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Post by supermann033 on Jun 6, 2005 9:12:45 GMT -5
As of today June 6, the University of Findlay has cut our program. As a senior to be on this team this is a sad day for me. I want to send a thank you out to all that attempted to help save our program. Also to all the the well wishers we truly appreciate it as well. We have some very talented freshman on our squad from last year that are going to need some where to play, if you know of any teams with so scholarship money left this late in the year that would be willing to give these players a chance could you email me their contact information so I can get these kids in contact with the right people. My email is oliverc@findlay.edu. I would appreciate all the help that you guys can offer in our time of need. Once again I want to say thank you to all that were involved in trying to save our program and sorry that our efforts went for not.
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Post by gobears on Jun 6, 2005 9:47:15 GMT -5
I hope all the other mvb programs at all NCAA levels are paying attention. Time to crank up the fundraising now rather than have this happen again. Do not leave the responsiblity for this to the AD...a lot of them appear not to know the difference between a vball and a doorknob......the team and coaches need to sit down and get out there, marketing, alumni contacts, annual fund work, parent involvement, e newsletter to all...(local coaches, alums, parents, students, media contacts, campus vips ), local community contacts, cultivation of fans, big time! Everyone in the program can do a little. If your program shows growth and vitality and is VISIBLE, it is less likely to be on the chopping block. While the wvb programs may not have to do that, this is reality.
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Post by simplycurious on Jun 6, 2005 12:46:11 GMT -5
Corey, We're truly sorry as a volleyball community to see that our efforts to assist your program were ignored and that all the hard work you players have put into the program wasn't respected by the current administration. I stand by my offer (made on the 'looking for a place to play' thread) to help any player who wishes to contact me at: simplycurious@fastmail.fm. I know that some players will have more luck than others, but hope that everyone is able to find what they're looking for this fall. Good luck!
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Post by Gordon55M on Jun 6, 2005 13:21:19 GMT -5
Perhaps some advice for the Findlay guys.
For those of you not able/wanting to transfer, look into to starting a club team at Findlay. NIRSA has a 2 varsity member rule, so that may pose a problem. It isn't the same level, but at least you will still be playing some vball. Also, I bet Findlay gives out money to club sport teams, so you may have to look into that funding before the next semester starts. I think it would be a shame for you guys to let vball die at your school. Like in poker, always leave yourself an out and I think a club team might be that out. Also if you have sponsers stay in contact with them. If you decide to start a club program, perhaps they will stay on with you and help fund your team.
Being a Ball State student and seeing the mess that went on here when they tried to drop the program I would say set up an online petition that gets submitted to the administration everytime someone signs it. I remember signing the BSU one and there were thousands of names. Most importantly, make sure anything you write to the school is very clear and not bitter. Make sure you sit on whatever you write in protest for a night. Also think, would you be embarassed if your mother knew you wrote it?
And anyone who is considering transferring I would say look into Ball State (bias I know) Just from being here and knowing some guys on the team I would say anyone with a pulse and a 12 inch vertical can make the varsity team. As a former player for Quincy I would say avoid that school at all costs. I think the other MIVA schools though would be a great fit for Findlay guys and I think MIVA coaches should go out of their way to try to pick you guys up if they can. Carthage might also be a decent school to look into. They are young and might want some experienced players.
Just my two cents, hope all works out for you guys in the end.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jun 6, 2005 13:48:44 GMT -5
I don't want to insult or upset the Findlay guys, but I didn't see a lot of urgent work done to save their program like I saw done when Ball State's program was cut.
At Ball State, even after the announcements hit the paper, etc. they still pushed very hard, writing petitions, calling AD's, congressmen, news, etc. to save the program.
From my perspective of being an onlooker, I haven't even been offered a petition to sign. I haven't seen any "save Findlay volleyball" websites. Just a few posts here and a small link that has been kept on the downlow so it ISN'T exposed greatly to the media.
It's hard to jump on the bandwagon to save the program when it hasn't started rolling yet.
I would say there is still time.
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beachdude
Junior
The Volleyball Made Me Do it!
Posts: 423
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Post by beachdude on Jun 6, 2005 14:25:46 GMT -5
My fear is this is another step towards decertification of Men's Volleyball at the varsity level. Speak ill of Lisa Love all you want, but she was the leading force behind the move to certify all "Olympic Sports" 7 years ago regardless of participation numbers. If the MPSF should lose another team or two......it could lead to making men's volleyball a club sport. Ouch!
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Post by vb on Jun 6, 2005 19:10:57 GMT -5
I agree. I believe you Findlay VB players DON"T want your program to stay. You have no fight in you. I remember the BSU guys really wanting to play....those guys knew how to fight and win. How about a real effort!
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Post by cyberVBmidwest on Jun 6, 2005 19:26:33 GMT -5
I agree. I believe you Findlay VB players DON"T want your program to stay. You have no fight in you. I remember the BSU guys really wanting to play....those guys knew how to fight and win. How about a real effort! I can see where you might say they didn't fight but Ball State had a lot VB alumni supporting their effort. Alumni that had more business experience, resources & VB contacts than any current player would have. Findlay doesn't have a lot of VB alumni!!!! Does it have any?
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Post by EyeNoLilVeeBall on Jun 6, 2005 21:09:15 GMT -5
Wow goes out to Idahoboy and vb. There was a large amount of communication between some people and the athletic department. There was no help at all coming from the athletic department. The entire budget minus the current scholarships that they are honoring was turned over already to women's athletics. BSU receives the majority of their fundraising from alumni and the coaches clinic they run. There have been efforts to make something work but they are not getting anywhere. I can't believe you would say that the players dont't want the program to stay. Thats really crappy coming at a time like this.
