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Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
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Kaplony Offline
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Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle...=211519897

Quote:Clemson Athletics announced plans today to sponsor intercollegiate softball as a substitute for the women's diving program, which competed in its final season in 2017.

Quote:Women's diving has competed as a stand-alone program since the university discontinued its men's and women's swimming and men's diving programs following the 2011-12 season. Clemson's women’s diving program is the lone diving-only women's program in the ACC, and operates at a competitive disadvantage as championship scoring is based on combined swimming and diving points.

Quote:A timeline for the development of the softball program is being finalized with a potential first pitch in February 2020, coinciding with the linear launch of the ACC Network.



"Since I arrived at Clemson in late 2012, the most common question I've received from our fans, supporters and young women throughout the state has been, 'Are you going to add softball?' and I'm happy to now have a definitive answer," Radakovich said. "There's a lot to be done between now and the first pitch, including construction of a softball stadium and hiring coaches and support personnel, but I know there's excitement around Clemson and throughout our state for the launch of this program."
03-14-2017 09:16 AM
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Hallcity Offline
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-14-2017 09:16 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle...=211519897

Quote:Clemson Athletics announced plans today to sponsor intercollegiate softball as a substitute for the women's diving program, which competed in its final season in 2017.

Quote:Women's diving has competed as a stand-alone program since the university discontinued its men's and women's swimming and men's diving programs following the 2011-12 season. Clemson's women’s diving program is the lone diving-only women's program in the ACC, and operates at a competitive disadvantage as championship scoring is based on combined swimming and diving points.

Quote:A timeline for the development of the softball program is being finalized with a potential first pitch in February 2020, coinciding with the linear launch of the ACC Network.



"Since I arrived at Clemson in late 2012, the most common question I've received from our fans, supporters and young women throughout the state has been, 'Are you going to add softball?' and I'm happy to now have a definitive answer," Radakovich said. "There's a lot to be done between now and the first pitch, including construction of a softball stadium and hiring coaches and support personnel, but I know there's excitement around Clemson and throughout our state for the launch of this program."

Duke is in the process of adding women's softball. I think the first recruiting class came in this schoolyear. They're in the process of building a softball field. Duke didn't drop any program to do it.
03-14-2017 09:20 AM
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XLance Online
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-14-2017 09:16 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  http://www.clemsontigers.com/ViewArticle...=211519897

Quote:Clemson Athletics announced plans today to sponsor intercollegiate softball as a substitute for the women's diving program, which competed in its final season in 2017.

Quote:Women's diving has competed as a stand-alone program since the university discontinued its men's and women's swimming and men's diving programs following the 2011-12 season. Clemson's women’s diving program is the lone diving-only women's program in the ACC, and operates at a competitive disadvantage as championship scoring is based on combined swimming and diving points.

Quote:A timeline for the development of the softball program is being finalized with a potential first pitch in February 2020, coinciding with the linear launch of the ACC Network.



"Since I arrived at Clemson in late 2012, the most common question I've received from our fans, supporters and young women throughout the state has been, 'Are you going to add softball?' and I'm happy to now have a definitive answer," Radakovich said. "There's a lot to be done between now and the first pitch, including construction of a softball stadium and hiring coaches and support personnel, but I know there's excitement around Clemson and throughout our state for the launch of this program."

The dye was cast several years ago when Clemson chose not to replace their pool and dismantled the swimming program.
03-14-2017 09:29 AM
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Kaplony Offline
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-14-2017 09:20 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  Duke is in the process of adding women's softball. I think the first recruiting class came in this schoolyear. They're in the process of building a softball field. Duke didn't drop any program to do it.

And?

I guess you feel we should have kept a money hole program that had zero chance at competing for championships because of how scoring is tabulated and just added another money hole sport.
03-14-2017 01:07 PM
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ClemVegas Offline
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
i wonder what he means by geographic disadvantage in swimming/diving. i guess not as much interest at the high school level than other areas.
03-14-2017 01:30 PM
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Wolfman Offline
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
I think Miami sponsors womens swimming and diving but only diving for men.

Softball is more popular in high school so this is probably a good move for Clemson.
(This post was last modified: 03-14-2017 08:28 PM by Wolfman.)
03-14-2017 03:24 PM
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dawgitall Offline
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Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
I'm really surprised that all ACC schools don't already have softball! I kind of thought it was universally popular. The same for men's and women's swimming and diving.
03-14-2017 09:10 PM
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XLance Online
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RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-14-2017 09:10 PM)dawgitall Wrote:  I'm really surprised that all ACC schools don't already have softball! I kind of thought it was universally popular. The same for men's and women's swimming and diving.

