The South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association shared to scrunners a letter to sent to Clemson regarding the cutting of the men's track and field and cross country program.
Editor's note: This guest letter is only the views of the author and association. scrunners encourages individuals to send letters and guest columns for consideration to discuss current issues in sports throughout the state.
Dear President Clements and Clemson University Board of Trustees,
I write you this letter as the current president of the South Carolina Track and Cross-Country Coaches
Association on request from the entire organization regarding the recent decision to discontinue the
Men's Track and Cross-Country program at Clemson University.
As an association, we would like to
pass on our regret and sadness that a university that many of us love, and to which we have given
significant portions of our time and money, has decided to remove such a large piece of the history of
that university. The effects of this decision may not be obvious to those making the decisions, but they
will be significant. Dan Radakovich cites multiple factors that lead to the decision to discontinue the
Men's Track and Cross-Country programs in his statement including an evaluation of local and
national participation in the sport, the impact on diversity among student-athletes and staff, and
financial concerns.
It is the belief of this association that the facts do not line up with this statement,
and that this decision does not show good stewardship of Mr. Radakovich in his management of the the entire athletic program at a state-supported school.
In the letter from Mr. Radakovich, he cites "local and national participation in the sport" as one factor leading to his decision. In the state of South Carolina in the 2018-19 school year, 13,962 athletes participated in outdoor track and field, and another 6,091 in cross-country.
In the letter from Mr. Radakovich, he cites "local and national participation in the sport" as one factor leading to his decision. In the state of South Carolina in the 2018-19 school year, 13,962 athletes participated in outdoor track and field, and another 6,091 in cross-country.
Outdoor track and field
maintains a higher participation level than soccer (11,241 between genders), and basketball (11,257
between genders)- while both of these sports are being retained at Clemson. On a national level, the
National Federation of State High School Associations lists boys' track and field as the second-highest
participation level with 605,354 participants, and girls track and field as the highest participation level
with 488,267 participants in 2018-19. Add this to 488,000 athletes participating in cross country
between genders, that is a total of 1.6 million participants in track and cross country nationally.
To
imply that local and national participation is a concern moving forward is a gross misrepresentation of
the data at hand. I don't think it's inconsequential that the track and field and cross-country
communities in South Carolina represent 20,000 athletes and households that pay taxes that fund
Clemson University. Some of these athletes are solid academic students who will be a benefit to the
university academically as they always have been in the past.
Another factor cited by Mr. Radakovich is "impact on diversity among student-athletes and staff". I
don't think it's any secret that the track and field team has the second most diverse population next to
the football team, so this seems to contradict the statement made by Mr. Radakovich.
A closer look
might reveal that this impact on diversity is more of a concern of gender diversity than cultural
diversity. Again, it is no secret that the discontinuation of the men's track and cross-country program will provide balance with Title IX and gender equality. As an association that supports both genders,
we completely support gender equality within athletics as a whole. Having said that, track and field is
one of the most diverse sports in our country, and to eliminate that is sacrificing racial and cultural
diversity to meet the legal needs of gender diversity.
I believe the spirit of the Title IX legislation was
to increase equality, and this decision is being made in the name of Title IX is reducing equality as a
whole in our community. For a university that has been making waves with statements of "Unity" and
being "All In", this statement that cultural equality is being trumped by gender equality is a bad look
when there are other ways to create balance for Title IX purposes.
When it comes down to it, I personally love Clemson University. I have two degrees from this
University, and I believe in its mission and vision educationally and holistically.
I am also an active
IPTAY member and have loved watching the job that Dabo Swinney has done in this community. The
thing I love about Dabo Swinney is that he does what is right. He doesn't play politics, he doesn't
meddle and isn't manipulative. He is transparent and does what he believes is right all the time,
standing by his athletes and his program no matter what.
I cannot say that I have the same perception
of Mr. Radakovich and his management of the athletic programs at Clemson, and this is a major
example of not considering the big picture as we move forward. I, and many members of the track and
field community in our state, have loved Clemson for the fact that this university is associated with
doing things the right way.
Unfortunately, we as a group do not believe that the removal of this
program is doing things the "right way" and hope that the Clemson University that we all love and
revere will reconsider the decision.
I write this letter to you as the president of the South Carolina Track and Cross-Country Coaches
Association, but I am just one person and could never show the scale to which this decision is affecting
the people in our state.
This letter is written in the representation of the 412 members of the South
Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association who commit a large portion of their life to our
sport, and who commit their time to over 13,000 South Carolina taxpayers who largely believe this
move is not in the best interest of our state. I hope the leadership at Clemson University will
reconsider this decision and maintain this program that means so much to so many of us.
Thank you
for your time.
Chris White
President of the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association
Clemson University Alumnus (BS 1998; Ph.D. 2015)
President of the South Carolina Track and Cross Country Coaches Association
Clemson University Alumnus (BS 1998; Ph.D. 2015)
Do you think Clemson should cut the men's cross country / track and field programs? (Poll Closed)
Total Votes: 102