Next Varsity sports at Michigan?

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

What should they be? Since the discussion kind of broke out in the thread Men's Rowing club winning their 8th straight national championship, I figure I'd expand it to the board.

For every men's team added, a woman's team has to be added as well. 

Sports Michigan could add. Men's Rowing is sponsored by the IRA instead of the NCAA (for now)

  • Bowling
     
  • M/W Fencing
     
  • W Hockey
     
  • M/W Rifle
     
  • M Rowing
     
  • M/W Skiing
     
  • Sand Volleyball
     
  • M Volleyball
     
  • M Water Polo

Sand Volleyball will officially become an NCAA sport in 2015-16.

Would be pretty cheap to add along with Men's Rowing. Here's a list of schools that have Sand Volleyball-

Nebraska is one of the schools that's on that list.

Here is USC's sand volleyball stadium that probably cost them $500 to build-

 

 

Which of these sports would you like to see added?

MGoBoard

That's Just Kramer

May 25th, 2015 at 7:57 PM ^

If OSU can afford women's hockey, Michigan can too. It's really a shame that we don't have a team. You mentioned yesterday, Red possibly being against it since it would interfere with their practice schedule at Yost. Hopefully they can find a solution or the next coach is more supportive of a women's team.

PS-Larkin scored two 1st period goals for the Griffins tonight!

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Alton

May 26th, 2015 at 8:16 AM ^

"Men's Rowing NEEDS to happen..."

Why?

There is no Big Ten men's rowing championship.  There is no NCAA men's rowing championship.  Without a Big Ten or NCAA championship to compete for, why does it "NEED" to happen?  What would change, and why would that change be a good thing?

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Alton

May 26th, 2015 at 6:59 PM ^

Yes, I understand that they have won 8 straight national championships.  I just want to be taken through the reasoning:

1. "Michigan men's rowing has won 8 straight national championships." 

2. ???

3. "Therefore, Michigan men's rowing NEEDS to be a varsity sport."

I'm just not able to figure out what step #2 could possibly be.  I understand why men's lacrosse was made a varsity sport after their series of national championships:  varsity status was required to compete for NCAA tournament bids and, eventually, NCAA championships.  But that logic just isn't there for men's rowing:  there is no NCAA championship.  There is not even a Big Ten championship.

You don't just hand out varsity status as a reward for past accomplishments.  That's not the point of the distinction between varsity and non-varsity.  I want the best for the men's rowing program, just like you do.  But what positive good will varsity status bring to the rowing program, and why does a string of national championships make it more important than it would be if there were no such streak?

 

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laxalum

May 26th, 2015 at 10:00 AM ^

How many roster spots does a men's rowing team have?  I just glanced at the Wisconsin roster, and it's huge.  You would probably have to add two or maybe even three women's sports to offset those numbers.  Can't see that happening.

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MGoViso

May 25th, 2015 at 8:45 PM ^

So, I had written this whole post mocking your elitism about this, thinking that biathlon and triathlon differed only in the exclusion or inclusion, respectively, of a single event.

But then I Googled and learned the difference between biathlon and duathlon, and I really don't have much to say. Your statement may still be an exaggeration, but it is definitely arguable. Props for knowing things about stuff.

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mgoblue0970

May 26th, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^

Let's not get hung up on jargon here... the two biathlons are commonly confused and despite attempts 15 years ago or so to introduce duathlon into the lexicon, it hasn't helped.

Perhaps that's where WD was coming from?

People sure are quick to judge and neg around here these days.

I'm with the other poster... anything that combines skiing and shooting is the coolest.

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skurnie

May 25th, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^

Jarts would be even better. Although the team would be all mid 30's PhD students because they were savagely outlawed before the current undergrads ever had a chance.

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AJMaize

May 25th, 2015 at 8:12 PM ^

Personally, I would love to see women's hockey become a varsity sport. Mainly because my little sister is a very good hockey player who plans on playing college hockey. We'd all much rather her play for Michigan than Wisconsin or BC.

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Bando Calrissian

May 25th, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^

I'm OK with freezing things where they are, if not contracting sports, sorry to say. There's no need to maintain the amount of necessary facilities, scholarships, coaching salaries, and infrastructure for so many sports that take huge hits on the bottom line and have next to no student or fan interest.

(Ducks)

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gwkrlghl

May 25th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^

at some point you have to get philosophical and ask why we have some teams and not others. Why do we have an athletic department? Probably because students, alums, and general fans all identify with the university through that medium and it's an attraction for prospective students as well.

At some point you can't just add sports because you have feelings for them. They cost money and if no one is there to watch it then what exactly is the point of having it? If a rowing team wins a national title in the forest and no one was there to see it did it really happen and was it worth the $50M indoor practice facility?

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MGoBender

May 26th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^

Getting to your own point, if rowing wins a Nat'l championship and nobody else knows/cares about it, that's fine - it's for the benefit of those student athletes, primarily.

