Another Major Men's Program Teeters

[guru]

I have learned through a trusted source that the University of Cincinnati has decided to eliminate scholarship funding to men's track & field starting next year. Current athletes will have their scholarships honored to graduation, and two scholarships already committed to recruits will also be honored.

After that it's almost certainly a slow death march for a program with a proud and rich history.

[EPelle]

Continued Title IX fallout from 1998?

[Dave]

Continued Title IX fallout from 1998?

More likely fallout from the economic crash.

[guru]

The athletic director, Mike Thomas, did not inform the team and coaches himself - he sent an assistant. Nice.

[Mighty Favog]

They can't claim money woes. Cincy took home $5+ million from the Orange Bowl (Big East does not split payouts evenly). What gives?

[guru]

The university has finally gotten around to issuing a release.

http://gobearcats.cstv.com/genrel/040709aae.html

[Gleason]

Re: Another Major Men's Program Teeters

I have learned through a trusted source that the University of Cincinnati has decided to eliminate scholarship funding to men's track & field starting next year. Current athletes will have their scholarships honored to graduation, and two scholarships already committed to recruits will also be honored.

After that it's almost certainly a slow death march for a program with a proud and rich history.

I'm sorry that x/c and t&f will be eliminated, but I can't recall any members of those teams except Louis Johnson because of his TV work.

[guru]

Re: Another Major Men's Program Teeters

I'm sorry that x/c and t&f will be eliminated, but I can't recall any members of those teams except Louis Johnson because of his TV work.

http://tinyurl.com/David-Payne-Olympic-Silver-110

[Gleason]

Re: Another Major Men's Program Teeters

I'm sorry that x/c and t&f will be eliminated, but I can't recall any members of those teams except Louis Johnson because of his TV work.

http://tinyurl.com/David-Payne-Olympic-Silver-110

Thanks for the correction. There is no question that he excelled in 2007 & 2008. In addition, kudos to him for gradually improving after college because
his best outdoor college performance that I could locate is a 3rd in the 2003 NCAA.

I'm unaware of the definition of "Major" for Division I t&f, but I assume that a "major" program would have at least one point scored in most NCAA outdoor finals.

eTN has all colleges that scored points beginning in 2002. For those seven years Payne's points (six & four) in 2003 & 2004 were the only points that I found. I call that program "marginal" not "major." However, with the high cost of college now, I hope that scholarships can be reinstated--especially in an urban area where athletes can live at home & save $ by living there.

[Bruce Kritzler]

Bill Schnier's UC men's team won 12 Conference USA team titles(usually over Houston and TCU) during the decade they were in the league. The goal of the program has always been to field a complete team, and attempt to score in all 20 events. They graduate kids, turn out good citizens, have great team spirit, and give the athletes a tremendous athletic-academic experience.
Sadly, the Athletic Director can't see beyond football and basketball, or raise $400,000,

[polevaultpower]

The goal of the program has always been to field a complete team, and attempt to score in all 20 events. They graduate kids, turn out good citizens, have great team spirit, and give the athletes a tremendous athletic-academic experience.

Things every track program should strive for!

[gh]

In this day and age, I suspect few ADs (or their presidents, sadly) really care about graduating and turning out fine citizens. They're a bottom-line business, focused on success at the national level.

They'd look at the history of track at Cincy and see these NCAA scorers (6 different men taking 13 places total, none a national champion):

800
8. Lewis Johnson '87

St
7. Chad Bisbennet '94

10K
4. Jim Stanley '73
7. Jim Stanley '74

110H
3. Wayne Mason '80
3. David Payne '03
6. David Payne '04

LJ
7. Al Lanier '71
2. Al Lanier '72
2. Al Lanier '73

TJ
6. Al Lanier '70
6. Al Lanier '73

Dec
8. Chris Wineberg '04

I suspect they'd support Gleason's contention that it's not a "major" program. And if the money they save can help make some other program (read BALL program) a better contender.....

[Bruce Kritzler]

If the criteria for sustaining a program is being a "major", expect to see 75% of them reduced/disappear.

[fr]

Mary Wineberg, 50.24 400m Olympian is a UC alum.

[runohio]

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Mike Thomas, Director of Athletics, 513-556-4603 [email protected]

Nancy L. Zimpher, PhD, President, 513-556-2201 [email protected]