Why do we have a golf team again?

[LawPoke]

Dominoes will fall sooner than later and all sports not named football and basketball will probably be in bucket 7. As a Club Sport administrator, I look forward to the continued job security.

Correct. This is, unfortunately, a business now. It has been for a while, but between the portal, NIL, and conference gerrymandering run amok, it is now readily apparent to even the densest among us (me). It is time to speak in business terms: what is the cash ROI for the sport? is the sport required for operational reasons (Title IX, MW affiliation, etc.)? could the ROI shift with additional capital investment? how? can the operating division (team) justify its budget year-to-year? what is the risk profile of maintaining the sport or discontinuing it? could the ROI shift with different leadership? what is our ability to adequately staff the sport with talent and maintain that talent (coaching, NIL, transfer losses, transfers in)? what sport(s) enhances our brand? detracts from that brand? what is our brand and are we doing all we can to protect and enhance that brand? what is the ROI for advertisements (SB commercial? How many applicants came because they saw that? Did any recruit come because of the ad? - if not, it was a terrible waste of money and a feel good sort of thing that was net ROI negative)? how is leadership (AD, pres, and board of trustees) rewarded for excellence? punished for poor performance? are our partners (MW, NCAA, et al) adding to or detracting from our brand and performance?

These are cold, calculating times. We can no longer afford to act on emotion, personal loyalties, friendships, and concern for the kids (safety and physical health and safety CLEARLY notwithstanding). The kids clearly couldn't give a tinker's damn about UW - for the most part - and would run to the arms of an agent and new school in a second if they have the chance. I hate it. But it is what it is.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

Dominoes will fall sooner than later and all sports not named football and basketball will probably be in bucket 7. As a Club Sport administrator, I look forward to the continued job security.

I believe this has a high chance of likelihood. Absent congressional intervention, the greed we have seen and the Sherman Act interpretations will destroy opportunities for the large majority of college athletes. The fall of American dominance in Olympic sports such as Track and Field, swimming, etc…is likely to come in the next decade.

 

[PAPoke]

I believe this has a high chance of likelihood. Absent congressional intervention, the greed we have seen and the Sherman Act interpretations will destroy opportunities for the large majority of college athletes. The fall of American dominance in Olympic sports such as Track and Field, swimming, etc…is likely to come in the next decade.

Great post. I’d argue the U.S. has already slipped from Olympic dominance.

We leaned too hard on the NCAA system, because that is what pays individual bills. It was never built to serve Olympic success long-term. Other countries built elite pipelines, while we’ve let college branding and pro aspirations lead the way. It’s catching up to us.

Basketball’s still ours (barely), and maybe flag football. But women’s soccer, gymnastics, wrestling... we’re no longer the automatic pick.

American kids aren’t chasing Olympic glory like they used to. I honestly don't think kids care about representing the USA the same way they once did. For reasons more than sports, I think the focus on "me" and "I" will contribute to the downfall of a lot of things

 

[rocket city poke]

There is a donor that allocates a substantial amount of money that direction. But I don’t believe those funds come anywhere close to fully supporting those programs. In addition, I believe that certain folks with CJC and the foundation like their yearly paid for trips to Phoenix and Palm Springs for our ‘home’ golf tournaments. But golf is a complete waste, a drain on resources and makes zero sense as a program at the university of Wyoming .

Women’s wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country and it makes a tremendous amount of sense at Wyoming and costs would be greatly minimized because of existing facilities.

But I personally don’t believe our athletic decision makers are looking out for fan engagement, our athletes and fiscally wise decisions…as much as they are for the nice mini vacations golf can provide them.

There are two things you can say about the UW athletic department:

1) Decisions are made without any fiscal responsibility or accountability
2) THere will be 0 innovation or creativity. The time that Burman has been there he has basically done nothing different than when he first got there. The department is always way behind on any sort of change.

 

[bladerunnr]

Great post. I’d argue the U.S. has already slipped from Olympic dominance.

We leaned too hard on the NCAA system, because that is what pays individual bills. It was never built to serve Olympic success long-term. Other countries built elite pipelines, while we’ve let college branding and pro aspirations lead the way. It’s catching up to us.

Basketball’s still ours (barely), and maybe flag football. But women’s soccer, gymnastics, wrestling... we’re no longer the automatic pick.

American kids aren’t chasing Olympic glory like they used to. I honestly don't think kids care about representing the USA the same way they once did. For reasons more than sports, I think the focus on "me" and "I" will contribute to the downfall of a lot of things

Nothing could be further from the truth. The NCAA system trains an enormous number of Olympic champions, but many of them are not Americans. Mondo Duplantis, Olympic champion and world record holder in the pole vault, went to LSU. Numerous track champions attended U.S. colleges, many from Jamaica or Europe. If we have slipped from Olympic dominance (I'd argue we never were dominant) it's not due to the NCAA system. Sadly, too many American kids are fat and lazy from playing video games and eating junk food. When I was growing up in Casper, you never saw an obese kid, ever. It's sad what the digital age has created.