Building 50 meter pools is VERY expensive.
In an era of budget cuts, it was just too much for Clemson athletics.

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/ne...-programs/

30 April 2010, 07:01pm
Flash! Clemson to Begin Two-Year Phase Out of Swimming Programs

CLEMSON, South Carolina, April 30. CLEMSON University will begin a two-year phase out of its men's swimming and diving, and women's swimming programs at the end of the 2011-12 academic year. The announcement was made Friday, by Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips. Phillips said the women's diving program would continue.

"This was a difficult decision. It comes as a result of a long review of Clemson's sport offerings in light of our mission to offer sports in which we have the best opportunities to be competitive," said Phillips. "Clemson's all sports program approach requires review of facilities, coaching, and student-athlete recruitment opportunities for all sport offerings. Our job is to focus on areas where we have the necessary underpinnings to be successful."

"While facilities are important in every sport, having an Olympic size pool has become most important in swimming. We have made a decision not to build a 50-meter pool, and thus feel our program is in a state where it will be very difficult to compete at the highest level in the ACC and nationally.

"Coach Chris Ip, his assistants, and student-athletes have represented Clemson very well when all things are considered. From an academic standpoint the program has done remarkably well and their work in the community is an example to all teams. They are men and women of high character, and I know our student-athletes have performed to their utmost ability."

Clemson will continue to compete in the ACC for the next two years in men's and women's swimming and diving, so current sophomores will be able to swim for Clemson until the end of their careers.

All student-athletes who compete through the 2012 season will have the option of remaining at Clemson as students and receive the same level of financial aid through four years so long as they meet NCAA progress toward degree requirements. Also, all student-athletes will be afforded Vickery Hall support during this time as well. Any student-athlete's request to transfer to another swimming program will be granted.

Phillips also stated that the recent sport offering evaluation has identified women's golf as a likely choice for future sport sponsorship. "We're being careful as we go forward to keep in mind the interests in South Carolina, the areas of athletic talent among South Carolina young people, our responsibilities under Title IX, and a variety of other factors. Our analysis is ongoing and we'll be very careful in moving forward."

More communication is scheduled in the coming days and weeks to provide information to coaches and student-athletes on the transition.
(This post was last modified: 03-15-2017 07:13 AM by XLance.)
03-15-2017 07:13 AM
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nole Offline
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Post: #9
RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
FSU currently #1 in softball....but the ACC is playing catchup to other conferences in the sport.

Sad to see diving go, but get the logic.
03-15-2017 10:17 AM
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ChrisLords Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
Dropping Diving to add softball is a no-brainer in my opinion. I'm just surprised that Clemson didn't have softball already.
03-15-2017 10:57 PM
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Kaplony Offline
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Post: #11
RE: Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-15-2017 10:57 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  Dropping Diving to add softball is a no-brainer in my opinion. I'm just surprised that Clemson didn't have softball already.

The state of South Carolina's high schools didn't switch to fastpitch from slowpitch until the late 1980's so it wasn't a priority.

From what I've been told it came down to softball and women's lacrosse. It was believed that lacrosse was going to be the sport added but someone in the process pointed out that there are only 50 high school lacrosse programs out of the almost 500 total high schools in the state, and that the majority of those programs are just a few years old. Considering both the overwhelming numbers advantage and the decades head start that softball has, along with the popularity of travel softball in the state softball was seen as the better option despite having the expense of building a facility vs using Riggs Field for lacrosse.
03-16-2017 12:07 PM
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dawgitall Offline
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Post: #12
Clemson adding softball, dropping Women's Diving
(03-16-2017 12:07 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  
(03-15-2017 10:57 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  Dropping Diving to add softball is a no-brainer in my opinion. I'm just surprised that Clemson didn't have softball already.

The state of South Carolina's high schools didn't switch to fastpitch from slowpitch until the late 1980's so it wasn't a priority.

From what I've been told it came down to softball and women's lacrosse. It was believed that lacrosse was going to be the sport added but someone in the process pointed out that there are only 50 high school lacrosse programs out of the almost 500 total high schools in the state, and that the majority of those programs are just a few years old. Considering both the overwhelming numbers advantage and the decades head start that softball has, along with the popularity of travel softball in the state softball was seen as the better option despite having the expense of building a facility vs using Riggs Field for lacrosse.

The same is true in NC regarding the switch to fast pitch but it was a surprisingly smooth transition. In those first few years it really helped to have a few recent transplants from up north in your student body.
03-16-2017 09:01 PM
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