Received this an hour ago.
Dear W&M Community,
Along with many others at William & Mary, I have heard clearly the concerns expressed by members of our community regarding the future of W&M Athletics. I am writing to underscore my commitment to delivering on the goals that Rector Littel and President Rowe outlined last week, and to share an update on some next steps. I am particularly committed to the student-athletes, coaches and alumni of the seven affected programs.
The most important individuals in this process are the student-athletes themselves. To ensure that they are able to ask questions and share their thoughts directly with me, I have invited the Student Athlete Advisory Committee representatives of the seven teams to meet with me as a group early next week, and have also asked to meet with each of the teams as soon as is most convenient for them, at the earliest possible time. Beyond these specific meetings, I will be available throughout the year should student-athletes wish to meet with me individually.
Working swiftly over the next month, Athletics will pursue the following principal approaches to the challenges we are facing. Many of you have asked us to reinstate sports while these efforts are underway. No further actions towards reclassification will occur until this process is complete.
Discussions with Tribe Club Executive Committee and Athletics Teams Representatives
As a basis for exploring how to meet the holistic challenges ahead, we will engage a core group from each of the seven teams to discuss finances and evaluate prospective financial scenarios. We will engage the Tribe Club Executive Committee in this work with us. All work is scheduled to be completed by November 11, which is the early signing period for letters of intent.
Opportunities for Expanded Dialogue about Excellence in William & Mary Athletics
During virtual Moderated Sessions at 7 p.m. ET on October 8 and in the following week, we will listen to and discuss our community’s different ideas regarding excellence in intercollegiate athletics at William & Mary. We also want to offer an opportunity to understand the many facets of our athletics budget and projections. Our goals during these events will be to engage as many diverse perspectives as possible, share information openly, and listen to and reflect on the opinions that are expressed — all as a means of finding a viable path forward.
We will begin gathering questions and comments in advance of these Moderated Sessions, and we ask that you share them here:
http://www.TribeAthletics.com/AthleticsConversation.
We are at a pivotal moment, during which we must decide what we want the future to look like for William & Mary Athletics. Our sincere hope is that these approaches will result in a vital step forward in our efforts to open dialogue and rebuild trust, aligned with our core values, as we consider the path forward. It will take our entire William & Mary community coming together to find innovative solutions to the issues we must resolve, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with each of you in the coming weeks.
Sincerely,
Samantha K. Huge
Samantha K. Huge
Director of W&M Athletics
This letter is an attempt to frame the coming meetings as a way forward, when at this point what most of the concerned alumni want is to put the AD on trial. I will be interested to see if Huge can keep the meetings on her message rather than the topic she wants to avoid, whether she's fit to lead W&M athletics.
Just remember that when the Shaver thing hit the fan we were told that there would be many more and regular opportunities for the fan base to participate in conversations with her. I don't remember (m)any since then. Seems like this type of interaction would have been an easy way for her to keep us up on what was going on behind the scenes. Not sure that's what the AD wants though. I'd be floored if this was her idea.
(10-02-2020 11:59 AM)Tribe32 Wrote: [ -> ]...I'd be floored if this was her idea.
It absolutely was not her idea -- and I am positive that the letter wasn't even written by her. The letter itself is very well written and has the right proactive-yet-conciliatory tone (which doesn't make any of it true, just that it is well written). It is way too good to have been written by her, based on her past letters. I guess General Golden is already paying dividends.
She has to be hoping that alums and others who share her and the BoVs' vision of less, but better funded, sports as opposed to more sports but continued limited budgets for most, will step up and be heard. If this is just another extended "listening session" under a different name, it doesn't seem to make much sense to me. If she truly believes in her vision for the athletic department, then she needs to make her case but right now, she has no credibility. Others will have to make it for her. I think there will be a series of more PR disasters for the school between now and and 11/11.
(10-02-2020 01:01 PM)TribeinVB Wrote: [ -> ]She has to be hoping that alums and others who share her and the BoVs' vision of less, but better funded, sports as opposed to more sports but continued limited budgets for most, will step up and be heard.
I agree and I think we will. There are a lot of us that feel that this process is long overdue.
