Not to make too much of the Webster story, but the official story is that they could not raise money to support the program--not a single dollar--and that the program cost one million to run the program.

That figure probably includes a pretty substantial estimate of the cost of the building that might otherwise sit empty.

Webster spokesperson Patrick Giblin told local media outlets that the university "was unable to raise a single dollar in endowments to support the program." He noted that it had "invested more than a million dollars per year of its operating budget to support the program during a time when the university was losing millions each year, and its enrollments at the Webster campus declined by half."

I forgot about those billboards.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on Yesterday at 01:56:05 PMWe'll really know if Kenyon is in trouble if they add yachting and croquet as well.

I spit out my drink...

Quote from: Gregory Sager on Yesterday at 01:56:05 PMI'm sorry to  see that. The chess program was a bona-fide distinctive for that school. I can honestly say that the only institution of higher learning in America that I associate with chess is Webster ... which doesn't sound like much, but it is something. Chess still has the aura of an intellectual activity, and that's exactly the perception that a school that really doesn't have any other genuine academic distinctives should embrace.

I understand, though the older I get, the more that I struggle with supporting the institutional vanity projects that do not benefit students broadly speaking.

The chess program would have benefited all students through the publicity, but as that died down, a program with a $1,000,000 budget is apparently no longer worth it.

There is another major chess program in town that is fully supported by a wealthy billionaire.  I am good with that.

The claim by Webster is that the were unsuccessful in fundraising for the chess program.  The former founding director said that was a lack of effort.

I may sound like I disagree with you, but if we were in the same room, I imagine we would mostly agree on the matter.

Quote from: Kuiper on Yesterday at 12:13:06 PMKenyon was downgraded from Positive to Stable in January 2024, so this continues the downward cycle

Linfield University Considers Controversial Program Cuts to Close Budget Deficit

I thought Kenyon was elite enough to be more immune to the tough times, but I was wrong.

This may explain why they added squash.

Interestingly, Webster University is discontinuing their chess program, one of the most noteworthy and accomplished things they have done over the past 20 years.

Unfortunately for Webster, they needed to run that program with full scholarships in order to maintain that level of success.

Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on May 06, 2026, 05:09:36 PMYou could go from University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras to one of the Honolulu schools in just under 5900 miles and stay in D2.

Presque-Isle to the University of Western Australia in the University Basketball League.  It will be harder to find two institutions with basketball programs that are further apart.

luke
@lukeellspermann
2h New home 🟣♠️ @UEAthletics_MBB

Luke Ellspermann is headed to Evansville after a strong freshman campaign at Wabash.

Quote from: nescac1 on May 01, 2026, 11:18:23 AMYeah I was just looking at all region selections, those guys are good inclusions.  And it's not even clear that Fauss is going to be Emory's best big next year, Awasum seems like a guy who really broke through in the tourney and has tons of upside going forward to expand his game.  Of course it helps to have two all-American guards getting all the attention and Emory won't have that next year!

Not to make too much of positions, but Fauss was a wing last season with Shanahan and Martens in the rotation. Probably better in that role, though credit to Fauss for his versatility. Awasum will play a much bigger role next season.

Emory loses 42.08 points, 10.78 rebounds, 10 assists between two players averaging 35 minutes per game.  Emory does not rebuild, they reload. But the loss of the play making and defense, along with the offensive production, cannot be overstated.

Quote from: el_jefe_90 on April 29, 2026, 11:45:23 AMOne more! Matthew Cadogan has added NYU hoops to his X bio. Seems to me that is a sign. No official commitment/statement though.

A pretty good pick-up for NYU. I am still waiting to see where teammate Alex Zakheim ends up...

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 30, 2026, 12:06:01 PMTennis is actually a lucrative -- I don't like to use that word in connection with D3, but if we're being honest it's a major consideration in terms of which students are paying full boat (or at least mostly out-of-pocket) at your typical D3 private and which ones are likely drawing a lot of aid -- sport at the D3 level, even with the small rosters, provided that you have six functional, well-kept courts on campus. Lakeland doesn't; it rents the courts at nearby Howards Grove High School. If you're renting, you're spending, and if you're spending and you bring a small roster to the table, the higher-ups may decide that you're more trouble than you're worth at a small private D3 that is pinching pennies in the current demographic environment.

Right, just less lucrative with the discontinuation of tennis being less surprising than other sports, in my opinion.

Tennis court maintenance is pretty expensive too and arguably seen by institutions as being less important than maintaining an on-campus football field or field house.

Quote from: CNU85 on April 29, 2026, 10:08:13 AMI found a way to see the rosters. 18 on the mens team and 13 on womens team. That's just not enough to be competitive. Player safety would be my first concern.

I do not know anything about lacrosse, but that makes more sense.

My first reaction was of surprise that a school would cut a program with 18 players.

I am far less surprised by Lakeland cutting tennis with significantly fewer tuition-paying players.

Marian (WI) is cutting lacrosse. Interesting...

https://sabreathletics.com/news/2026/4/28/general-marian-university-announces-strategic-realignment-of-athletic-programs-to-strengthen-student-athlete-success.aspx

Quote from: devildog29 on April 14, 2026, 01:58:39 PMThe erasure of the Scott Trost era continues.

Thanks, and well played...

I follow the GLVC closely enough to know better.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on April 13, 2026, 02:45:39 PMBut I don't mean to be hard on Tom Noonan.

He might say that he was talking to someone from a school that benefited from having only two coaches since Division III became a thing, more or less.  I have to think though that Tom Noonan would agree that everything you said was fair.

Also, very interesting points about the recruiting plans.

Quote from: north central on April 12, 2026, 10:35:06 PMThe really alarming part was when asked why Millikin has been bad he didn't have a good answer which makes me think he doesn't know what it takes to be good. 

He did not have a good answer, not at all.

But in all fairness, the this is how I'll do better than my friend and former supervisor is always a tough one. 

Quote from: north central on April 10, 2026, 08:51:49 AMAgain none of that matters without institutional support. I can assure you none of the coaches in the CCIW got anymore worried about Millikin being a real threat now. Here's perspective for how far Millikin is behind. IWU is making Rob Rose the NIL compliance person. Millikin won't even re package kids and IWU potentially has NIL ? Millikin will never be better than IWU or any other teams if that don't change

If you were to catalog posts about institutions suggesting that they lack institutional support, Millikin may rank among the Top 10.  The comments go back for at least as long as I have been around.

Millikin is regularly on the lists of colleges at risk of closure so I am not sure, does the athletic department have a lot of unrealized fundraising opportunities left to close?

Or do they support other programs more than basketball, as unlikely as that would seem?

I am not sure that adding compliance officer to the long list of duties held by Rob Rose means much.  Every department has someone that accepts compliance forms and passes them along to General Counsel for review.  But who knows, maybe he will do work to expand NIL.