Cooks Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I heard this on CBC. I must say, it caught me by surprise. This will definitely ripple through the club sides, as well. http://www.godinos.com/news/2009/4/15/FH_0415091702.aspx quote:Ben Matchett; Sports Information Director 4/15/2009 1:30:00 PM CALGARY – The University of Calgary Athletics Department is shifting resources and restructuring operations to focus on core sports, ensuring the long-term competitiveness of all Dinos teams. Following one of the Dinos’ most successful seasons in history, athletic department focus will be narrowed to eight core team sports - men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s hockey, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s volleyball - along with the core individual sports of cross country, swimming, track and field, and wrestling. “Our goal is to be the number one destination school in Canada in our eight core team sports and to continue to lead the country in our three club-based individual sports,” said Kevin Boyles, director of athletics. “In order to reach our goals we understand that we need to reinvest in those programs.” Dinos teams won a total of 12 championships in 2008-09, highlighted by national titles in women’s swimming and women’s wrestling. The Dinos won seven Canada West championships – more than triple the number of any other school in the conference – including both football and men’s basketball, while men’s swimming and women’s volleyball finished with national silver medals. The University of Calgary has applied to elevate the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference champion Dinos women’s hockey program back to CIS competition from the provincial college league, with final approval from Canada West anticipated in early May. In addition, under the new model women’s soccer will be elevated to fully-funded status. Effective immediately, funding to the sports of men’s soccer and women’s field hockey has been eliminated. A final decision on the future of the programs will be made prior to the Canada West annual general meeting in early May, pending the exploration of alternative funding models by the associated soccer and field hockey clubs and communities. In addition, the non-Canada West varsity sports of tennis and golf have been moved to Competitive Club status. The decision follows an extensive internal review, which demonstrated that the current funding model had become unsustainable. “It became clear that we have been spread too thin, trying to do too much with the limited resources available,” said Boyles. “I am confident that we have made the right choices for our university and that we will build upon our successes from the 2008-09 season in the coming years.” Men’s soccer and women’s field hockey have traditionally been the Dinos’ least successful programs both on and off the field. During the review, each of the 15 Dinos varsity programs were evaluated on 13 criteria ranging from historical program success and number of participating schools to stakeholder support and annual scholarships provided to student-athletes. “Without question this is a difficult day for the Dinos, and we all feel for the student-athletes who will be negatively impacted by these decisions,” said Boyles. “However, the review process demonstrated that without significant investment, the status of these teams is unlikely to improve. Regretfully, we are unable to commit those additional resources. “However, we are optimistic that these changes will enhance the opportunities available to our student-athletes and position us well to achieve our goal of becoming a world-class athletics program and the top destination in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.” -UC- Any Dinos out there to give us more info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoyleG Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Funny they kept women's hockey since its still in the ACAC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 It seems like a stupid decision. They already have a solid athletic department as shown in this paragraph: "Dinos teams won a total of 12 championships in 2008-09, highlighted by national titles in women’s swimming and women’s wrestling. The Dinos won seven Canada West championships – more than triple the number of any other school in the conference – including both football and men’s basketball, while men’s swimming and women’s volleyball finished with national silver medals. " Why the need to cut sports who have struggled a little bit lately? Calgary did make the Canada West playoffs in 2005 and 2006 in men's soccer, so it's not like the team is coming year after year with 0-0-12 records. I think it's a really bad decision. Univerity sports shouldn't be run like a professional club and this decision make it look like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottawaguy2009 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 One can see why Hargreaves (having spent his youth days playing soccer in Calgary) opted to play abroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 ^ Brainless comment. Do you think his dream was to play for the Dinos?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 ^ No but UC action suggests a general attitude in the wider community which I believe is what he was referring to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Ten years ago, his club team had just reached its greatest heights. The comment is just more regional bashing. Hargreaves' decision to go to Bayern Munich had nothing to do with regional issues but rather the much larger continental one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccerpro Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 When was the last time U of C won a Canada West title or appeared at the CIS National tournament? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoyleG Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Should note that the Dion's head coach had stepped down at the start of March. He was going to have knee surgery doen but apparently wanted to persue other intersts. Guess he knew what was going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jogesc2 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 I heard Gibbs was asked to leave, I guess it depends on who you ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Decision reversed as funding was found - see www.bcsoccerweb.com for details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmcmurph Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 quote:Originally posted by Ed Decision reversed as funding was found - see www.bcsoccerweb.com for details. Well that is good news. We need more opportunities at all levels and if a city the size of Calgary with a university the size of UofC don't have a men's program then that would be a very bad omen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Ed, who is this Price guy they hired? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 9, 2009 Author Share Posted May 9, 2009 It's a logical hiring. Kenny has been part of the Dinos, off and on, for over the past two decades. He played with the University team when I was at the UofC (and I'm sure he still owes me some beers). He even had a stint with the Calgary Kickers of the CSL. He won't be nearly as animated as Gibbs on the sideline, that's for sure. Best of luck to Kenny and the Dinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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