I attended the University of Delaware.
Today, I hate the University of Delaware.
Actually, “hate” is too weak. I loathe the University of Delaware. I detest the University of Delaware. I hope the Blue Hens lose every football and basketball game for the next 1,000 years. Read this column from the Wilmington News Journal‘s excellent Kevin Tresolini—you’ll understand why.
Yesterday marked the final event for the men’s track team, which the University of Delaware administration recently killed (along with men’s cross country) after 100 years of competition. Bernard Muir, the recently added athletic director from Georgetown, cited Title IX as the reason. The school’s president, Patrick Harker, has stated the same thing—sort of ignoring/skipping over the point that the NCAA hasn’t touched UD for any Title IX infractions. Hasn’t come near UD for any Title IX infractions. Hasn’t even mentioned any UD Title IX infractions.
So why is this happening?
I don’t know. Genuinely, I don’t know. Don’t understand. Don’t get it. Certainly, it must involve money. And, were I to guess, I’d say it has something to do with the increasingly loud rumors that, within a decade, the administration wants football to jump from I-AA to I-A. But, again, I don’t know.
What I do know—and what makes me want to vomit—is that Delaware is dismissing Jim Fischer, the school’s running coach since 1982-83. Coach Fischer is one of the most decent, honorable, caring human beings I have ever met. He is a saint. Beyond a saint. Yesterday, however, it became public news that, come February, he’s done. Gone. Adios. Thanks for everything—now leave.
During times like these, I always wonder whether the people who need to speak out are speaking out. Where’s the voice of K.C. Keeler, the football coach? How about Monte Ross from men’s hoops? Bob Shillinglaw has headed men’s lax for forever and a day. I want to hear these people stand up for a coach who needs to be stood up for. I want someone here to do the right thing—to scream and moan about the bullshit at hand; about the indecency of a university charged with instilling decency.
That, of course, won’t happen. What will happen, however, is this: the University of Delaware will never receive another check from me. Ever. Not a penny, not a dime, not $100. Nothing.
When I was at Delaware, Coach Fischer treated me—a crap, bottom-of-the-barrel runner—like family.
In turn, I will do the same.
