What we do not know is the impact of the gender equity (Title IX) study due out soon. Since we must conform to Title IX the resolution of this matter makes any meaningful discussion on finances or excellence difficult. Hopefully Athletics has developed strategic planning options for the new AD to consider after this study is public. It is my hope these options include more than one vision.
It seems we cannot reach Title IX compliance with roster adjustments alone and have excellence in men's programs. Therefore we either add one or more women sports or eliminate men sports or a blend of both.
There are different perceptions of excellence. It is clear that our swimmers when recruited accepted the facility situation that exist and came here with that condition. Therefore who should decide the standard for the "most level playing field" our student athletes or the administration? My perception is that the student athlete considers the coaching staff, the team chemistry, the academic needs, the facilities, excellence, and our conference affiliation among many facts in deciding if they attend W&M.
On the other side of the coin, our BB '21 recruits starting in 2/20 were given the perception of a renovated Kap by Oct 2022 which we now know will not occur. We have many constructions projects currently occurring on the campus that the College found money to fund plus a beautiful new track recently done and great scoreboard in Zable while the Kap sites idle.
Fans and donors exceeded all expectations in FY21 fundraising for many sports especially the Tribe 7. Using FY21 chart provided in From the Desk plus our forum info and comparing these to their FY19 giving at
https://tribeathletics.com/news/2020/11/...etics.aspx shows that the targeted "Tribe 7" vastly exceeded what was raised in FY19 while meeting their FY21 fundraising goals! Two sports are amazing: Swimming raised 132K in FY19 and had a goal of 360K for FY21 which was vastly exceeded primarily due to their internal efforts. Track raised 171K in FY19 and was give a goal of 645K which they have also exceeded primarily due to their internal efforts.
Last fall the cry to arms was the need for transparency and giving the sports the opportunity to address their financial needs. We still miss true transparency in this process since we lack the Title IX report. Hopefully once that becomes public, the new AD can share alternative visons with the criteria needed to implement each vision. Then all of us can put our talents together to reach creative solutions so that nobody is happy but most are content-that is the result of compromise.
Need I remind all of us that "Cary Field" was built as a agricultural outdoor arena in the 1930's and W&M Hall was built as a convocation hall in 1970!