The Duquesne Duke

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Opinions

Ask any young athlete what their goals and dreams are for their athletic career and the same answer will almost always come to their mind: obtain a scholarship to compete at the Division I level. More than 70 athletes at Duquesne University were living that dream until Feb. 25, when the athletic department decided to cut four men's sports from the program after the 2010 season. The baseball, golf, men's swimming and wrestling teams will no longer compete at Duquesne.

I started wrestling when I was 7 years old, and even at a young age I set my goals without limitations, hoping one day I would wrestle at a Division I college. As I got older, I realized the athletes at this level of competition were not just lucky to be there, they also put countless hours of work in everyday to reach this level. So, I too began doing the extra work to make myself a better wrestler. In the end, it all paid off. I received my scholarship to wrestle at a Division I school of my choice. I was living my dream, at least until last Monday.

When I first learned the University decided to downsize the athletic department, I felt somewhat numb. I can't say this is how I pictured my wrestling career ending - and a year before my senior season. I knew my senior year would be my time to shine, in a sense. I would be one of the leaders of my team. If a younger wrestler needed guidance or a little help, they could look to me for it.

Now it is every athlete's last season on the dropped teams. Although most of the underclassmen can transfer to a different college to play, a lot of the upper classmen do not have that choice. For many of them, transferring would likely mean losing credits and prolonging their time in school. And many can't afford that financially or academically.

Once the shock of hearing that our program was going to be cut wore off, my teammates and I had questions that we wanted answered. We were granted one meeting with Greg Amodio, the athletic director, and some of his staff, but it was only to tell us we would no longer wrestle here. After this meeting, Amodio was conveniently out of his office for the next few days, making it nearly impossible to contact him.

Originally, my teammates and I were led to believe that the cuts would save the University a little more than $1 million. This information was upsetting to me, but I saw past my initial anger and realized, with the struggling economy that it may be difficult for Duquesne to continue supporting 20 teams.

Later, though, the athletic department released a statement announcing that they would not actually save the money from the cuts, but would give it to other sports. Amodio told local newspapers the department needed to focus on the "core group of sports" at Duquesne so they could become more competitive in the long term.

So, now when the student athletes have questions about the decision, Amodio leaves his office. It does not seem right to take something away from more than 70 athletes and not be willing to answer questions about it. Duquesne and the athletic department should not become mute on the subject and wait for it all to pass.

The University did not make this decision overnight, but the four teams affected by it were given no heads up. Amodio stated in a press release that the decision was thought out and that it was the best move for Duquesne's remaining athletic programs, but still not one word was said to the coaches of these teams.

Keeping the teams in the dark about the upcoming cuts meant the teams did not have time to try and increase their revenue or bring in some money to help support themselves. Each team could have tried raising their own money so that they would not be as financially dependent on the University. Other options could have been explored before coming to the decision.

I sincerely hope the athletic department comes out of their shell and answers the athlete's questions, face-to-face. They should at least talk with all of us in person, not through press releases and newspaper interviews. This subject will not quietly go away. The effected students deserve answers.

Matt Gregg is a junior atheletic training major and can be reached at greggm@duq.edu.

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