I know I have already sent messages to several parties, including President Rowe, letting them know that, while the AD's people skills need serious work, not everyone opposes the changes that have been made.
I, for one, applaud them.
Well, then this is going to be a civil war ... a real bloodbath.
You will need to replace us as (1) ticket buyers and (2) donors to the school.
Good luck!
Some people have all their eggs in a basket or two (basketball, football, or both). Nothing wrong with that.
I'll bet 80%+ agree with *some* cuts IF it means we'll have the ability to boost basketball and football, but detest the manner in which those cuts were carried out. Add to that an honest opportunity for donors to save those sports and level communication and I'd feel better.
Our AD is incompetent, fiscally irresponsible, not nice, and struggles with the truth. That doesn't mean we aren't in the red. A professional AD can find a balance and get us back on track.
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(10-02-2020 03:48 PM)billymac Wrote: [ -> ] (10-02-2020 01:01 PM)TribeinVB Wrote: [ -> ]She has to be hoping that alums and others who share her and the BoVs' vision of less, but better funded, sports as opposed to more sports but continued limited budgets for most, will step up and be heard.
I agree and I think we will. There are a lot of us that feel that this process is long overdue.
I know I have already sent messages to several parties, including President Rowe, letting them know that, while the AD's people skills need serious work, not everyone opposes the changes that have been made.
I, for one, applaud them.
Agreed, I feel the same. And so do a number of wealthy donors, which matters a lot.
(10-02-2020 05:07 PM)VolTribe Wrote: [ -> ]https://richmond.com/sports/college/will...user-share
I understand now. Huge feels to be nationally competitive we must win the conference at spending in "revenue sports".
Not showing up well for me, but from what I gather, we outspend several programs that have gotten the better part of us over the past decade. Oh, and we did so without cutting sports.
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(10-02-2020 04:54 PM)Old tribe Wrote: [ -> ] (10-02-2020 03:48 PM)billymac Wrote: [ -> ][quote='TribeinVB' pid='17022274' dateline='1601661675']
She has to be hoping that alums and others who share her and the BoVs' vision of less, but better funded, sports as opposed to more sports but continued limited budgets for most, will step up and be heard.
I agree and I think we will. There are a lot of us that feel that this process is long overdue.
I know I have already sent messages to several parties, including President Rowe, letting them know that, while the AD's people skills need serious work, not everyone opposes the changes that have been made.
I, for one, applaud them.
Agreed, I feel the same. And so do a number of wealthy donors, which matters a lot.
[/quote
Has any communication to date articulated how elimination of the seven sports moves the needle meaningfully on funding for basketball and football? The September 3 statement reads as if the move was a tourniquet type measure. Have major donors been waiting for this move to open the floodgates? Until there is a great deal more clarity, all that has been accomplished is alienation of the stakeholders in the sports that are being dropped.
Undoubtedly we have donors who value football and basketball more than volleyball.
Do they also value football and basketball more then honesty and integrity? I guess we’ll see.
Like so many things, those in favor paint this decision as A or B? It's not. Given the relatively minimal cost(in comparison) of XC, track and swimming, it doesn't make sense to cut those sports, especially when they are successful. There were and likely still are options to increase support for football and basketball. My argument for years is that the success comes first, then the increased resources. Increased resources without success first might lead to a shiny empty arena(like perhaps at JMU) or massive losses like at ODU. But, when you win first, it can work. I would argue that we are further away from winning than we were 3 years ago at this point(although maybe not in football, hard to say on that). I do think hiring London was a solid move. But, I fail to see how cutting the listed sports positively impacts football at all.
If I characterize BillyMac's post and OldTribe is positive support for the AD, it only took 30 days. Hopefully the truly big donors will fully fund it all and the money will lead to athletic glory. I don't blame supporters for wanting to see great success. 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015 were fun times to be part of the Tribe family. It just seems a shame that it has to come at the expense of other students. Also, maybe the teams we play will lay down at the sight of our impressive facilities. Sad that this "change" takes running off a ton of good people who impacted tons of students in a positive way. I'll admit probably 5000 of us don't equal one Kaplan, Zable or part owner of the Dodgers. But great leaders covet all 5003.
