Bowling Green State University Athletics
Economics, Competitiveness, Participation Opportunities Cited In Reducing Number Of BGSU Men's Sports
March 21, 2002 | General
March 21, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio - In response to tough economic realities, the ability to improve competitiveness and to provide more equitable participation opportunities for women, Bowling Green State University today announced the elimination of four men's sports. The sports include tennis, indoor and outdoor track and swimming/diving. BGSU President Sidney A. Ribeau, Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Whipple, and Athletic Director Paul Krebs made the announcement.
This reduces the number of varsity sports at BGSU from 22 to 18. The move shifts Bowling Green's athletic position in the Mid-American Conference from having the most varsity sports (Ball State also has 22 sports) with the lowest funding per sport, to having a comparable number of sports as their MAC conference peers with competitive funding.
"This has been an extremely difficult and heart wrenching decision for the University to make. Bowling Green State University has supported the largest athletic program in the MAC with one of the smallest budgets. When I was hired as athletic director in 1999, the issue of dropping sports was already being discussed. I opted not to make such a drastic move in an effort to work toward a more positive solution for our budgeting and staffing issues," Krebs said. "Unfortunately, no other solution has been found."
"In spite of our best efforts, the economic realities of funding 22 varsity sports teams at a highly competitive level of Division I athletics has become a financial hardship. Deciding to eliminate some sports has been one of the most distressing and painful choices this administration has had to make, " Krebs continued. "Reductions in funding for higher education from the State of Ohio, the current economic situation and the continuing resources needed to compete in our conference were significant factors in this decision."
"The decision to eliminate these sports is in no way meant to diminish the dedication, effort or ability of these athletes, coaches and alumni. They have contributed greatly to Bowling Green athletics and to the vitality of the University," Ribeau said. "The University has faced state funding cuts of more than $5 million in the past year and I don't see a brighter financial future on the horizon."
Fifty-five student athletes will be affected by the elimination of these sports. Two full-time coaching positions will be eliminated. Any student athlete who is on a scholarship will remain on scholarship through the 2002-2003 school year. Coaches will remain on contract through June 30, 2002. Beginning in year two, 2003 to 2004, when all of the scholarship dollars are recovered, the athletic department will save approximately $360,000.
Putting Mid-American Conference sports in perspective, Ball State University has 22 sponsored sports, while Eastern Michigan University has 21. Schools sponsoring 20 sports include Western Michigan University, Ohio University and the University at Buffalo. The University of Toledo, Miami University and Northern Illinois University have 19 sports, Kent State, 18 sports, The University of Akron, 17, and Marshall University and Central Michigan University, 16.
Krebs said that once the decision was made to eliminate some sports, several criteria were used in the consideration of which sports. These criteria included economic considerations, the opportunity for future competitive success and the regional and national health of the sport. As a result of the decision, participation opportunities for men and women athletes fall more in line with the proportion of male and female full time undergraduate students at the University. Typically, the BGSU student population is approximately 56% female and 44% male.
"This decision impacts many people, both on and off our campus. The entire University, the Board of Trustees, alumni and other universities will share in the loss of these sports and athletes and the contributions they have made to our University. We pledge to do everything in our ability to help those students who choose to continue their athletic careers at other schools," Krebs said.
"BGSU athletics has struggled over recent years due to the fact that too few resources were being spread over too many sports." said David Bryan, Chair of the University's Board of Trustees. "Simply adding more money to the athletic budget was not an option at a time when State funding is decreasing and improving faculty and staff compensation is a priority. This decision reconfirms BGSU's commitment to excellence in all of its academic and athletic programs. Every member deeply regrets the elimination of any intercollegiate sport at BGSU, but the Board of Trustees supports the decisions made by the President, the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics," Bryan concluded.
