Boise State University will be eliminating baseball and its swimming and diving programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a release sent out by Boise State.
The decision will save the university an estimated $3 million.
“This is one of the hardest decisions athletic departments have to make, but it comes at a time when we are facing the most serious financial challenge we have ever seen,” said Curt Apsey, Boise State athletic director. “Times like these are difficult for many people and we appreciate everyone who has supported these programs over the years, including our coaches, current and former student-athletes, donors and fans. We take all these measures seriously, knowing that the long-term stability of our department must remain a high priority.”
Boise State University’s swim team was a women’s only program, finishing seventh at the 2020 Mountain West Conference Championships under head coach Christine Mabile. The Broncos’ last swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships was Abby Sorenson in 2019.
According to Boise State’s release, all student-athlete scholarships for the affected programs will be honored, including incoming 2020 signees, and support will be provided to student-athletes wishing to transfer. Those athletes who opt to transfer will be eligible immediately at their next institution, per NCAA rules.
“Today’s decision came after an extensive review and in-depth analysis of the athletics department’s budgets and programs by several senior leaders,” President Dr. Marlene Tromp said. “The university had already been working closely with athletics to create a sustainable budget. The pandemic has made a challenging financial situation unsustainable. Ultimately, the reduction of the number of sports in which we compete allows Boise State a better chance of remaining competitive at the highest level and provides a more realistic roadmap to a sustainable future for the University and athletic department.”
Boise State is the third Division I school to cut swimming and diving this off-season after East Carolina and Connecticut.
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I bet their overall athletic department GPA takes a huge cut as well when the women’s swim team is gone. Sad, but this is only the beginning. The real bloodbath is just about to begin, and if there is no football and huge TV contract money this Fall, there will be no more varsity sports and conferences.
This is heartbreaking.
Sad to see yet another one go!
Another one
Mandy ?
That is who I immediately thought of too. She graduated though, right?
Sarah Ball Dawson I know. Very upsetting. No warning
Angie VanZee Taylor yes I have but I live next to the campus and live with a current teammate.
Mandy Barnes big hugs to you and all your fellow Boise State swimmers. I can only imagine how devastating this is. Sadly, I fear that there will be many more to come.
It always seems that is about staying competitive, not about opportunity and education.
Swimming will probably be the only sport allowed to play next to golf and tennis.
Ugh come on
That’s a shame
Jennifer Lathrop Tonkyn
Such a shame!
just think of the trickle down problem here. All those swim clubs that are barely hanging on, have swimmers who want to participate in a college sport are now going to leave their programs. It is not just going to hurt college athletes but the local businesses that run and supply club swimming as well
Bet the game with A&M costs them more than what they spent on the other two sports. Also, how many FB players never play in a game. High paid ball retrievers and blocking dummies. If colleges gave up Football and let the NFL fund it…Colleges would have Trillions to educate students!
Swimming programs are dropping like flies…
This is actually devastating. As stated earlier, the trickle down effect will play a huge part on all western collegiate swim teams. I bet there will be even more smaller universities cutting swim programs. This hurts small clubs and those swimmers who aren’t quite fast enough to swim for a top 20 swim team. If they keep eliminating teams, we could see a huge drop of high school swimmers (they may now realize their chance to swim for a college is dead with all the program cutting). There are so many other sports at Boise that don’t bring in as many conference championships. This is just absolutely heartbreaking for all swim fans.
?
That suxs!
Too bad
Stop cutting the swim teams! Please.
Swimming diving and baseball are cut. So sad
Tracy Lee Coleman Garcia baseball there too?
Karin Knudson O’Connell that’s the word on the street.
The two best sports on earth
I think Washington State and Idaho are the only D1 women’s swim programs left in the northwest. (No D1 for men.) It’s sad to see it dwindle away.
David Zimmerman nothing in NW for men but Seattle U.
Karin Knudson O’Connell Thanks, forgot about them. They are the only school I know of that added swimming since my day (a long time ago ?).
It’s hard to comprehend why swimming and diving is on the hit list for so many universities.
Gay Shemorry Williamson because there is no ball involved and most swim meets are free admission
Gay Shemorry Williamson oh yes I know this because both of my daughters competed in college swimming
Gay Shemorry Williamson we need to get swimmers in more leadership positions and invite school presidents into the fold of swim and dive. It’s on us to make it happen.
Booooooo!!!
I know someone from class of 20 going on a swim scholarship, because they worked around their nursing program, whereas most colleges don’t do that for swimmers. That’s sad.
So wrong!!!!
I would rather see them drop the football programs. This is so messed up!!!
You suck!
Money
Shame on them. Poor students.
It is so sad for all these athletes who now won’t have a program to return to.. I have seen so many of these type posts over the last few weeks
Very sad