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Post by DutchFury on Jun 6, 2005 21:11:54 GMT -5
While I can understand the point of views being expressed about us not doing enough, you have to remember we are all fairly young, and have no experience with a team getting cut, and had absolutely zero notice this was going to happen. We didn't have time to think about what to do until it was already done. There was also a lot of behind the scenes work, meetings, and e-mails sent that aren't discussed on here. And Findlay is no Ball State, our numbers are not that convincing. I only wonder, if we had petitioned in time, had gathered as much support, and had advanced notice to stage an effort...would it really have made a difference? It sounded like their minds were made up...unfortunately we may never know.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Jun 6, 2005 22:04:19 GMT -5
I can't believe you would say that the players dont't want the program to stay. Thats really crappy coming at a time like this. I AM NOT saying that. I am saying let's get started on it though! We can't help if you don't offer or ask for ways to help. Why don't the players contact someone at Ball State and if they can help? How about a call to some state and local media? Does anyone in your families know anyone that can raise a stink? If so, call them?! C'mon, I don't want to see this die any more than the players or fans or any other Volleyball program! It sounds like everyone has given up. It was the 11th hour when Ball State fought off the cut. Money can be transferred back and forth easily!
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Post by vb on Jun 6, 2005 22:08:46 GMT -5
While I can understand the point of views being expressed about us not doing enough, you have to remember we are all fairly young, and have no experience with a team getting cut, and had absolutely zero notice this was going to happen. We didn't have time to think about what to do until it was already done. There was also a lot of behind the scenes work, meetings, and e-mails sent that aren't discussed on here. And Findlay is no Ball State, our numbers are not that convincing. I only wonder, if we had petitioned in time, had gathered as much support, and had advanced notice to stage an effort...would it really have made a difference? It sounded like their minds were made up...unfortunately we may never know. Just ask Programs have been brought back from the dead before....just ask for the right help. Get the game plan from the BSU guys. Your immediate problem is the head coach who just took the 30 pieces of silver to concede the program. First, the AD etc should be ashamed of buying him off with more money for the womens VB program...but it worked. (Great quote that it is not a title 9 problem...but we are giving the mens vb money to the title 9 womens programs) Second, shame on him for being bought. This is a tough problem to have....I think you have to solve this before you can use the BSU approach.
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Post by star035 on Jun 7, 2005 8:24:42 GMT -5
From Findley's athletic website: "Normally when men’s programs are dropped, Title IX, the 1972 legislation calling for equal opportunity between men and women in athletics, often is blamed as the primary reason for downsizing within the athletic department. Rackley insisted this was not the purpose. “Although this decision will help with Title IX, it was not our primary purpose in doing away with the program,” said Rackley. “Simply put, we are reallocating the funds we used for the program to distribute amongst our women’s programs. We believe this move will benefit us in the future and most definitely make our department stronger in the long run.” " Riiiight. It's not about Title IX, but we're taking money from the boys and giving it to the girls. Tell the two Indiana guys that if they head back home, Indiana University's club team loses a few players and could use the talent. Forget the politics of varsity ball - enjoy the fun and competition of club.
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Post by EyeNoLilVeeBall on Jun 7, 2005 9:53:40 GMT -5
The final chapter has been written. After meeting with the athletic director this morning, there is no opportunity to field a team for the future. When asked if we could continue the program through fundraising he responded with a "no." He felt that for two years we would be able to find those interested in giving money but after that the well runs dry and leaves us in the same position we are in now.
His main reasons were:
1. Nowhere in the near future did he feel they would be able to contribute any more funds to the program. With that being said, he did not want to field a team "halfway" stating "If we are going to continue to field a team, then we need to do so in a committed manor. Since we cannot contribute anymore funds to the program, I did not feel we could be committed to the program." A coach in the MIVA stated to myself, "you guys have done more in 5 years with partial funding then most have done with more money in a longer time. The program was going in the right direction to being competitive year in and year out."
2. The roster size. He said that out of 10 possible returners, 2 were looking elsewhere and 1 was academically ineligible. That leaves 7 guys which is a rather small number to field a team. At the point when he began to gather his information at the beginning of May, we had only 3 guys committed as walk-ons. We had none "signed" because as I was told, "it is a waste of paperwork to give a kid an NLI who gets no money." Mid-May comes and the two guys looking elsewhere committed to coming back as did two more walk-on kids. Putting our roster size up to 14 and 1 not eligible til spring. Come memorial day weekend we added two verbals of scholarship kids and another walk-on visiting with the likelihood of committing. Thats a roster size of 18 with still some scholarship money for another kid. That's the size roster we've had basically every year with the exception of this past season. But the person who was giving the recruiting updates to the AD was not the person doing any of the recruiting. And remember we didn't sign three of our freshman til July or later last year so we were well ahead of that pace.
3. We were a non-GLIAC school. He felt that as the AD he need to be committed to being competitive in the GLIAC. Therefore more money needed to be contributed to certain programs to help make this happen. Note: We are the only school who sponsors a team in every sport that the GLIAC has. I will leave the investigation of the other sports we sponsor and their competitiveness up to you. (www.gliac.org)
There is still a lot of speculation and rumors and when the dust all settles you can be sure you'll get a post from me with all the details.
I wanted to thank everyone who sent an email, made a phone call, and everything else to show support. At the least it annoyed everyone who got them.
There are a few guys looking to transfer and I have contacted many coaches. If anyone is interested feel free to contact me and I will help you out in whatever way possible. monroes@findlay.edu
Thanks again for the support and maybe when a new AD rolls into town we can get it going again.
p.s - If anyone knows of any coaching positions open feel free to contact me.
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Post by DutchFury on Jun 7, 2005 10:05:53 GMT -5
Anyone have any questions....that outta answer them all.
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