patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Seven UMd. Sports Cut After Fundraising Efforts Fall Short

One program—men's outdoor track and field—avoided elimination after collecting $888,000 in donations.

 

Seven of the University of Maryland's sports programs have officially been cut after fundraising efforts to support them came up short, athletics director Kevin Anderson announced Monday.

Men’s and women’s swimming, men’s tennis, women’s water polo, acrobatics and tumbling, cross country, and indoor track have been discontinued effective July 1.

The cuts were made to help the university counter a growing deficit that may reach $4 million by the end of the fiscal year.

"We understand the pain and disappointment this has caused our student-athletes and their families," Anderson said in a statement. "The deliberations of the President's Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics were painstaking."

In order to stave off rollbacks announced in November, teams were required to show significant fundraising progress toward long-term viability. Only one of the eight programs on the chopping block—men's outdoor track and field—collected enough support to continue operating.

"Though a number of other benchmarks must be met for men's outdoor track and field to continue in perpetuity, efforts by supporters, alumni, parents and Maryland Athletics staff have given the program a chance to move forward," the university wrote.

The Baltimore Sun reports that $888,000 was raised for track and field, just shy of the school's $940,000 target.

Swimming and diving raised the next highest amount at $184,716, according to the Sun, but still fell far short of their required sum of $11.6 million.

Related Topics: University Of Maryland, University of Maryland Athletics, and sports cuts

Helen Okobokekeimei

12:11 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012

It is very sad what happened to the seven sports teams that were cut this weekend. My prayers and condolences goes out to them at this time. They will all be terps for life ever so in our hearts and souls. Good luck to all members, coach directors, head coaches, assistant coach directors, and assistant coaches in their endeavors and their next chapter in lIfe. You all will get better opportunities in the near future. Sorry it has to end this way. I wish it was not this way.

Reply

Helen Okobokekeimei

12:12 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012

They all will be Terps for life forever.

Reply

H2OPoloTime

9:47 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Maybe if Maryland had not overreached with its stupid football stadium expansion project, these sports could have been saved. Sacrificing anything and all for football is not the way to go.

Reply

Leave a comment