Supporters fighting to save the UTC track program

UTC is planning on cutting their men’s track program to be more in compliance with Title 9.

The program has been slated to be disbanded so that the school can become more in line with Title 9 standards.

There are 3 ways for an institution to be in compliance with Title 9.

1 by enriching programs, 2 by checking student interest.  This is the stipulation UTC had previously utilized, and the 3rd option is proportionality.  This is the route that the athletics department is heading down, now.

Supporter Damian Walsh said, "They are going to a new thing.  They have never used proportionality for Title 9 compliance."

Proportionality is the toughest way to comply.  Many institutions choose the other methods.

Right now, UTC has a 17 percent disparity between men’s and women’s athletics, so cutting the men’s indoor and outdoor track program gives them the most bang for their buck.  Each athlete counts for 2 roster spots.

Lowering the disparity is the plan, but supporters of the track program have another solution in mind.

They suggest simply expanding the woman’s track program by 10 roster spots, and they have already been able to collect pledges for over $150,000 which is  enough to support the additional athletes over the next 5 years.

The battle to save the program at UTC is similar to a situation at UNCW which resulted in the school coming to an agreement with supporters to give them the opportunity to raise the funds to save the program.

With the out pouring of support the team has received so far, I’m sure this story is far from over.