A Sea Of Red

As we all know, our administration continues to wrangle with constantly changing government rules and regulations regarding Title IX and athletic compliance. If we go FBS, that will add 22 men's scholarships, likely necessitating the addition of a women's sport to offset the new scholarships. What should be the next women's varsity sport that LU adds?

Id go with golf. The only other existing sport that could be considered is ice hockey (especially after the kind of season we just had), but I dont think Coach Handy would want to see the women move from club to varsity status without the men. Diving would simply be an extension of the swimming program so that wouldnt necessarily be much of a change, Bowling probably doesnt have the level of interest needed to be an NCAA sport, while equestrian and beach volleyball are listed as "emerging sports" but arent at the level of NCAA championship status as of yet (beach volleyball for men and women is offered as a club sport currently).

BJWilliams wrote:Id go with golf. The only other existing sport that could be considered is ice hockey (especially after the kind of season we just had), but I dont think Coach Handy would want to see the women move from club to varsity status without the men. Diving would simply be an extension of the swimming program so that wouldnt necessarily be much of a change, Bowling probably doesnt have the level of interest needed to be an NCAA sport, while equestrian and beach volleyball are listed as "emerging sports" but arent at the level of NCAA championship status as of yet (beach volleyball for men and women is offered as a club sport currently).

Coach Handy may not have a choice in the matter.

Youre right, he may not...but my feeling on it is that golf would probably come first, then hockey and then one of the emerging sports (especially if one makes championship status in the next five years or so)

I believe the DI allottment for Womens' golf is 6 and Womens' hockey is 18 so there ya go.

none for bowling, I don't think

I would think jb is going give jake a fully funded team and add diving but I hope/think ice hockey or gymnastics. Since there is a hockey facility on campus already and a plan on gymnastic facility being built as well.

theyd only have to add I think 4 or 5 scholarships to cover diving. the big expenditure there would be getting a proper facility with one and three-meter springboards and a ten meter platform

BJWilliams wrote:theyd only have to add I think 4 or 5 scholarships to cover diving. the big expenditure there would be getting a proper facility with one and three-meter springboards and a ten meter platform

Just host the next season of SPLASH and that should take care of funding.

Purple Haize wrote:

BJWilliams wrote:theyd only have to add I think 4 or 5 scholarships to cover diving. the big expenditure there would be getting a proper facility with one and three-meter springboards and a ten meter platform

Just host the next season of SPLASH and that should take care of funding.

Only if you are a contestant.

Sign me up!

I know the perfect dive coach and it has been mentioned previously should we ever get a diving facility.

Sly Fox wrote:I know the perfect dive coach and it has been mentioned previously should we ever get a diving facility.

You are too kind. I really can't take all the credit. Gravity has a lot to do with it.

I think dive coaches are considered part of the coaching staff for swimming (at least from what I can tell looking at a few rosters)...also, I dont think Sly was referring to you funny guy...

I went with ice hockey. Beach Volleyball would be nice but doesn't seem overly practical since a large portion of the spring season wouldn't exactly be beach volleyball type weather. But if you look past that would be a good addition. Can use the same coaching staff and some of the same players you already have for indoor volleyball if they want to do it. Only problem is that it more or less turns volleyball into a year round varsity sport for the players which isn't always a good thing.

Volleyball is already a two-semester varsity sport anyway. There's a fall season and a spring season.

Did anyone ever consider Gymnastics...??
I believe we have that as a Club Sport now, correct?

LUinPA wrote:Did anyone ever consider Gymnastics...??
I believe we have that as a Club Sport now, correct?

SMOOTH would be excited. He really wanted a gymnastics team when he went to LU

ATrain wrote:Volleyball is already a two-semester varsity sport anyway. There's a fall season and a spring season.

The spring season is not even comparable to the time commitments of the regular fall season. It's like full time vs. part time.

lynchburgwildcats wrote:

ATrain wrote:Volleyball is already a two-semester varsity sport anyway. There's a fall season and a spring season.

The spring season is not even comparable to the time commitments of the regular fall season. It's like full time vs. part time.

Not necessarily. Tennis we had fall and spring, and when the tournaments were going on - as well as the months beforehand - we were "in-season," which allowed the full amount of time for practice, workouts, etc. Generally the only time "Out of season," was from November thru the start of the second semester. Volleyball is probably pretty similar, I'd be surprised if they weren't.

LUinPA wrote:Did anyone ever consider Gymnastics...??
I believe we have that as a Club Sport now, correct?

Gymnastics is considered...it falls under OTHER. Along with Crew, Sailing, Skiing, etc...

ATrain wrote:

lynchburgwildcats wrote:

ATrain wrote:Volleyball is already a two-semester varsity sport anyway. There's a fall season and a spring season.

The spring season is not even comparable to the time commitments of the regular fall season. It's like full time vs. part time.

Not necessarily. Tennis we had fall and spring, and when the tournaments were going on - as well as the months beforehand - we were "in-season," which allowed the full amount of time for practice, workouts, etc. Generally the only time "Out of season," was from November thru the start of the second semester. Volleyball is probably pretty similar, I'd be surprised if they weren't.

Last time I checked, tennis wasn't volleyball. The two sport's "non-traditional" seasons do not operate the same. For one thing, tennis in the fall actually counts for official season stats and NCAA/ITA rankings and reporting. Spring indoor volleyball is like any other non-traditional season, merely a limited amount of practice time (they aren't legally allotted the same # of official days and hours as they have in the fall) and a scrimmage or two.

I actually ran into the swimming coach in the Tilley Center before I headed to Thomas Road and he indicated that if we add diving it actually wouldnt count as another sport but would mean a redistribution of the scholarships already in place.

According to him, a swim/dive team has 14 scholarships. As with any sport, you can divide them any way you see fit. (14 full, 28 half, etc.) If we decide to offer diving, that wont add to the amount of scholarships he has available (contrary to my comments earlier).

i was under the impression we were already up 22 women's sports scholarships above the requirements. wasn't that what cutting wrestling was about?

I believe I heard that as well...golf probably would be the next sport in line if we did add a sport to our offerings, because as long as the ratio of sports AND scholarship offerings doesnt dip below the equal ratio based on student population (which I believe at last check was 52/48), we could at least add one more sport

beach volleyball is at 13%???