Never forgot what he said.

"Title IX has given women a lot of great opportunties. But it's also taken away mine and my teammates opportunity to wrestle this year for Miami."

 

[ServeItUp]

Here's what the local press had to say.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/745809.html