{"id":457462,"date":"2020-12-17T10:16:18","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=457462"},"modified":"2020-12-17T10:16:18","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:16:18","slug":"university-of-south-carolina-president-not-wanting-to-cut-olympic-sports-as-financial-problems-show-ugly-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/university-of-south-carolina-president-not-wanting-to-cut-olympic-sports-as-financial-problems-show-ugly-face\/","title":{"rendered":"According to School President, University of South Carolina Swim Programs Could Be In Trouble"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to School President, University of South Carolina Swim Programs Could Be In Trouble<\/strong><\/p>\n

University of South Carolina school president\u00a0Robert Caslen\u00a0<\/strong>rang the warning bell that cutting sports in order to save finances during the troubling times of the COVID-19 pandemic is not out of the question. At a board of trustees meeting on Tuesday, there had been discussions about cutting sports, namely men\u2019s soccer, men\u2019s and women\u2019s swimming and diving and equestrian, according to a report from The State <\/em>in Columbia, South Carolina. Caslen noted that cutting sports is not a preferred option, but could come into play.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can preserve those teams, my desire is because of the goodness they provide our student athletes we would like to do that. There are unintended consequences like cutting pathways to professional or Olympic sports,\u201d Caslen said. \u201cI believe (not cutting is) the right thing to do. In the end, we may have to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The University of South Carolina opened the year facing a deficit of $40 million. With football attendance being one of its primary sources of funds, and with limited spectators in seats for each game this season, the budget has taken a hit, as it has in athletic departments all throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Eight Division I schools have cut swimming & diving this off-season including East Carolina<\/a>,\u00a0 Connecticut<\/a>,\u00a0 Boise State<\/a>,\u00a0 Dartmouth<\/a>,\u00a0 Iowa<\/a>,\u00a0 William & Mary<\/a>, La Salle<\/a> and Michigan State<\/a>.<\/p>\n

William & Mary has already reversed its decision<\/a> and will bring back swimming and diving, but Olympic sports have found themselves on the chopping block this offseason during one of the most difficult financial times. 60 Minutes<\/em> ran a profile piece on December 6 about the Olympic sports cut because of the pandemic’s financial issues it has caused. University of South Carolina president Caslen hoped that the suggested sports would not meet the same fate that other Division I schools decided.<\/p>\n

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85% of Team USA\u2019s 2016 Olympic medalists were college athletes, says Sarah Wilhelmi, who is in charge of college partnerships for the U.S. Olympic Committee. The college-Olympic pipeline is under strain as more and more sports programs get cut. https:\/\/t.co\/M2XuAyQftP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LyffpJfiwh<\/a><\/p>\n
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) December 7, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n