(10-02-2020 06:52 PM)TribePride91 Wrote: [ -> ]If I characterize BillyMac's post and OldTribe is positive support for the AD, it only took 30 days. Hopefully the truly big donors will fully fund it all and the money will lead to athletic glory. I don't blame supporters for wanting to see great success. 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015 were fun times to be part of the Tribe family. It just seems a shame that it has to come at the expense of other students.
Please do not presume to know my thoughts, without talking to me (which you are always welcome to do).
At no time have I expressed any support for the actions of our current AD. She has a lot to learn about running a D-1 athletic department and, honestly, just dealing with people, in general.
I, obviously, do not agree with a large segment of this board on what is best for the future of W&M Sports. I worked for over 30 years for the school that means so much to me and have always wanted only the best for Tribe athletes. That does not mean that I am right and you are wrong, or vice-versa, just that I am ready to try something different, ...with the famous quote of Dr. Einstein ringing in my head.
If that is a hanging offense, then so be it.
(10-02-2020 05:43 PM)Florida tribe fan Wrote: [ -> ] (10-02-2020 04:54 PM)Old tribe Wrote: [ -> ] (10-02-2020 03:48 PM)billymac Wrote: [ -> ][quote='TribeinVB' pid='17022274' dateline='1601661675']
She has to be hoping that alums and others who share her and the BoVs' vision of less, but better funded, sports as opposed to more sports but continued limited budgets for most, will step up and be heard.
I agree and I think we will. There are a lot of us that feel that this process is long overdue.
I know I have already sent messages to several parties, including President Rowe, letting them know that, while the AD's people skills need serious work, not everyone opposes the changes that have been made.
I, for one, applaud them.
Agreed, I feel the same. And so do a number of wealthy donors, which matters a lot.
[/quote
Has any communication to date articulated how elimination of the seven sports moves the needle meaningfully on funding for basketball and football? The September 3 statement reads as if the move was a tourniquet type measure. Have major donors been waiting for this move to open the floodgates? Until there is a great deal more clarity, all that has been accomplished is alienation of the stakeholders in the sports that are being dropped.
I bowed out of this discussion but can’t stay away. I don’t think anyone liked how this was handled. There are many that feel lesser number of sports was/is necessary though and it isn’t all about the dollars. Our athletes have less strength coaches, trainers, academic support, sports info support than desired at our level of competition. The focus on the sport budgets does not take into consideration the strain 23 sports puts on the entire department. Less sports/athletes means better quality support for the remaining sports/athletes. Less need to build/share facilities. These facts don’t spill out of the budgets thrown around. The “30% of the athletes for 13% of the budget” argument continuously used is not a comprehensive one.
Don't bow out. No poster should bow out bc he or she holds a minority or even a ridiculous view (not directing that at any one person). This is a messageboard...if we can't or won't write freely, we might as well hang it up.
BTW, us fans aren't the problem. We all, unabashedly, want what's best for W&M; we just have varying ideas on how to get there.
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Can we get basic here?
Let’s leave volleyball out of this discussion, because that is an expensive sport.
From a monetary standpoint, how does the elimination of men’s track help football and basketball?
From a monetary standpoint, how does the elimination of swimming help football and basketball?
From a monetary standpoint, how does the elimination of gymnastics help football and basketball?
From a monetary standpoint, if all of the folks who are outraged by the process in its entirety, or a portion of the process, conduct an economic boycott of the school, how does the school ... not the Athletics Department ... the school ... how does the school survive?
Title IX is a separate issue. This national first class excellence experience is a separate issue.
Dollars and cents .... this doesn’t add up.
And I’ll say it again ... I have no issue with elevating hoops ... but not at the cost of cutting another sport.
This is a Title IX issue. This is an NCAA regs issue. That is where the “fight” must occur. Challenge this stuff. Don’t take the easy way out and alienate a portion of the alumni / donor base.
Let's see what comes out of the Moderated Sessions. While I agree the entire dropping of the seven sports was totally mishandled by her, I'm
willing to go into this with an open mind. After all, I want W&M teams to succeed and, for one, volleyball can disappear and get no
dissent from me.