Sports
Editorial: former sports editor's goodbye
By Scott Himelein | October 3, 2012A lot of people have asked me during the past few weeks what I was thinking when Jim Miller told us soccer was no more.
A lot of people have asked me during the past few weeks what I was thinking when Jim Miller told us soccer was no more.
Contact videographers Josh Grice at josh.grice@richmond.edu and Marie Jayme at marie.jayme@richmond.edu
University of Richmond community members gathered in the Ukrop Auditorium Sunday afternoon to discuss the Board of Trustees' recent decision to cut the men's track and field and soccer teams in favor of adding a men's lacrosse team at a forum called UR SOS (Save Our Sports). President Edward Ayers spoke and answered questions about the decision and why it took place, while others spoke in opposition to the news.
After the Save Our Sports forum, President Edward Ayers said the Board of Trustees' decision to eliminate men's soccer and track and field programs was final and would not be discussed further. The meeting was held on Sunday at Ukrop Auditorium in Queally Hall for those in opposition of the decision to voice their opinions and to discuss potential alternatives.
What Happened: University of Richmond students, faculty, administrators, alumni and parents packed the Ukrop Auditorium Sunday afternoon to discuss, in a public forum, the Board of Trustees' decision to cut men's soccer and men's track and field to add men's lacrosse.
The coordinator closes the forum, asking everyone to please write down remaining questions on the given note cards with email addresses.
Final Score: Old Dominion University- 45, University of Richmond- 37 What Happened: Richmond's fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short, as ODU got the drive it needed to kill the clock after the Spiders pulled to within 8 points with more than 6 minutes to go.
4th Quarter, 0:00- Heinicke takes a knee to end it. ODU- 45, UR- 38. 4th Quarter, 1:19- A great second effort by Harper is going to stop this comeback attempt short, as he picks up the first down on the three-yard run.
Storylines: 1) Stopping a record-setting QB- National media is expected to be watching this game closely, and this is the reason.
The announcement that the University of Richmond is cutting the men's soccer and men's track and field programs to add men's lacrosse has sent shockwaves throughout the university community, including alumni, athletes, students and faculty. The Board of Trustees ultimately made the decision, said Jim Miller, Richmond athletic director.
Despite the announcement that their team will be eliminated at the end of the 2012-2013 season, the six men who are on the University of Richmond track team, but do not also hold spots on the cross country team, have decided to finish out their education at the university. Even though the majority of the track team members are also members of the cross country team, not all students appear on both rosters.
Editors note: Senior Charlie Hudson spoke with The Collegian before the team was asked to not speak to the media. Yesterday, about three hours before the varsity club lacrosse team had its first practice of the season, Charlie Hudson, a senior player, sat down for an interview about the team's soon-to-be NCAA division I status. "It was definitely exciting," Hudson said, remembering how the team reacted to the announcement.
Under clear, sunny skies and 82-degree heat, the University of Richmond field hockey team defeated Longwood University, 5-2, on Saturday. Three freshmen were among the five Richmond players that scored in the game.
Spending more than three weeks in Japan winning a gold medal in the U-20 Women's World Cup, junior Becca Wann made her return to Robins Stadium memorable, scoring twice to help the Spiders defeat American University, 2-0. Despite the storyline, the match was driven into the background by the recent announcement of the school eliminating the men's soccer and men's track and field programs.
The absence of University of Richmond President Edward Ayers and Athletic Director Jim Miller at the game was spineless and pathetic, said the angry father of one of the players of the men's soccer team.
Cutting the men's track and field and men's soccer teams in order to add men's lacrosse was not solely the athletics department's decision, Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller said. "The decision was made at the Board of Trustees' level," he said. The university established the committee, which had a representative from the athletics department on it, in April of 2011 that was composed of faculty and administrators from across campus, Miller said. "[The committee] did a year-long study of what sports we should have, looking at budgets, admissions issues and everything else you could imagine," he said.
The men's track and field and men's soccer teams were officially cut in favor of men's lacrosse, which moves up to varsity from varsity club level. The men's soccer team was told at a meeting at 2:30 p.m.
Last year's "Fourth-Quarter Frenzy," created to encourage University of Richmond students to stay until the end of home football games, has been moved to the first quarter, with one unique addition. "We know for sure that students will still be there in the first quarter," said Vaughan Moss, director of marketing and sales in the Richmond athletics department.
With the addition of 14 new riders this year, the women of the University of Richmond equestrian team are determined to qualify for the regional, zone and national championships in the spring. The 20-person roster is one of the largest that the team has seen since it formed 10 years ago at the university, said senior Caroline Elia, president of the equestrian team. "Last year, we moved from 10th place in the region to 6th place," Elia said.
Richmond football used an explosive third quarter, in which the Spiders scored four touchdowns, to cruise past VMI in Lexington, Va., on Saturday.