COLOMBIA – The pandemic has affected all college sports programs, with South Carolina projected to face an estimated $ 58 million loss in its previous budget. Athletics director Ray Tanner has repeatedly said that cutting sports is the last thing he wants to do and Gamecocks have not done so far.
USC President Bob Caslen echoed that sentiment during a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday.
“One of the options was to cut teams, like the equestrian team, the swimming team (s), the male soccer team, as Clemson did,” said Caslen. “Intercollegiate athletics at this level is extremely important, not only for our university, but for bringing people together. But it is also very important for our athletes who have incredible talents, and they are using their talents to improve their education. And this is great. “
It was the first time that someone associated with the USC mentioned specific sports under consideration for closure. These sports cover approximately 139 student-athletes.
Clemson recently cut its men’s athletics program, as well as cross country, as a result of the pandemic. Many other schools have also closed their non-profit sports.
“In the end, we may have to do this, but I just wanted to share with you my own personal story about NCAA athletics and my participation in it and how I think it is important for our athletes,” said Caslen.
Many immediately turned to social media to point out that the USC is about to fire football coach Will Muschamp. That price, while it is still being negotiated, can reach US $ 15.8 million and this does not include your team, nor the cost of hiring new coach Shane Beamer and his team.
This money, for many reasons, could be used to save these sports, but it is not so simple. First, these four sports were under discussion to be cut long before Muschamp was fired, sources told the Post and Courier. Second, if the money for Muschamp’s acquisition were entirely financed by private donors, there would be no additional drain on the athletes’ finances.
What is draining is the lack of football revenue affected by COVID. The USC played five games at home with 15 percent capacity, instead of seven games at home close to 100 percent. It is the equivalent, said Caslen, of playing a home game all year.
Still, he and Tanner competed in college sports. Tanner played baseball at NC State and Caslen played football in the Army. Each of them knows the value of being a student-athlete.
“I had to ask myself, ‘What is the difference between a diver on the 10 meter board, ready to make a triple jump, than the starting quarterback of the Gamecock football team?’” Said Caslen. “She is using her talent for her own good, for her future, she is educating herself because of her talents. She is doing this for the teams, the university and the community. So why would we want to deprive you of this tremendous opportunity?
“And I wouldn’t. If it were up to me, I would like to try to expand that. “
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.