Sample Letters

[dhobeika]

Please use this board as a place to post any letters you have written that you would like to share.

DO NOT discuss your reactions to people's letters or anything else relating to saving the program, just use this as a place to post your letters!

Below is a letter that was sent to us to share:

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I don’t expect you to reply to this email as I have heard you have not taken the time for many if any former Oregon wrestling alums. But I do hope you take a second to read this and consider what you have done.


How easy is it we forget our youth?


Remember the kids we grew up with? Along the way they each decided to take different routes in life as they grew older. One goes into football, one goes into drama, one goes into music, one decides on science, one decides to play baseball, while another close friend decides he loves to wrestle. At that time we all applaud their own personal decisions and choices and with other classmates cheered their successes and losses.


Then we get older, wiser and take on a job that we never really prepared for, but feel we can ‘Just do It!’


So we move from Southern California for a few short months and decide that baseball for the ‘good of OLD U of O’ is more important then wrestling – a sport that in this specific state has a rich and ever lasting heritage.



I say how dare us forget our friends and roots. With a decision like this we more then likely do not understand or even know the folks from places like Lakeview, Roseburg, Crater, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Canby, North Idaho CC, Clackamas CC, Hoquiam, Washington etc, The question now becomes; have you been to any of these places lately or even more importantly ever been there? Did you happen to go to OSU this past week and see the ‘HUNDREDS’ of HS kids and coaches that attended session one of three of their wrestling camp and see the passion, love and energy that abounds in the state of Oregon and this region for a sport that has very deep roots and history?



Congrats to Bob DeCarois who at OSU faced the same scenario the new AD at Oregon faced – a men’s wrestling program that needed a revamping and probably along with the former head coach determined it was time to step aside so they both could bring in a new energy and direction. The result of that decision in one year was a winning Pac-10 championship team that has created and energy around the state with a guy named ‘Jim’ who along with other non-revenue coaches help fire up football, basketball and baseball alums by exciting good old Oregonians and alums to support OSU athletics no matter the sport. It is amazing how winning in any endeavor if promoted right, brings pride to all sports fans.



You made a mistake today. Twenty + years ago an AD at Oregon dropped soccer, gymnastics and baseball, twenty + years ago an AD at OSU dropped men and women’s track and field and cross country – dropping sports is a sin. No two ways to look at it. It has; was and will be the easy way out. The easiest job an AD has in this day and age is to drop a sport – any AD who stands in front of a microphone, alumni base, sports writers and says ‘This was the hardest thing I have ever had to do’ is absolutely not in the real world.



The greatest gift you could have given the state of Oregon, youth and the University of Oregon would have been to say something like this today:



‘We are going to go in a new direction with our men’s wrestling program, we are keeping the current staff through this next year and will begin a nation wide search to find the nations very best head coach that can not only vie for a Pac-10 title but be a national contender. We have 90 years of tradition and heartfelt reality in this sport with glory and tragedy. We are also very excited to announce the addition of two new women sports at the University of Oregon (name two, not one) – Also, we are going to ‘reinstate’ a men’s program that should have never been eliminated, men’s baseball. We are doing what is best for the University, the alums, the state of Oregon and the Pac-10. We are asking all Oregon supporters to be on board and help us bring to light a new age in college athletics by facing the challenges of Title 9 by setting a standard not seen nation wide by adding women’s sports and a men’s program by not dropping a men’s team. Along with the wrestling, baseball, the two additional women’s team supporters and all Oregonians alike – this is a great day in the history of University of Oregon athletics!’



You had a chance – you have the resources – you would have done great by all. You would have set a new standard. If the pieces to the above commentary were not ready at this time, then any good business man would have taken more time to put such a plan together. AD's and their assistant AD's involved in cutting a sport will forever be linked to doing so, no matter all the great things they may do during their turn at the helm. Years from now your name and others maybe linked to a new basketall arena, but believe me your legacy will also say 'he also cut men's wrestling' - nice job.


Please do not reply. Would rather not hear the ‘reasons’ why not, or the ‘thanks for your thoughts’ – Life is too short – and we only have so many ‘greatness’ opportunities.


By the way, I am not a college grad of either Oregon or OSU, or a wrestling fan over any other sport – I am a very successful mother, daughter, wife, business owner for twenty years, native Oregonian and lover of all sports.




