Cuts necessary for added $$$ to other sports

[Stampede]

Simply good business by SMU. Most disappointing, however, is the lack of ability to convey the reasoning behind the forced elimination of track and cross country. It is simply "Title IX" and the fact we can save $$$$ and and use these $$$$ to insure success in our revenue sports.

Question: Where does SMU stand on Title IX?

Answer: Without the elimination of a sport, SMU would have to add approximately three (3) women's sports to comply with "TitleIX". With the elimination of track and cross country, SMU will most likely have to add one (1) over the next two to three years.

Question: Will track and field be a revenue producing sport, either on the collegiate or professional level?

Answer: Not in our lifetime.

Question: When is the last time you went to a college track meet or doe you have any vacations planned around the Penn Relays or Drake Relays?

Answer: See answer above.

Question: Does the lack of BCS monies affect the condition of all mid-level university athletic departments and the way they must manage the business side of intercollegiate athletics?

Answer: Absolutely! SMU must and WILL concentrate its' efforts in providing the most competitve situations for our revenue producing sports and this means more $$$$ to those sports.

IMO, instead of complaining to our athletic director about dropping track and cross country, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN about the overkill of Title IX and the "Robinhood in Reverse" of the ways of the BCS.....robbing the poor and giving to the rich, which, ultimately hurt all institutions of higher education. We must INCREASE the pressure on Congress to empower the mid levels, so that we are all treated EQUALLY. This seems to be the prevelant voice from Massachusetts to San Francisco.

[EastStang]

First I agree the main villain is Title IX, but that is not the reason that was given by the athletic department. If their reason is that money was not forthcoming to support these sports and if there was no fan support, my answer would have been (1). When did you last schedule a track meet at SMU? (2) Did you put it to the Mustang Club that more money was needed to keep these sports? We both know the answers to those quesitons. The Penn and Drake Relays have large attendances. There is no equivalent relay in the SW. Lastly, to balance men's track for Title IX you only would have had to add one women's sport such as lacrosse, field hockey or softball. We have what 10 athletes competing in men's track (how many are on scholarship?). Any one of those women's sports requires 20-30 players. So they could have added a women's sport and made Title IX inroads. Rather than do that, they cut two sports which puts us right on the borderline for NCAA Division 1-A status.

[Stampede]

You are partially correct.

The facts are: If SMU does not cut track and cross country, we will have to add at least two(2), possibly three(3) women's sports over the next five to six years. Since we have cut track and cross country, we will have to add one(1) women's sport.

But, far and away, the biggest advantage to cutting the sport is having extra $$$ for revenue porducing sports.

Any questions?

Now...go out and..."keep the pressure on the BCS for equal equity for all competing institutions".

[PK]

Here is the link to the official announcement on smumustangs.com:

http://www.smumustangs.com/news/news_re ... sp?id=3702

[Stallion]

well if this is simply good business then SMU should file for bankruptcy. A competitive business would install a business plan that had a legitimate, reasonable opportunity for success in the marketplace. Title IX is the supreme copout for a failed Model.

[ponybutt]

Stampede...your are sadly mistaken.

Good business sense to cancel one of your only NATIONALLY recognized sports? Let's face it, SMU doesn't have many of those around these days. The fact is, this announcement made through the paper is yet ANOTHER "black eye" which the University did not need right now. Heck, our Football team just went 0-10. Now we have to learn about the desposal of a Nationally known program through the newspaper?????? All they had to do was get an extra plug from the Mustang Club and the alums! These groups were NEVER even consulted!!!!!

All money should trickle down from the 'big" sports, ie football. However, the fact that SMU has a football program which attracts no one's interest, the money available to other non-profitable sports is nil. Fix Football and you have fixed the Athletic Dept.

[PonySnob]

Actually, our football team went 0-12 last year.

[gostangs]

snob - I knew you wouldn't miss that one.