In late August, Rutgers Alumni Relations e-mailed me the news that Sam Sitt, a Rutgers College Class of 2004 alumnus, had made it to the finals in quadruple sculls rowing at the Beijing Olympics. Back in 1952, Chuck Logg, a Rutgers College Class of 1952 alumnus, and Tom Price, a Rutgers College Class of 1955 alumnus, won the gold medal rowing in pairs without coxswain at the Helsinki Olympics. But don't expect any more Rutgers crew glory at future Olympics. Last year the Rutgers administration eliminated men's varsity crew and gave the money - student fee money - to the football program.
Michael Phelps is now being hailed as the greatest swimmer in Olympics history and has vowed to promote swimming around the world. But don't expect any Rutgers men at future Olympics. Even with one of the newest and finest natatoriums in the region, the Rutgers administration also eliminated men's swimming and diving - and gave the money to the football program.
New Jersey is a national hotbed for developing fencers. But don't expect them to represent Rutgers at the Olympics. The Rutgers administration also eliminated men's and women's fencing - and gave the money to the football program.
Writing in today's Wall Street Journal, Christopher Rhoads lamented the demise of the Olympic sports at the college level, noting that, "Last year [Rutgers] eliminated six teams in Olympic sports, including fencing and rowing, programs that over the years generated more than a score of Olympians." In the past year, two editorials in The New York Times, along with countless other editorials and articles in New Jersey newspapers, have voiced similar despair - and now the Rutgers administration is trying to spend $100 million to expand the football stadium.
These sports are a part of Rutgers' history and tradition. They have carried the good name of Rutgers around the world for more than a century. Football has an equally storied history at Rutgers, and is second only to crew as Rutgers' oldest intercollegiate sport. If Rutgers really wants a good football program, it will reinstate the Olympic sports and demand the same kind of quality from the football program that the Olympic sports have produced.
The Rev. Douglas E. Remer, is a Rutgers College alumnus, Class of 1971. He is currently a rector at Saint John's Church in Tampa, Fla.
Be the first to comment on this article!