Debbie Sullivan

Salon Consultant

Maly's 3

503-409-6150

[e-mail]

[roberts]

Here is another that was sent:

Dear Dr. Frohnmayer and Mr. Kilkenny-



I am writing to ask you to find an alternative to discontinuing your wrestling program at the University of Oregon. I was a collegiate wrestler. Nothing had a greater impact towards my sucess as a person and a businessman as wrestling. I also have 2 sons who wrestle and I am very disturbed at the lack of college opportunity for them. It was not long ago that we had over 200 Division 1 programs. We now have half that number. Wrestling has the lowest participation (High School) to opportunity (College) ratio of any sport in the country- 38-1. High School wrestling continues to flourish while opportunities at the College level decline. In addition, the Northwest area is a strong wrestling area. I see great success, at the national events I attend, for wrestlers from your area.



I have worked for years to preserve wrestling opportunities and have found that, with some creative and positive thinking, programs can be saved and can become successful. Before Senator Wellstone died, he and I worked on saving numerous programs and we found solutions to the problems, in every case, if the administration cared about opportunities for their area students. Too often Universities do not put the effort in to make their programs successful and then use mediocrity as a justification for elimination. Also, very importantly, what you do in Oregon will have an effect on the rest of the country. In recent years we have actually begun to add programs Nationally. This would be a real setback for the wrestling community.



I appreciate your time and hope you will work to save this sport. It is worth the effort.



Sincerely,

Pat Zilverberg

Minnesota Board of Directors

Minnesota USA Wrestling

[joshfactor]

Mr. Dave Frohnmayer, Mr. Kilkenny, and Staff:

I am concerned with the decision the University of Oregon is making on eliminating its wrestling program. I am speaking as a former U of O wrestler who takes great pride in being a part of this program. I had an opportunity to go to University of Oregon in the 1996-1997 academic year and wrestled under Coach Ron Finley, Chuck Kearney, Dean Dixon, Kevin Roberts, and Geoff Ginther before being forced to transfer to Cal. State Bakersfield for financial reasons. To this day, I don't spend much time talking about Cal State Bakersfield, but I am a die-hard Oregon Ducks wrestling fan and supporter. My question is, who's decision was this to drop wrestling? And what grounds does the Univesity have to drop a program the has produced 6 Olympians, 31 NCAA Div. I All-Americans -- just so baseball can be added, why not have both? Let me guess, this has something to do with Title IX. I have an answer to this add women's wrestling! Don't cut programs add them. When you cut athletic programs (successful athletic programs) such as wrestling at your University, not only do students lose respect for the administration they begin to lose respect for the University. I am a huge Oregon Ducks wrestling fan and I will fight to keep this program alive. If it drops, many people (especially wrestling fans and supporters) will have a negative view of the University because of the decisions with the administration.
It was Coach Finley and his staff who took the time to recruit me out of high school from California and gave hope to pursue a career in education. After being coached by Coach Kearney, I have a great amount of respect for the continued success he has added to this this program after producing a NCAA Division I National Champion (Shane Webster) just a year ago. I now am teaching Social Studies at a local high school in Southwest Missouri and coaching wrestling at the youth, junior high, and high school levels. I would like to know what I can do on my part to keep this program alive and going strong. Please let me know what I can do.

Sincerely,

Josh Factor
[e-mail]
Former U of O wrestler

[rocket]

To whom this may concern:

Hello My name is Rodney Hawthorne President of IAM Fitness (Ironfish Athletic Ministries) Although I am a former Oregon State University wrestler, I would have to say that what you are doing by cutting the wrestling program there is a grave mistake. Wrestling has been a traditional sport of Oregon athletics program for several years producing many champions and all americans in the sport not to mention many outstanding community members. I have coached the on the college and high school level and found that this sport teaches many about hard work, handling stressfull situations, comradery,rugged individulism, and many other life enhancing values. It really is a shame to see such a successfull and effective program such as Oregon wrestling to be axed from Oregon athletics.
However I do believe had it not been for the success of Oregon State University baseball in winning 2 concecutive national titles, that this would not be happening. I also believe that cutting a mostly male sport (although females compete also) to make room for more women's sports is also is pandering to a politically correct point of view when it comes to women's rights issues and so forth. Wrestling was and still is a very successfull sport at U0f O and to replace it with sports that arent' successfull or haven't even been tried yet because of equality and multicultural, and women's issues is basically reverse discrimination in favor of the female side of things. I would hope that this e-mail would in some ways not anger you but help you realize just how important Uof O wrestling is to the community and abroad as far as the high school aspect of westling and kids aspiration of one day competing on the collegiate level in this sport. Thankyou and and I hope you change your minds.