 

[PAPoke]

Nothing could be further from the truth. The NCAA system trains an enormous number of Olympic champions, but many of them are not Americans. Mondo Duplantis, Olympic champion and world record holder in the pole vault, went to LSU. Numerous track champions attended U.S. colleges, many from Jamaica or Europe. If we have slipped from Olympic dominance (I'd argue we never were dominant) it's not due to the NCAA system. Sadly, too many American kids are fat and lazy from playing video games and eating junk food. When I was growing up in Casper, you never saw an obese kid, ever. It's sad what the digital age has created.

Fair pushback.

I’ll concede that my original post might’ve painted with too broad a brush. The NCAA has absolutely produced world-class Olympians. But I still think we’ve leaned too heavily on it as our de facto development system, especially compared to countries that invest in long-term pipelines starting in childhood.

The NCAA is solid when it comes to honing skills, but it’s often a finishing school, not where foundational Olympic dreams are built. And yeah, a lot of the athletes it polishes end up competing against us. I agree with you.

I don't support the “kids these days are lazy” angle in this argument. The problem isn’t the kids; it’s access and affordability. If your family can’t pay thousands a year for club sports by the time you’re 10, the Olympic path is all but closed in several sports. That’s a systemic issue, not a generational one.

Hey, maybe E-Sports will be an Olympic venture one day. Not that we'll win, with places overseas already beating the brakes off us regularly.

 

[LanderPoke]

Nothing could be further from the truth. The NCAA system trains an enormous number of Olympic champions, but many of them are not Americans. Mondo Duplantis, Olympic champion and world record holder in the pole vault, went to LSU. Numerous track champions attended U.S. colleges, many from Jamaica or Europe. If we have slipped from Olympic dominance (I'd argue we never were dominant) it's not due to the NCAA system. Sadly, too many American kids are fat and lazy from playing video games and eating junk food. When I was growing up in Casper, you never saw an obese kid, ever. It's sad what the digital age has created.

Duplantis is a dick. Lives his whole life in America and decides to compete for Sweden.

And yeah, way too many fatties. It’s important to get your kids involved in organized sports and also just kick them out of the house for a few hours and make them make friends and play on their own outside

 

[flyfishwyo]

I mean, really? I've heard that there is a donor that floats the whole team. I've heard that it is tied to Title IX. I've heard that it is a cheap team to sponsor so that we can meet the minimum number required to be members of the MW. Does anyone know the real story? I know we are on the cusp of greatness and all, with the men’s team finishing almost 60 shots out of first place (10th place out of 11 teams) after shooting 2 over at the MW Championships, but maybe UW doesn't need a freegin' golf program. The kids don't even play in WY from what I understand. How is this, in any way, a Wyoming team other than they wear brown and gold? Water polo makes more sense to sponsor than golf.

If conference rankings were the qualifier for keeping programs, then wouldn't we get rid of the College of Law?

 

[LawPoke]

If conference rankings were the qualifier for keeping programs, then wouldn't we get rid of the College of Law?

Maybe. But I see academics as a bit of a different discussion - but only a bit. Despite the hatred for lawyers, we actually need them in WY - so the law school is akin to the College of Ed or Engineering, spitting out students to work in WY. That said, the focal areas for the Law School and overall educational excellence are akew right now.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

If conference rankings were the qualifier for keeping programs, then wouldn't we get rid of the College of Law?

We need local lawyers in Wyoming so the law school is generally a good investment. In fact, anyone with a bar license can go pick up criminal cases in Gillette right now because the city cannot attract enough public defenders/lawyers (resulting in some cases simply being dismissed against criminal defendants for lack of adequate representation). When I look at the curriculum, however, the law school offers a lot of classes that don't make sense for Wyoming but fails to offer all the classes that a Wyoming lawyer should have. So I actually see the argument that some law classes at the College of Law should be dropped because they don't make sense and don't benefit the State of Wyoming (just like golf).

It is difficult to argue that we need any athletic programs at the University really.

 

[stymeman]

I tried qualifying for team my freshman year back in 88...missed their cut by 3 strokes...was a fun experience

 

[Midwest Cowboy]

I recently golfed at Rich Harvest Farms. It was for a fundraiser. We had full use of the clubhouse. Kind of cool to see lockers with Scottie Pippen, Greg Norman, Junior Bridgeman (RIP), Don Nelson, etc. Michael Jordan was just kicked out for a gambling issue. Anyway, the course is spectacular. The owner went to NIU and said, you will never win a national championship in football, but you will in golf. This is NIU's home course. Of couse it took a billionaire in Jerry Rich to make that happen. Apparently, the course is used to recruit the best of the best. Wonder if Wyoming will get a look at the course. Was a top 50 course, now top 100.