Dear University of Richmond Men’s T&F supports.
As someone involved in the very recent dropping of Men’s XC/T&F on the college level here are a few thoughts for you guys at Richmond.
1. Assume that all of your administration is in on the decision to cut you guys and at the moment you probably don’t have many friends there.
2. Assume most people will lump you in as dumb jocks and assume you are just like Football and Basketball and “already get too much support”.
3. You administrators don’t give a dam if you do really well in school and represent them positively. They also don’t care how many all americans and national champions you have produced. They only care about the almighty dollar despite what they may say.
4. Your alumni likely don’t support you very well financially and therefore you are a target. Your alumni and coaches are going to have to make a plan to address this.
5. You must collect as much information as possible about the decision to cut you. The more controversy you can create the better. Get the dirt and then throw the whole administration under the bus. See if anyone jumps ship to your side at that point so you can get more dirt. Rinse and repeat.
6. Student athletes, alumni and supporters must be very active and consistent in protesting and making life miserable for all administrators. They expect that things will die down in one to two weeks. Remember you already don’t have any friends in administration so a scorched earth policy is best. Almost every will band together on this point as everyone has a common hate for over paid administrators at colleges.
7. You must get access to some of the people on your board of trustees. If you can divide them (especially get the ones with money to support your side) then you will create havoc for your administrators.
8. If you are gonna go down, go down swinging. To creep off with tail between legs is no way to represent yourself and the sport you love.
9. Cool ideas to mess around with
a. Have a strong message and slogan.
b. Use chalk to send your message across campus. Plus admission tour guides love trying to explain why there are message about saving track and field to potential students.
c. Post signs and flyers legally around campus. Do it once a week.
d. Don’t attack other sports.
e. Have your parents and alumni contact the administrators every Friday afternoon for the whole school year. Administrators love phone calls on Friday afternoon so they can think about what was said all weekend.
f. Get a strong group of supporters together and have regular strategy sessions. Find big donors ASAP.
g. Get the press involved as much as possible. Tell your story over and over to anyone that will listen
h. Get your student government on your side and get them to start asking questions. Try and meet with them regularly to update them on what you are learning. You administration is doing the same thing so you need to make sure you counteract their influence on student government.
Good Luck with the FIGHT.
i. Right to know requests are a big help to get information that you want.
Sincerely
MUXCTFforlife