Rodney Hawthorne
President of IAM Fitness

[lilmama199]

July 20, 2007




Dear Ms. Baumgartner,



The University of Oregon needs a wrestling team. To replace a wrestling team with a varsity baseball team and a competitive cheerleading squad (I emphasize the word “squad” rather than “team” because it has not been classified as a team sport by the NCAA) is absolutely ridiculous. I have nothing against baseball or cheerleading. However; it does not make much sense to eliminate the “sport” of wrestling which cost less than the “sport” of baseball and cost less than competitive cheerleading.

Let me address the issue of finances since that is the motive behind your decision to eliminate wrestling and add two new sports. Now, as we all know, Phil Knight is the top financial booster for the University of Oregon. We also know that whether or not it is stated out right, financial boosters have quite the influence on decisions made by athletic directors. In 2001, Phil Knight announced that he would resume donations to the Autzen Stadium expansion project. In an article published by the Oregon Daily Emerald on September 27, 2001 you stated:

"Expanding the stadium is going to benefit the entire athletics program. We're excited about adding another sport. A new women’s sport may be added with Knight's financial support.”

You were not the only staff member from the athletic department who commented on Phil Knight’s generous offer to donate funds to the University. Former Oregon Athletic Director, Bill Moos said “All our sports will be able to benefit from the revenue created, every day of the year” (Hockaday, Peter. 2001).

In your first comment you said that the “entire” athletic program would benefit by expanding the stadium. Last time I had checked, wrestling is a part of the athletic program at University of Oregon. Your second comment stated that you were excited about adding another “sport”; please allow me to remind you that the NCAA does not recognize competitive cheerleading as a “sport”. Let me follow up with your third statement where you said that a new women’s “sport” may be added with “Knight’s financial support”; if a sport was to be added by using the funds donated from Phil Knight, that does not explain why the “sport” of wrestling is being cut from the athletic program.

So why is wrestling getting cut from the program? Let me shine some light on the situation by looking into the power of outside influences. In 2005 Martin Smith stepped down from Director of Oregon’s Track and Field program; and why did Martin Smith step down? It’s no secret that Smith and Phil Knight had several disagreements with how the track and field program should have been run. During that same period, Phil Knight cut off funds to the track and field program and made it be known to former athletic director Bill Moos that he wanted Smith gone from the program. In March of 2005 Martin Smith announced his resignation. It has been reported by ESPN that he received a $500,000 buyout when he left the University of Oregon. Not only did Phil Knight strong arm Martin Smith to leave the University, he did the same thing to remove former athletic director Bill Moos.

When Phil Knight wants something, he wants it immediately, or else. ESPN reported that Phil Knight made the following statement to the Oregonian in Portland: "Bill Moos had 10 chances to make the right decision regarding the University of Oregon track and field program and missed every one of them. It's hard to be that perfect." So what happened next? There have been speculations that Phil Knight and Bill Moos had conflicts regarding Oregon’s new basketball arena. Once again, Phil Knight cut off funds to the project. In December of 2006, Bill Moos announced his resignation. It has been reported by the Oregon Daily Emerald that Bill Moos will receive almost $2 million over 10 years to leave the University. Coincidently, the funds will be coming from private donations provided by none other than the current athletic director “Pat Kilkenny” (Andrews, Luke. 2006).

Interesting enough, Pat Kilkenny is a long time friend of Phil Knight. He is the second highest financial booster for the University of Oregon. He does not hold a college degree. He does not have a background in sports other than possessing a love for the game of baseball which gives no reason to question the reasoning for adding a new baseball team to the Universities athletic program. The man is a former executive officer of Arrowhead General Insurance Agency in San Diego.

Baseball is America’s past time, the University of Oregon is the last Pac-10 school without a baseball team, baseball generates a large fan base, but where are the fans going to watch the baseball team? That’s right; now that the top two financial boosters have control over the entire athletic program at the University, you can build a new stadium!

