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Folks who read here in the fall probably know that I am a huge Rutgers football team, and defend the University's decision to pour more money and resources into the program. I found it unfortunate that other programs had to be cut, but I thought that the long term benefits to the state's colleges would be great.
And then seeing the women's basketball team rise to such unexpected heights, and with such amazing class after the Imus mess, made me even more proud.
But now I am reading that even when donors pledged to fund them Rutgers will not revisit it's decision to cut six lower-profile sports programs.
The Rutgers University Board of Governors says the decision to cut six intercollegiate sports at the end of the school year is final, even though donors are pledging millions of dollars to fund them.
Students, family members and donors who oppose the decision to cut the six sports - men's heavyweight crew, men's lightweight crew, men's fencing, men's swimming and diving, men's tennis and women's fencing - voiced their disapproval at the board's meeting Friday. . .
The teams' supporters say they've raised about $3 million in pledges to save the sports.
In a letter read at the meeting, Bruce Nicholas of Greenwich, Conn., said he would give $1 million to save the crew team.
"I intend to do even more," wrote Nicholas, who has already donated $1 million to crew.
President McComick explained that they cannot support the programs on donations every year, so will not try.
What a load of crap. They raise endowments all the time. If you have a guy who has the money to give $2 or more million to a sport, then he has the connections to raise more.
I really don't care much about any of these sports, though I used to be a diver, but the decision here is ridiculous. If they can spend millions more on football, they can accept millions in donations for other sports.
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