Though, there are limits to everything.  There are many, if not dozens, of great sports that are not D1 teams at Michigan.  If costs a lot of money to run successful programs.  You can't add at will.

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Doc Brown

May 25th, 2015 at 10:59 PM ^

1. Olympic sports attract a more academically sound student-athlete body than football and basketball. I know many other studenth athletes in other olympic sports that were attracted to Michigan's great combination of athletics and academics.
2. I invested way too much time and energy into my sport. As a result, I have a very strong connection to the university to give to both my academic and athletic departments. I want everyone who comes before me to have the same opportunity I was lucky enough to be afforded.
3. If you want to attract athletic east coast athletes, then you will need to compete with the ACC and the IVY league. That means you will need to offer sports such as crew, lacrosse, ice hockey, soccer, and fencing. Not all of us are 6 ft+ 200 lb defensive backs than run a 4.3 40. Some us are better pulling a 2000m on a V8 or V4.



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JonnyHintz

May 25th, 2015 at 11:53 PM ^

Why go to Michigan and pay extra tuition when you can go to a similar school academically and be on scholarship for a sport? Attracting out of state students is a goal of EVERY university. It broadens the alumni base of your school to new places, and often brings in more money. Hmmm in-state for $25,000 a year, or some kid from New York for $48,000 a year with a $2,500 rowing scholarship. Believe it or not, the goal of the Athletic Department is NOT making money. It is to organize the sporting environment for the student-athlete. Is making money good? Yes. Michigan happens to make a lot of it too. But what does that have to do with you? How are you effected by Michigan making money or losing money in a particular sport? Nobody is making you spend money to fund a women's hockey team. Nobody is making you go to a rowing event. Now, in case you weren't aware, Michigan happens to attract an extremely high number of out of region students for being a Midwestern state university. People come from all over the country and the world for a Michigan education. Now, if having a rowing team is something that enhances the experience for some of those students, then why not? It's not YOUR money. If the money is there, then why not spend it? Stephen Ross has no issues with his donations being used for projects that support non-revenue sports. He still donates a ton of money every few years. If he, and many others, are willing to put their money towards funding these sports, then why not? Michigan happens to be extremely successful in non-revenue sports. Between rowing, softball, swimming, and gymnastics, Michigan is an elite program. Again, nobody is making you donate money to these programs. Nobody is making you attend their events. But adding sports is something that adds to the experience of attending Michigan. Not just the student-athlete, but students interested in whatever is happening around campus.

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Bando Calrissian

May 26th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^

I'm not saying they bring nothing to the university. What I am saying is the university doesn't have to support a varsity program for every single one of them just because it can. At some point, the benefit doesn't outweigh the cost--and I think we're getting there with non-revenue sports. How many do you really need when there is truly no fan interest? Is it really about giving another 15 east coasters a scholarship when Michigan truly has no problem attracting east coast applicants who actually pay their way and don't play a sport?

I mean, really. Is a high school kid from Boston or New York applying to Michigan as a non-athlete really going to give Michigan the edge over a peer institution because Michigan has a varsity rowing program?

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JonnyHintz

May 26th, 2015 at 1:00 PM ^

In 2013, Michigan's athletic department brought in the 4th most money in the nation. $143 million. After all the expenses for all the sports, Michigan had a surplus of $12.5 million dollars, 7th highest in the nation. http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/06/michigan_athletic_dep… So an extra $10-$15 million every year that goes unspent. After all the facility upgrades and everything, Michigan still stores away $10-$15 million per year. I'd love for you to show me where the cost outweighs the benefit. You really think a women's hockey team and a men's rowing program (for example) are going to COST the University money? That figure there, is Athletic Department money. That's not state money. That's not tax dollars. That's money the Athletic Department brings in on a yearly basis. Does having a rowing team give Michigan an edge? Maybe not. But the beautiful facilities that the University makes for programs such as rowing, the new indoor track field, etc., give Michigan a better looking campus. THAT attracts recruits from all sports, it attracts students from all over, and it enhances the experience for students and student athletes across the board. But if we're only keeping revenue sports, all we would carry is football, basketball, and hockey. No women's sports. We would lost a HUGE number of national titles. Not to mention public perception. Again, let me just remind you. It is NOT the goal of the Athletic Department to MAKE money. It is about enhancing student life on campus through sport. Michigan just happens to be very good at MAKING money. They have money left over every year. More than enough to fund a few extra sports. Now add in season tickets and donations. With the hire of Harbaugh, there is a long waiting list for season tickets. There has been a HUGE number of donations by people trying to get the right to apply for season tickets. The stadium will be filled to capacity for every home game. With Michigan either switching to Nike or staying with Adidas (who is going back to actual Maize) there will be a huge increase in merchandise sales. So at the end of 2015, there will be even MORE money floating around.

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