Men's Track????

[transfer2BGSU]

I've said it once and I'll say it again....

BGSU did not cut any sports due to Title IX. We cut four programs because of an Athletic Department budget that was approximately $3 million in debt.

Title IX was probably responsible for no womens program from being cut.

[Dr. Bucko]

If it's a money issue (which has something to do with it), why didn't they drop men's soccer, or even baseball. It would be my judgment that either cost exponentially more to operate than a men's track team. And rumor has it now that they're going to build a brand-new track. Nothing makes sense right now.

[transfer2BGSU]

Baseball is a requirement for all MAC schools.

Not sure about soccer (although it is one of the most popular sports being played in the country and world right now).

We still have a womens track and field program, so upgrading the facilities makes sense to me if they need to be upgraded due to deteriorating conditions.

[Dr. Bucko]

Was just testing you background, Transfer. You are correct on two counts, i.e., baseball (unfortunately) is a MAC requirement, and we still do have a women's track team that will make good use of the new facility. The popularity of soccer, conversely, is questionable and should have nothing to do with it. I've been through this hassle before, so just take my word for it --- or check out the National Federation of State High School Association, and you'll find that track and field is the second most popular (i.e., in terms of participation) sport in the country for both boys and girls. Soccer pales by comparison. Miami dropped their soccer program and kept track. BG should have done the same.

[transfer2BGSU]

The popularity of soccer, conversely, is questionable..

Well, drive around Columbus, Westerville, Hilliard, or Dublin on some Saturday morning and you will see a lot of young kids playing soccer.

[Dr. Bucko]

Read my lips, Transfer, I said track and field at the secondary level has more kid participation than anyother sport in the country save for basketball. For boys it's number three, for girl's it's number two, combined it's number two. AND THAT'S FACT! And I'm glad that you see a lot of soccer action around Columbus on Sat. mornings (it's probably more exciting than Buckeye football). It's a great aerobic sport for kids, and I'm all for it; I'd rather see them on a soccer field than sitting around with a baseball bat in their hand. And I know it's a popular sport, but at the secondary level, there are far more kids playing football, basketball, track and field, softball, baseball, etc. than are playing soccer. That's the way it is. I'm trying to compare apples to apples. At the secondary level (now I said 'secondary level') in terms of participation, soccer doesn't cut the mustard when compared to a number of other sports. That's fact -- take it or leave it. Perferably, drop the subject.

[PGY Tiercel]

When you say at the secondary level, are you only counting those people actually participating on their High school team. If that is the case, don't you kind of tip the scales in favor of track and field, since more people are capable of being on a team. A quick example from BG's teams, W Soccer 26, W Track 44. Track is a much more inclusive sport at the secondary levels, I don't remember people being "cut" from the team when I was in high school, but I know soccer had very competitive try outs .

[transfer2BGSU]

That's fact -- take it or leave it. Perferably, drop the subject.

Whoa Bucko! I think you should be drinking decaf the next time. You asked a question, I responded. Don't jump me just because you don't like my answer.

[Dr. Bucko]

Oh Goodness, Transfer, I didn't mean to be rude. That's the last thing I want to be --- my apologies. PGY ---- if you feel cutting kids from sports is the missing equation, then how do you account for Basketball (where cutting is big-time) being the number one sport in the country for the combined genders (number one in terms of participation)? The only thing I know is that it would be hard for me to cut a sport like track that has so many kids involved at the secondary level. It's a very basic, tough sport, a neat place to objectively measure athletic prowess (no subjective assessments used in this sport). Consider too, that well over 80 per cent of those blue chippers that get the football scholarships in Div I were track stars in high school (the two sports go hand in hand). And a lot of those guys would like to continue running in track during the off season. ---- I would have found something else to cut.

[UK Peregrine]

I remember having this exact conversation within this thread http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/phpBB2/v ... c&start=15 , maybe it can help.

[Warthog]

Sorry, but I think track is a boring sport. Well, maybe I woulnd't even call it a sport since it is just a series of individual events. Much rather have a baseball team, heck even a soccer team, over a track "team" any day.

Dr. Bucko, you keep talking about track having such high participation levels. Why do you think that should equate to the reason for saving a program? As I noted somewhere else, table tennis is right up there in terms of participation. Don't see anyone clamoring for us to have a table tennis though.

[Falconfreak90]

Sorry, but I think track is a boring sport. Well, maybe I woulnd't even call it a sport since it is just a series of individual events. Much rather have a baseball team, heck even a soccer team, over a track "team" any day.

Dr. Bucko, you keep talking about track having such high participation levels. Why do you think that should equate to the reason for saving a program? As I noted somewhere else, table tennis is right up there in terms of participation. Don't see anyone clamoring for us to have a table tennis though.

BGSU PING PONG....GO FALCONS!!

[Dr. Bucko]

Well what you donin snoopin around in the minor-sports, Warthog? Get back to the football forum where you belong, and take the Falcon with you.
I snuck off to be by myself, and maybe confuse a few unsuspecting souls, and then you had to come along and spoil it all. I'm gonna take the rest of the day off, think a little, and then send you a lighted stick of dynamite tomorrow sometime. ----- For what's it's worth to you, I was part of a rarther large group of Alumni who tried to save Track program at BG. Go BG!

[Warthog]

Sorry, I will sluff back over to football where I belong.

[gobgfalcons]

Whatever the real reason was, the official reason why men's indoor and outdoor track was cut, along with men's swimming and diving and tennis was because of Financial contraints...I have not doubt that part of it had to do with compliance of title IX standards, but still, that is the official reason why.
As much as I love the guys on the men's cross country team and wish we had a track team, I feel that it was completely STUPID to keep a men's program in cross country but cut track...no one will ever want to come here because they can't compete in track...some of the guys on our xc team would be very very good MIDDLE distance runners...look at steve vairetta...he was on the track team before it was cut...a 400 800 runner and now look at him running 8ks---great for him---impressive transition...how we got roger kipchumba here from kansas state, who has a men's track program, is beyond me, but am glad we did and i hear rumors of an even better runner commited or will be committed soon....
As a female, I agree with TITLE IX principles but i don't feel that men's programs should suffer at the expense of women....
the athletic department should find some way to reinstate some of the men's programs that it cut...BE CREATIVE! Find ways to get money donated...um 19 and can think of hundreds of ways...
GO BG TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY!