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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Saturday, June 2, 2007 2:15 AM CDT
EIU's McCausland: Give us two more years

By Ralph McCausland
sports@jg-tc.com

Editor’s note: Eastern Illinois wrestling coach Ralph McCausland has broken his silence from the university’s May 17 decision to drop wrestling, citing poor academic performance ratings. This is McCausland’s open letter sent to the newspaper:

Due to the Eastern Illinois University administration’s decision to eliminate the intercollegiate wrestling program after 59 years, I feel compelled to make a personal statement in response, especially in light of the extraordinary outpouring of support I have received from my family as well as from both the wrestling and the EIU community. Their response has been nothing short of overwhelming and truly heartwarming, particularly so now that I find myself dealing with a gauntlet of emotions ranging from anger, sadness and mourning to betrayal and a sense of having been deceived because of no warning whatsoever.

As the wrestling coach at Eastern Illinois University for the past 24 years, I can say with honesty and humility that this job is, and has been, the occupation of my dreams. I have been blessed to be part of a wrestling program with a proud and successful tradition of 59 years. Even more importantly, I have been part of a University community that has always valued, as I have, the education of its student-athletes more than the number of victories in the won-lost column. I fear that with this decision that defining EIU ethic and tradition is now being reversed.

The real victims of this decision, of course, are the student-athletes themselves. As a former EIU All-American wrestler, I have witnessed first-hand over the years the many opportunities afforded the college student-athlete in wrestling. My joy was to pass on those same opportunities to other wrestlers, since I know that without the avenue of sport, many young men and women would not have the opportunity to obtain a college degree.

To quote Yogi Berra, this feels like “déjà vu all over again.” Once before in 1995 the EIU athletic administration attempted to eliminate both the Panther wrestling and men’s swim teams under the guise of federal Title IX mandates, the VERY FIRST collegiate programs in the nation to be “temporarily” cut due to Title IX laws. Of course, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has always asserted that eliminating participation in sport is not, and never was, the intention of Title IX. As a result, both sports were reinstated but not without serious negative effects.

The wrestling program at EIU has never fully recovered its scholarships or budget status prior to the Title IX compliance review of 1994-95. One result is that a cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over the program ever since. The numbers tell the tale. In 1994-95 wrestling had a budget of $26,750 and 6.4 scholarships (9.9 NCAA maximum). In 2006-07 wrestling had a budget of $18,740 and 3.8 scholarships (9.9 NCAA maximum). Adjusted for inflation, the numbers reveal a program attempting to struggle to survive. Yet the program has thrived in my 24 years despite the ever-shrinking support—at least one wrestler has participated in the NCAA National Championships each of the team’s 24 years, including 60 NCAA national qualifiers, 6 Division I All-Americans, and 5 Academic All-Americans.

So why is the EIU athletic administration once again attempting to eliminate a program with a long and successful history? Once again, they are invoking an NCAA program, this time the Academic Progress Report (APR) program, which can have dire consequences for the entire athletic program if a sports team repeatedly fails to make minimum scores. And once again, EIU is the FIRST University to eliminate a sport due to a struggling APR number. Sounds like “déjà vu all over again.” As explained by Rich McDuffie, EIU’s athletic director, “…we could not take the risk of affecting the whole athletics program.”

But according to the NCAA, there were any number of avenues short of program elimination available to the administration, which they chose to ignore. For example, there is a detailed procedure set up by the NCAA for teams to recover from low APR’s, yet our administration chose to deny our wrestlers the opportunity to recover. Furthermore, there is a grant funding program developed by the NCAA to give financial assistance to programs which fall below the minimum APR score. Rather than seek those grant funds to help its athletes, the EIU athletic administration chose instead to drop the program suddenly and without warning to the team and the coach. As I was told by a staff member from the NCAA, “It was never the intention of APR to be used to eliminate athletic teams, but rather as a tool to help improve retention and graduation in athletic teams.” Nonetheless the NCAA’s APR program has provided useful cover for the administration’s axe just as they tried to use Title IX before.

Let me state emphatically and without equivocation that I support the APR. Student-athletes go to college to earn a degree first; sports are secondary. This is especially true at a University such as Eastern Illinois University. But when your program has as few a number of scholarships as wrestling, it takes only a few individuals to penalize the program. Indeed, just one out of five will put the program in jeopardy—not a problem for teams with many scholarships but potentially problematic for teams with few. We have 3.8 scholarships to offer.

Perhaps most offensive and ethically indefensible is the administration’s timing of the decision to eliminate the program. The athletic administration allowed us to actively recruit and sign student-athletes to scholarships and national letters of intent on April 11, 2007. They killed the program knowing that just the night before I had received several verbal commitments from student-athletes that would have helped us both academically and on the mat. Either they made their decision on the spur of the moment or they knowingly let us make commitments to student-athletes that they knew would be empty ones. Either is unconscionable for a University such as Eastern Illinois.

