https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/ne...ng-diving/

Petition for the Tribe7-

16,338 signees .... goal is 25,000

That is awesome news. Hopefully it makes a difference.

(09-08-2020 07:44 AM)zablenoise Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I don't love Huge, nor do I support all of her choices. In fact, many of her choices piss me off. But, reading this message board, she has truly attained George Soros boogie man status. She is manipulating every situation with nefarious goals, all the while twirling her villainous imaginary mustache.
I do think the handling of eliminating the seven sports was poor. Was the end goal always to remove the seven sports? Seems quite likely. It's also quite likely that the number of sports was a burden on the department. I think the biggest sin was a lack of bringing people along with where the athletic department was with these sports. If the AD had hosted open virtual meetings with interested parties in these programs and layed out the dire outlook, she would have generated donations and most likely tamped down the shock and outrage if ultimately goals weren't met. Ddi this happen? Nope, the interested parties were blind sided. If removing those sports was always an end goal, giving the chance to save themselves works against that. I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I'm of split mind about this. Because you're right, Huge isn't evil, she just makes controversial decisions. But how many times do I have to say "I don't necessarily disagree with the decision, it's just how she went about it." Tony, The Hall, cutting sports, and reorganizing the department all come to mind. It seems pretty clear by this point that Huge isn't somebody who values "bringing people along" or sharing her decision making authority.

I'm not so sure I agree with you comment about being evil. Some former coaches would use that word without hesitation.

Not swimming but this is sad. Another passionate coach begging to save his team.

Track & Field is literally called Athletics in the rest of the world. It is sport in its purest form, and it's disciplines form the basis for all other sports and their training. #saveathletics

-Alex Heacock

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(09-08-2020 11:07 AM)nj alum Wrote:  https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/ne...ng-diving/

Petition for the Tribe7-

16,338 signees .... goal is 25,000

Just signed and contributed.

I have to agree with this. Some on this board fail to realize that Huge was hired explicitly to take the actions she has taken the past few years. She didn't come up with these ideas or plans on her own. The quote below is from a long time former coach of a team that was cut, discussing her reaction to the news. Some of you should take the same approach.

"I want to make it clear that I hold no animus toward Samantha Huge. She was hired with the express directive from our Board of Visitors to make changes in our beloved Athletics Department. She was charged with rescuing a financially sinking ship. Careful planning had been underway for the last two years to reduce the number of teams the College offers. And then COVID 19 hit and all of the careful planning had to be accelerated and deepened. Even major universities with enormous budgets like Stanford University, which recently cut eleven varsity sports teams, are making the difficult decisions to discontinue broad sport sponsorship. I am aware that changes need to be made. In spite of this, I believe that the decision to include volleyball in the reduction is a wrong one."

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I don't love Huge, nor do I support all of her choices. In fact, many of her choices piss me off. But, reading this message board, she has truly attained George Soros boogie man status. She is manipulating every situation with nefarious goals, all the while twirling her villainous imaginary mustache.
I do think the handling of eliminating the seven sports was poor. Was the end goal always to remove the seven sports? Seems quite likely. It's also quite likely that the number of sports was a burden on the department. I think the biggest sin was a lack of bringing people along with where the athletic department was with these sports. If the AD had hosted open virtual meetings with interested parties in these programs and layed out the dire outlook, she would have generated donations and most likely tamped down the shock and outrage if ultimately goals weren't met. Ddi this happen? Nope, the interested parties were blind sided. If removing those sports was always an end goal, giving the chance to save themselves works against that. I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I imagine any reversal would not only have to include annual operating expenses, but, also, funds to cover a new natatorium.

(09-08-2020 02:15 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I imagine any reversal would not only have to include annual operating expenses, but, also, funds to cover a new natatorium.

Why do you think this would be the case when those trying to save swimming say (in their talking points) that it is not necessary? Quite honestly I'd consider them the experts in whether they need a new natatorium or not. (BTW - that's not a shot at you, I'm curious your thoughts.)

271 rocks and $579,370 found so far.....that's almost $200,000 in 24 hours. How would that stack up to the other sports during OTOD?

We have Huge apologists - those who feel she can do no wrong, think she's here to save Tribe Athletics from itself, and see no issue in anything she does, no matter what.

We have neutral folks - those who honestly just see no real issue either way; Huge's actions are good and bad but nothing that moves the needle. Or, those people simply reject conflict.

We have Huge "haters" - Those who are beyond the brink, who assume malicious intent, no benefit of the doubt, want her gone.


Maybe some of you fit into subcategories, you get the point, but everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and I don't think anyone has the right to tell others how to feel or suggest they curb their thoughts. This forum is a great place to bounce ideas, talk things through, and gather info on a topic we all love. If you want something boring...say a separate pro sports cuts and an anti sports cuts thread, let's just go ahead and create those threads so no one is offended and we all feel great about our beliefs. It'll be like cable news channels.



