http://swimming.flocasts.org/videos/series/view_video/275-all-swimmers-unite/69512-coaches-round-table

Eddie thinks that it could be the Big 1 or the Big 0...any thoughts?

I remember reading somewhere that Iowa State was adding a men's program and it appears that Missouri and A&M have solid programs.

[This message has been edited by bogustrumper (edited 7/9/2008 1:08p).]

He just said it wouldn't surprise him...that said, Missouri just built a great new pool and we have an enormous budget and successful team...it would be an epic mismanagement of resources of Herculean proportions to even think about something like that happening here...ASU is the impetus for this discussion and they have half the budget we do

H2O - I don't think our budget for swimming is anywhere close to "huge." Based on data from the Dept. of Education (http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/main.asp) we spend $127K for mens swimming not counting coaches salaries. We spend significantly less than Texas.

Maybe a previous responder might have some other thoughts, but I agree with your assessment our men's swimming budget.

Without looking at the dollars, just knowing that we have about 25 roster spots vs. about 40 for UT (don't quote me on either number) speaks to the size of the budget.

I have no idea what the current thought in the athletic department is, but from the general swimming communitee A&M is not viewed as one of the handful of "untouchable" men's swimming programs (UT, Michigan, Auburn, Stanford...?)that are safe from being cut.

Before someone corrects me, the roster spots on the team websites are 33 for UT and 28 for A&M. Not the disparity I thought, but still somewhat indicative of the support levels.

I think A&M's program is probably on reasonably solid footing as long as it is top 25. I think Byrne hates to simply concede a sport to Austin. He of course cut swimming at Nebraska so that's a strike against him.

I'm getting pessimistic about college sports in general - football and basketball are out of control and control far too much money and scholarships. It is so expensive to compete in those sports that many schools will throw almost all of their budgets at just a few sports (look at OU and TT).

If I were really wealthy - no doubt I would endow men's swimming somehow to secure it for a while.

quote:

---

I think A&M's program is probably on reasonably solid footing as long as it is top 25. I think Byrne hates to simply concede a sport to Austin. He of course cut swimming at Nebraska so that's a strike against him.

---

yep, that is what makes me nervous but I don't think that he can be mixed in with the A.D.s from Arizona, Syracuse, Rutgers, etc.

It seems to me that if the administration truly supports the program it will get the kind of results that the women's program is enjoying.

The Former Students would go nuts if Byrne cut Men's Swimming, simply because t.u also has a team. Any sport that he cuts which texas also has a team in will cause an uproar. A sport that competes with t.u, no matter how closely, is a plus for the University and athletic dept.

99 makes a great point. Yes, we will lose that lonestar showdown point every year in the foreseable future. However, the TAMU sport with the longest top 25 streak and a legitimate top 10 threat in some years is a plus for the Athletic Department. Even those who don't follow swimming would likely oppose cutting the program because of that.

Roster spots have absolutely nothing to do with the 'support' they are getting...that is solely up to the coach as to what he thinks might help his team and how many he will allow

...and the men's swimming budget is MUCH more than 127K...the amount spent on swimming at A&M is in the seven digit range

Isn't a lot of the budget paid to TAMU to use the pool? And remember that figure didn't include coaches salaries. The coaches in total are probably in the range of $400-$500K including the diving coach.

The athletic dept. pays a ton for the swim teams to use their home pool. State salaries are public record so you could find out if you take the time and effort to look them up.

...so A&M's swim teams pay to use the A&M swim facility? Is that an accounting wash or is this a problem for both programs?

Not sure how the accounting works, but I believe the Rec Sports department owns the facility and the Athletic Department rents pool time from them.

I don't claim to know very much about the whole process, but, from what I understand, Athletics pays Rec Sports well over half a million a year for the swim teams to use their home pool (and that doesn't include hosting meets)

Not sure what you mean by accounting wash...

I think the accounting wash comment is about whether or not real $$ are paid by the athletic dept. to A&M to use the pool.

I think it is real money. The AD is part of TAMU, but its budget is separate. The Rec Center pool was built by TAMU, not the AD. So the AD has to rent it. The AD could choose to use that money for better video games for the football team.

At some schools the pools are built with donated money - and might be part of the athletic department's assets. Not at A&M.

You're spot on Spicewood.

technically the A&M students own the rec center (hence the "Student Rec Center & Natatorium)

i do believe the money is "paid" but its a technicality or something

No technicalities. Athletics writes Rec Sports a check every year. A big one.

I think we have to remember the athletic dept. has a very clear and documented revenue stream - ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, TV, etc. Most of the revenue comes from football and basketball. The checks they write are very real money.

Probably just as real as the checks the Aggie Swim Club (USA-S team) pays to the rec.