The Coronavirus Crew Cut

[cleetus]

Am seeing fewer entries all around for junior events in most of our regular fall regatta slate. Not sure if this is due to diminished numbers within clubs (which translates into diminished funds), or reluctance to travel.

[lt.wolf]

“ Seeing lots of collegiate rowing clubs either still on COVID hiatus or operating with dramatically lower membership this Fall.”

Who ?

[lt.wolf]

George Washington Rowing Team Captain Sues GW to Reinstate Team's Varsity
Status
The captain of the men's rowing team filed a lawsuit against GW in the D.C.
Superior Court Friday, calling on a judge to require the University to reinstate
the team as a varsity sport.
The men's varsity rowing team was one of seven varsity teams terminated in
August 2020 due to "growing financial concerns" officials say were caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic. The termination went into effect following the
conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
After the announcement, program alumni offered to fund the program to protect
its varsity status, but the University declined the alumni's offer without
providing a


https://www.gwhatchet.com/2022/04/04/ro ... ty-status/

[Cowbells123]

George Washington Rowing Team Captain Sues GW to Reinstate Team's Varsity
Status
The captain of the men's rowing team filed a lawsuit against GW in the D.C.
Superior Court Friday, calling on a judge to require the University to reinstate
the team as a varsity sport.
The men's varsity rowing team was one of seven varsity teams terminated in
August 2020 due to "growing financial concerns" officials say were caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic. The termination went into effect following the
conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
After the announcement, program alumni offered to fund the program to protect
its varsity status, but the University declined the alumni's offer without
providing a


https://www.gwhatchet.com/2022/04/04/ro ... ty-status/

WTAF why would a university actually wave off an alumni effort to save a program?

[Rocket-Sauce]

The timing is curious. Why the 20 month wait between when the teams were cut and the lawsuit??

[socalstroke]

Can't find the article , but something about AD telling the team last year legal action threatened whatever chance remained for the program to avoid cuts.

[asdad123]

George Washington Rowing Team Captain Sues GW to Reinstate Team's Varsity
Status
The captain of the men's rowing team filed a lawsuit against GW in the D.C.
Superior Court Friday, calling on a judge to require the University to reinstate
the team as a varsity sport.
The men's varsity rowing team was one of seven varsity teams terminated in
August 2020 due to "growing financial concerns" officials say were caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic. The termination went into effect following the
conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
After the announcement, program alumni offered to fund the program to protect
its varsity status, but the University declined the alumni's offer without
providing a


https://www.gwhatchet.com/2022/04/04/ro ... ty-status/

WTAF why would a university actually wave off an alumni effort to save a program?

I think Uconn did the same thing with it's women before the reinstatement. I'd imagine it has to do with sustainability. I don't know what the GW alumni are capable of, but its a tall order to have the team completely funded by donations, with the certainty that they won't dissipate in a few years and require a potential 2nd cut if they do

[Slim]

Can't find the article , but something about AD telling the team last year legal action threatened whatever chance remained for the program to avoid cuts.

Taking legal advice from your opponent is seldom a winning strategy.

[fullmetal]

I'm sure they were hoping for a more amicable and less expensive resolution before being pushed to this course of action.

[PBR]

What found interesting in the GW situation is they cut the mens team after its most successful season and after hiring a skilled new coach citing financial issues. They decline the alumni support (would agree they probably had concerns re: stability) yet the AD greatly expands the struggling womens program, adding a full-time assistant, a grad assistant, and 20+ roster spots.

[socalstroke]

Can't find the article , but something about AD telling the team last year legal action threatened whatever chance remained for the program to avoid cuts.

Taking legal advice from your opponent is seldom a winning strategy.

True but what would the cause of action have been? Still not sure they have one but I would love to see what discovery turns up.

[sandor]

The timing is curious. Why the 20 month wait between when the teams were cut and the lawsuit??

COVID?

Cancelled seasons + additional year of eligibility + GW not guaranteeing George his scholarship next year = lawsuit
GW is one of those interesting ones that admitted varsity sports were on the chopping block long before COVID.

Didn't GW recently pay out $1.5 million or so in severance to a old AD?

“GW intentionally and knowingly withheld from Mr. George during his recruiting, and again in May 2020, the fact that it was considering cutting the men’s rowing team as a varsity sport prior to the conclusion of his collegiate athletic eligibility years,” the lawsuit states. “The fact that GW would maintain a varsity Men’s Rowing Team throughout his athletic career was a material fact upon which Mr. George based his decision to attend GW.”

The lawsuit states the cost of reinstating the rowing team as a varsity sport would cost the university less than $200,000, plus the additional costs of renewing scholarships for athletes. In an additional motion filed Friday, George asked the court to require GW to turn over documents regarding the rowing team’s varsity cancellation and the athletic department’s balance sheets from the past five years.

When George and his teammates told Athletic Director Tanya Vogel that they were considering legal action to maintain the team’s varsity status last year – before the conclusion of the team’s final varsity season – she told George that any such effort could result in the immediate cancellation of the team’s varsity status before the 2021 season’s end, according to the lawsuit.

[lt.wolf]

Any truth to the rumor that the FIT rowing programs were cut ?

[lt.wolf]

Whelp

https://floridatechsports.com/news/2022 ... eness.aspx

[Slim]

New AD angling for a D1 job.