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(09-08-2020 02:15 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I imagine any reversal would not only have to include annual operating expenses, but, also, funds to cover a new natatorium.

Has there been any indication that the athletics dept would be open to a reversal if certain targets are met? Perhaps behind the scenes talks with the organizers of these fund raisers and the AD? Or, is the purpose to force Huge to make a decision that she doesn't want to make?

[quote='Old tribe' pid='16982544' dateline='1599591859']
“I have to agree with this. Some on this board fail to realize that Huge was hired explicitly to take the actions she has taken the past few years. She didn't come up with these ideas or plans on her own.”

I don’t know if you intended this, but this is not complimentary of the AD.

“She was charged with rescuing a financially sinking ship.”

If true, the stakeholders have never been properly informed as to the issues presented.

“Careful planning had been underway for the last two years to reduce the number of teams the College offers”.

While a billion dollar fundraing campaign was going on? Scandalous, if true.

(09-08-2020 02:46 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 02:15 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I imagine any reversal would not only have to include annual operating expenses, but, also, funds to cover a new natatorium.

Why do you think this would be the case when those trying to save swimming say (in their talking points) that it is not necessary? Quite honestly I'd consider them the experts in whether they need a new natatorium or not. (BTW - that's not a shot at you, I'm curious your thoughts.)

I have no insight. The stated Huge "mission" is to field championship teams. We live in a current national college athletics landscape that seems to equate championships with best of the best facilities. A community natatorium wish was put out there by Huge in the first year of the AD change. Trying to grasp for rationale, if a vehicle for that being realized (and to, consequently, add diving) did not solidify, then despite five CAA championships in a row, the perception maybe was that we couldn't keep up with the Joneses long term. Hard for me to believe it was simply about operating costs which could have been raised grass roots (as it is now), and not, also, about future facilities. I'm from the "it's not about facilities" old school, but many are not (including kids.) A new facility would be well north of $20 mill.

(09-08-2020 05:42 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 02:46 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 02:15 PM)Tribeheart Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 07:25 AM)mrjoolius Wrote:  I look forward to seeing how Huge resolves this pickle of a situation when the swim department comes up with the money shortfall. My guess is no matter how much they come up with, it won't be enough.

I imagine any reversal would not only have to include annual operating expenses, but, also, funds to cover a new natatorium.

Why do you think this would be the case when those trying to save swimming say (in their talking points) that it is not necessary? Quite honestly I'd consider them the experts in whether they need a new natatorium or not. (BTW - that's not a shot at you, I'm curious your thoughts.)

I have no insight. The stated Huge "mission" is to field championship teams. We live in a current national college athletics landscape that seems to equate championships with best of the best facilities. A community natatorium wish was put out there by Huge in the first year of the AD change. Trying to grasp for rationale, if a vehicle for that being realized (and to, consequently, add diving) did not solidify, then despite five CAA championships in a row, the perception maybe was that we couldn't keep up with the Joneses long term. Hard for me to believe it was simply about operating costs which could have been raised grass roots (as it is now), and not, also, about future facilities. I'm from the "it's not about facilities" old school, but many are not (including kids.) A new facility would be well north of $20 mill.

Thanks for your thoughts, I appreciate it. I always thought that a new natatorium was a bit of a pipe dream put out there as a (most likely) unattainable goal. If that was put out as a benchmark to keep a program, that's a sham(e).

I go back to those that are working to save swimming and the message that a new natatorium is not necessary to compete for Championships (which the track record shows they can).

The Save Tribe Swimming initiative has now raised $800,000 in only one week (as of 9/10).
The media is getting behind the movement and running news stories critical of the administration and in support of Tribe Swimming.
Here's an article from today's Fredericksburg Freelance Star ...
Free Lance Star
Also, the country's leading swimming news outlet featured Tribe alum Matt Crispino, now the coach at Princeton, who is leading the charge for reinstatement ...
https://swimswam.com/swimswam-podcast-ho...endowment/

400 rocks have been turned over ... $819,392 has been found ... in one week.

The petition has 19,220 signatories, and climbing.

One Tribe One Family.

Kudos to the Swim team and its supporters! Are there any similar efforts for the track and gymnastics programs?

AD Samantha Huge probably didn't see this quarry...I mean, rocks.

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Drexel just hired a new M&W swim coach

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(09-10-2020 01:21 PM)Tribal Wrote:  AD Samantha Huge probably didn't see this quarry...I mean, rocks.

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She had one of her minions look under the rocks. She will probably use them as a scapegoat.

Does anyone remember the scholarship freeze?

Now at $1,000,837,242.