Wanted to bump this topic back up. If anyone has not listened to DB Alberts (I mean AD Alberts, no DB is correct I guess) in the press conference and on the podcasts Lazyman_1 refers to above definitely check it out. His rationale is ridiculous. I liked Flo's letter, but I wrote my own and sent it to the regents as well. After listening to AD/DB I had to point out how stupid he sounded. If anyone else wants to copy the e-mail and send it to the regents you have my permission. If anyone wants to repost it on Flo or on any other forum you also have my permission. Keep contacting the regents!
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Subject: UNO Wrestling Program- Thank you for reading!
To: Nebraska Board of Regents
From:
RE: UNO Wrestling
Nebraska Board of Regents,
I am writing to express my dismay that UNO is planning to move to the Division 1 level and leave behind it’s most decorated and successful program. I am an avid wrestling fan, and follow UNO wrestling as it is one of the closest (and most successful) collegiate programs in the area. Even though I am from Kansas, I consider UNO to be “my” program as there have been numerous Kansas high school wrestlers who have achieved great success at UNO.
I understand the need for growth and change in UNO’s current athletic program, and I am aware that many difficult decisions needed to be made to best make this move. I however do not understand the rationale for eliminating your most successful sport. I empathize with the football team, but understand the budgetary and Title IX need to eliminate this largest and most expensive male sport, but eliminating the wrestling program while also starting a men’s golf and men’s soccer program is nonsensical.
In listening to AD Trev Alberts defend this position at both the press conference and also on radio 1620 in Omaha, I have become more convinced that this is a poorly contrived solution. The initial reason given for the elimination of programs was strictly financial. AD Alberts has since backpedaled from this explanation in regards to the wrestling program. The wrestling program’s operating budget has not risen in the last 30 years, and with the exception of the coaches salaries costs UNO’s athletic department very little in comparison to other sports. The UNO wrestling team fund raises over one-hundred thousand dollars annually to fund its travel and competitions. The vast majority of the materials (mats, equipment, uniforms, etc. ) are already purchased and will only require regular upgrades as opposed to purchasing an entire new uniform set for the newly established programs. In addition wrestling is a very inexpensive sport to sponsor because it is an indoor sport which will require no practice fields or competition fields. Soccer will certainly incur this additional cost and I would assume the golf team would be required to purchase tee times from the local golf courses to practice which will be a recurring, yearly cost. AD Alberts also discussed that the wrestling team cost the university a total of $450,000 per year- but this cost also included grants and academic scholarships that the wrestling team received in addition to the operational costs. Does AD Alberts not expect the golf or soccer team members to receive grants or academic scholarships? Why is this money being counted as an expense for the wrestling team when in fact it is an expense for UNO students- who just happen to be athletes on the wrestling team.
During AD Alberts interview on radio 1620 March 14th (which are available via podcast), his rationale became even more convoluted. He backed away from the budgetary rationale, but stood by his decision to remove the sport of wrestling. Basically, his rationale went as follows:
1. The Sport of Wrestling has been very successful at the D-II level. (No arguments here).
2. To compete at the same high level in D-I would require an increase in budget.
a. Based on the budgets of some of the D-1 programs in the area.
3. If no budget increase was allowed, the UNO wrestling program would be a mediocre D-1 program at best.
a. Based on D-1 wrestling programs with similar budgets as UNO’s current budget.
AD Alberts’ Conclusion:
4. Since UNO Wrestling MAY NOT be able to compete at the highest level, the program should be eliminated in favor of starting a golf program and soccer program to better fit in the new conference.
There are so many flaws with this line of reasoning that it is hard to decide where to begin, but here goes.
1. The wrestling programs AD Albert’s was comparing to are in no way near as successful as UNO’s. Winning 6 of 8 D-II championships is surely a sign that they are ready to compete at the highest level. UNO has had wrestlers compete very well against the best D-I talent, having several Midlands champions in addition to a US World Team member.
2. By AD Alberts’ own admission on the radio, the golf and soccer programs will not be fully funded. Essentially the plan is simply to offer some additional sports to fit in to the new conference and to provide opportunities for area high school students to compete at the D-I level, but he stated they would not be funded in such a way to allow them to compete for championships- conference or national. Basically these sports would be club sports that offer scholarships, but the school will not commit to competing for championships.
My question is why eliminate what makes UNO unique and is a major part of its identity nationally in favor of starting programs the athletic director and department do not intend to make competitive. Why not allow the UNO Wrestling program to compete at the D-I level and see if they can in fact achieve success, when the two new sports are not even expected by the AD to compete for championships in the conference let alone nationally. As AD Alberts’ indicated in his press conference- Omaha supports excellence. You can find no higher achieving collegiate program in Omaha than the UNO wrestling program. I hope that you, the board of regents see fit to continue to support this excellence.
Thank you for the time spent reading this e-mail.
Sincerely,
