NFL
By: Zach Draves
Clemson University Athletics is destroying itself from within.
They are holding up this mirror to the world that reflects a top-notch institution with one of the most prestigious athletic programs on record, mainly relying on the success of football to promote that image.
Sadly, Athletic Director Dan Radakovich is seeking to arbitrarily deny those opportunities to current and future track and cross country runners.
On November 5, 2020, he made the announcement that Clemson was cutting their men’s track and cross country programs at the end of the 2020-2021 season, leaving the team dismayed, disrespected, disheveled, not to mention pretty damn mad.
(Courtesy: GoFundMe)
The reasons for making such a decision are supposedly based on potential financial losses that the athletic program is enduring as well as working to uphold Title IX obligations by creating more opportunities for women athletes as is required by law.
While Title IX compliance is a must and there needs to be greater opportunities provided, the idea that cutting another program is needed in order to achieve equality flies in the face of that idea altogether.
If we look at the numbers from 2014 to 2019, the athletic budget soared from $75 million to $132 and it was within that five-year time span that the football team won two national titles.
It is also worth noting that the school recently opened a new state of the art practice facility for football that includes a slide, bowling alley, and mini-golf course, not to mention that the great coach Dabo Swinney is without question the highest-paid state employee in South Carolina.
His salary is more than $8 million per year.
The men’s track and cross country team budget is $2 million.
If the university can pony up the dollars to build a campus-sized family fun center, at taxpayer’s expense mind you, then surely there can be money to save two programs that have provided opportunities for many.
On the Title IX front, they could actually invest in the women’s teams, promote women’s teams, show up to support women’s teams, and therefore grow more opportunities for women’s teams so that gender equity can be achieved without having to destroy lives.
So any argument put forth that the University is trying to save money due to matters such as pandemic-related financial shortcomings or that these programs aren’t producing enough results is beyond ludicrous.
The fact is these programs have been around for sixty-seven years and won 23 ACC titles, 16 NCAA titles, and produced 22 Olympians and 179 All-Americans.
(Courtesy: Yahoo Sports)
Mike Beaudreau, a Clemson alum from 1997, who didn’t compete on the team during his tenure but is a high school coach, treasurer of Georgia Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (GATFXCCA), coached a runner for five years who then recently transferred to Clemson when the unthinkable happened, rightfully points out the lack of perspective on the part of the AD.
“He thinks it is an easy decision but it doesn’t count. It is a permanent drastic solution to a temporary problem” he said.
“We want the program to be better.”
Additionally, it is important to note the racial dynamics at play here because the overwhelming majority of the team are black.
Russell Dinkins, an attorney, activist, and former Princeton runner filed a civil rights complaint outlining the drastic impact that cutting these programs will have on black athletes.
The complaint was filed with the Department of Education’s Office on Civil Rights with the intention of looking into whether this decision was racial discrimination.
The fact is whether or not the federal government will look into the matter, this situation speaks volumes on how the college sports industrial complex views black athletes, particularly involved in non-revenue generating sports, as disposable.
“We are cutting 67% percent of the black student-athlete population and 3% percent of the black student population,” said Mike.
It’s as if Clemson appreciates the company of black athletes who make money for the university and not receive a penny in return for their labor.
Or if black athletes compete in a sport that can provide a wide range of opportunities including the Olympics but doesn’t serve the administration’s bottom line, then they get cut at a moment’s notice.
Either way, systemic racism is at play here.
As well as the hypocrisy of the university putting out statements in support of Black Lives Matter and racial justice while destroying black lives in the process.
The bright spot in all this madness is that a movement is getting stronger by the minute to save these programs.
(Courtesy: Youtube)
Support has been on campus among fellow athletes across all sports, professors, community members, and some local and national politicians include former South Carolina senatorial candidate Jaime Harrison.
(Courtesy: New York Daily News)
(Courtesy: Roars for Clemson)
Even rival schools are stepping up.
“Duke, University of South Carolina, and Florida State University did videos showing their support” said Mike.
The story is also garnering more and more attention in the media.
The momentum is there and needs to continue harvesting and Mike has provided options on what can be done.
“Go to www.saveclemsontf.com. They have to click the link to be a supporter and fill out the google form in 30 seconds. Also, put out a tweet of the day and click on the message to send out to the state legislature.”
“We created a GoFundMe page to fund special events and we are going to create a pledge sheet.”
It has been said there is strength in numbers and that couldn’t be more true here.
Let’s continue to put the pressure on the AD, the University, and the state because this atrocity isn’t just confined to Clemson but can happen on any campus.
We can’t stop and won’t stop.
Famed scholar-activist Dr. Cornel West said, “justice is what love looks like in public.”
Clemson, show some love.
#SaveClemsonXCTF
https://pt.gofundme.com/f/SaveClemsonXCTF
https://www.saveclemsontf.com/
https://www.change.org/p/save-clemson-university-s-men-s-track-and-xc-program
