Spring Break
The Daily OrangeS/D | Orange ecstatic after program's stay of execution
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 1/24/08, 10:22 PM EST Section: Sports
"We knew that the current administration hated the fact that we were not giving up on this," he said. "We were told to just let it go and accept the fact. There was pressure on administration from all sides."
The Orange actually caught wind of the three-year extension on the final day of its only meet during winter break. The teams spent eight days in Puerto Rico, winning the Fourth Annual Copa Coqui, which featured a mixture of NCAA and international teams. The vacation/business trip consisted of two-a-day workouts sandwiching visits to the beach, the meet itself on Jan. 5 and one phone call that changed their futures. An SU Athletics administration member informed Walker of Gross' decision and Walker told his team.
The "phase-out" instantly changed the team's future, but not its approach to Saturday and the rest of the 2007-08 season.
"It's important not to lose our focus," sophomore Katelyn Schumacher said. "It was great news but we can't lose our mind frame."
Walker has stayed relatively quiet throughout his apparent final season coaching at SU. And after his fading program's pulse received an unexpected jolt, Walker's message to the team hasn't changed. He has not spread an "us against the world" mentality.
"It's been a very positive atmosphere all season here," Walker said. "The circumstance that they found themselves in, for young people, sort of strips away all of the nonsense. This is something that's been a part of their life since they were in single digits age-wise. An appreciation grew."
Still, the 31-year coach is the spokesman for a program that has floated in disarray since last May. When news of the extension became public, the team's national wave of supporters flooded his inbox.
Sitting on a poolside table, Walker turned his head toward the water, and his voice softened into a near-whisper.
"Unbelievable, unbelievable" he repeated. "If you are for a swimming team being here or against swimming being here you have to be impressed by the constituents that care about this team."
The Orange actually caught wind of the three-year extension on the final day of its only meet during winter break. The teams spent eight days in Puerto Rico, winning the Fourth Annual Copa Coqui, which featured a mixture of NCAA and international teams. The vacation/business trip consisted of two-a-day workouts sandwiching visits to the beach, the meet itself on Jan. 5 and one phone call that changed their futures. An SU Athletics administration member informed Walker of Gross' decision and Walker told his team.
The "phase-out" instantly changed the team's future, but not its approach to Saturday and the rest of the 2007-08 season.
"It's important not to lose our focus," sophomore Katelyn Schumacher said. "It was great news but we can't lose our mind frame."
Walker has stayed relatively quiet throughout his apparent final season coaching at SU. And after his fading program's pulse received an unexpected jolt, Walker's message to the team hasn't changed. He has not spread an "us against the world" mentality.
"It's been a very positive atmosphere all season here," Walker said. "The circumstance that they found themselves in, for young people, sort of strips away all of the nonsense. This is something that's been a part of their life since they were in single digits age-wise. An appreciation grew."
Still, the 31-year coach is the spokesman for a program that has floated in disarray since last May. When news of the extension became public, the team's national wave of supporters flooded his inbox.
Sitting on a poolside table, Walker turned his head toward the water, and his voice softened into a near-whisper.
"Unbelievable, unbelievable" he repeated. "If you are for a swimming team being here or against swimming being here you have to be impressed by the constituents that care about this team."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Lynne Gollands
posted 1/25/08 @ 10:55 AM EST
The supporters of Syracuse Swimming and Diving are thrilled with the reinstatement of the program for the next 3 years. The Athletic Department and the Administration chose the path of honor and integrity by allowing these committed athletes and coaches to continue their careers. (Continued…)
Kirk S
posted 1/25/08 @ 11:43 AM EST
The administration has finally shown some deceny in allowing the current swimming and diving team members to finish out their Collegiate careers at the Institution they decided to dedicate four years to. (Continued…)
Jeffrey P Corcoran
posted 1/25/08 @ 12:53 PM EST
Let's not forget: the administration didn't so much as "announce" the termination of the program as admit it. As such, I suspect the "announcement" of retaining the program, even if only briefly and half-heartedly, came only shortly before some more pain was going to rain down on them. (Continued…)
William
posted 1/25/08 @ 6:27 PM EST
Congratulations to all who made the reinstatement possible. Any good university should have a swimming/diving program and SU is certainly no exception in that regard. (Continued…)
Shane Ellis
posted 1/27/08 @ 8:45 PM EST
Thank God there is someone with integrity at Syracuse University. Reinstatement of the swimming program to allow the current Freshmen to finish their college swimming years was the correct thing to do. (Continued…)
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