I’m confused; I believe you said, “A new women’s sport may be added with Knight's financial support.” Basically, you were bullied by the corporate dictators into selecting baseball over a woman’s sport. Let me point out that I don’t believe Oregon needs to ad another woman’s sport to meet Title IX requirements because looking at the list of athletic teams, you have seven women’s sports, two coed sports, and counting wrestling you have four men’s sports. There is no reason, under Title IX guidelines, why wrestling has to be eliminated from the sports program if you ad baseball.

I believe that adding a competitive cheerleading squad is an attempt to earn publicity for the University of Oregon. Currently, the University of Maryland is the only University that has a competitive cheerleading team that is recognized by the NCAA as a varsity sport. Oregon hopes to gain publicity by trying to earn recognition by the NCAA. In order to meet the requirements of the NCAA, schools have to meet OCR guidelines which state that the cheer squad must have a primary purpose to compete in athletic events and must not support other athletes; these are the reasons you plan to have separate cheer squads. There are many other requirements that need to be met before a competitive cheerleading squad will even be considered for recognition by the NCAA. You yourself, in a press conference stated that you believe competitive cheerleading will be recognized as a sport within the next ten years. Ten years is a long time. Why take away wrestling which is an Olympic sport that has been recognized as a major sport since the Greek Olympics took place back in 704 B.C. and replace it with cheerleading. There is even a U.S. Olympic women’s wrestling team; cheerleading has not even been introduced to the Olympic Games; well unless you consider the fact that there was an Olympic cheerleading squad cheering on the athletes at the Olympics held in Turin in 2006. In your attempt to meet NCAA and OCR guidelines you will need a designated facility with mats; I wonder where you may find such facility? Don’t forget that you will need certified athletic coaches and proper locker room facilities. Could that be the reason you are eliminating the wrestling team? If you want to ad a women’s sport and use wrestling mats ad a women’s wrestling team! Women’s wrestling is recognized as sport by the NCAA.

My 13 year old son attended the University of Oregon’s wrestling camp in 2006. This past wrestling season his wrestling skills drastically improved. He went from winning one match out of the entire season in 2005 to winning at least one match at every meet in 2006. I believe that if he had not attended camp before wrestling season he would not have displayed such a drastic improvement. It is unfortunate that you are eliminating a sport that over the years has taught people to be strong, powerful, dedicated, hard working citizens.

The University of Oregon has proven that it is ran by a cut throat corporate bureaucracy who cares nothing about the students and athletes who have worked hard and have chose to enroll in the University of Oregon. The athletic department continues to be bullied by these corporate dictators which only displays the Universities weaknesses. Good luck to your future cheerleaders who may put Oregon on the Pac-10 map in the year 2020.



Sincerely,


Tami Minnieweather

[midwestcoach]

This isn't a letter to any official at Oregon but it is an email that I sent to an editor in response to an article that someone forwarded to me from the Daily Emerald. I sent a much less polite one to the man that wrote the article and a couple of others to the sports editor and assistant editor. Being from the midwest I hadn't heard about the decision to discontinue Oregon wrestling but am appalled by it.
I will support in any way I can and will be saving up to make a donation if possible.



That article was a travesty! I cannot believe that you would allow such things to be published. Because of some stupid high school incident he would condemn a sport whose roots trace back longer than this entire country? What of the wrestlers that are constantly forced to play basketball? If one of them were to sprain his ankle doing this, should he then condemn basketball and all those affiliated like your sports writer has so ineloquently done? I have been a wrestler since junior high when I was forced to learn it in PE and found that I loved the sport. I have been associated with it ever since, as a wrestler, as a fan, and as a coach and I am ashamed of people that would make such comments simply because they do not understand a sport. Is this why they hate it? Simply because they cannot understand? That is a major thing that sets wrestling apart to be a fan you must be knowledgeable in wrestling as well. Any person can watch a basketball game and realize that when your team puts the ball through the hoop it is good. But wrestling has many intricacies that other people outside the sport simply do not understand. This does not mean it should be considered inferior. In fact it and those associated should be applauded for the level of commitment that it requires.

I understand that you are probably a very busy person and there is a good chance that this letter, as well as the one I wrote to the author and the sports editor will be deleted, but I do hope on the off chance that you do read it, it will make you stop and consider any further articles that are so callously and foolishly written.

I would like to see what he thought if someone wrote an article celebrating the downfall of his sport at a school and the authors main reasoning was because it took to much time away from their “pickup games.”

Sincerely,



Dan Tuttle

Coach and long life fan and supporter of Wrestling