I ask only that Eastern Illinois University do the right thing. The NCAA guarantees us two more years to recover. We made a commitment to these kids who chose EIU Wrestling rather than programs with better budgets, more scholarships and support staff. Let the wrestlers prove their mettle and save their program. The incoming recruiting class is very promising, the schedule is complete, spring fundraising is finalized, everything is in place for a successful next season. The only thing missing is the moral courage of the administration to reconsider a hasty and ill-advised decision.

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Ira Barrett wrote on Jun 2, 2007 8:08 AM:

" There are always (2) sides to every controvsy. Thanks to Ralph for this informative and sensible dialogue. I score this one a 3 point...near fall. In the words of the great Jim Valvano....don't give up, don't ever give up!!! "

Move on wrote on Jun 2, 2007 9:05 AM:

" Overall, the wrestling team has not been competitive for a very long time. I can't believe anyone would be surprised considering also the terrible grades and EIU having so many sports that it is spreading themselves too thin. I am an outsider and every year expected them to drop wrestling. "

Tough Break wrote on Jun 2, 2007 12:59 PM:

" I feel bad for the guy as he has obviously been dedicated to EIU wrestling. The cutting of the program wasn't handled real well. I think it was more about finances than grades, but the grade issue gave them a reason to cut the program. That being said I support the decision, EIU needs to eliminate a couple of other sports as the budget is streched way too thin. Most of EIU's peer schools haven't had wrestling for a while. "

Two more years wrote on Jun 2, 2007 7:01 PM:

" Eastern should be offering students opportunities wherever possible and they should be offering students the chance to particpate in wrestling. Who can sensibly be against offering kids opportunities? "

veritas nunquam perit wrote on Jun 2, 2007 10:46 PM:

" "Ralph and his family are valued members of our community and should be treated with more respect than to be called in and dismissed in the manner that he was. As an all americqn athlete and an alumnus he should be afforded more respect than he was given. This seems to be more Hencken/McDuffie skullduggery. Does anyone remember Coach Samuels? "

are you kidding? wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:38 PM:

" Veritas.....Rick Samuels got fired because he had only managed 4 winning seasons in the last 15 years of his EIU career and the program had been on a steady decline since 2001's fluke NCAA appearance. Being a good person and member of the community does not entitle someone to a lifetime appointment! So with that out of the way, am I to understand that if the McCauselands were not EIU alums and valued members of the community, this would be ok with you? The niceness and likability of the people should not be in play here. The wrestling coach hasnt even been fired, even though I have heard several people say maybe that should have been the response rather than killing the program. While he may not like that the wrestling program is gone and since coaches do not get tenure like the faculty, Coach McCauseland might be wise to not call those he will continue to answer to "unethical" and "unconscionable". While I don't know the EIU President or Athletic Director, I am sure they do appreciate being called unethical by a guy they allowed to keep his job after he failed to get his teams academics in order. The more I hear about this teams academic standing the worse it makes the coach and team look. Everyone should let this go before it looks any worse. "

niiji wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Restore wrestling. Take $18,740, from Mc Duffie's salary as a penalty for not applying for the NCAA grant money designated to assist programs which fall below the minimum APR scores. Do the right thing for the students... This once was the code of EIU. "

Mike P wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:04 PM:

" Hopefully the new president, will have an open mind on this matter, and take your side, under consideration. Entering the fray, of going against the status quoe, is risky to undertake, as some others have recently found. Ignoring wrong doing, for the sake of self preservation, is safer, but allows the misdeeds to continue, and compond, in their future occurences. I disagree, with the NCAA, making APR an issue. Graduating in four years, has long since been out of the norm, and not a strong record of it, at EIU in the overall student population, has long been the case. Making the grades, should be encouraged, and individual eligibility, should depend on it. It is enforced, in any organized athletics programs, on all levels. The NCAA should not impose on expanding degrees, taking a managable class load, or changing majors. Small program or not, is no excuse to dismiss the real issues. This is another unfortunate display, of an appointed, or elected individual, imposing their wills, over the required reason, that should be displayed in such matters. This sort of behavior, needs to be changed, and not tolerated, in any public institution, board, council, comittee, or office. How they deal with the, what might be seen as small stuff by some, is a reflection, of their comittment and ethics, and should be given as much attention, as if it were a bigger issue. The subsequent decisions, by the same groups, might have a larger impact, and their management skills lacking, being overlooked prior, sets a poor example, of what is accepted, and expected of them. Things need to change, and those that feel they know better than the people they represent, about everything, need to be reminded, that is not the case, or they need to be replaced with people more respectful of a public servants position, in the workings of things. Power hungry people gravitate, to these positions, and of the few who have the peoples best interest in mind, keeping that perspective, in the climate that has been allowed to exist, is a constant moral delima. Having to work with the people of the opposite motivations, causes constant compromises of values, to get anything done, that the dedicated feel is of importance. This is the case, in all aspects of public service, unfortunately, and has been since any such groups began to be formed. We are outraged at the actions that result from this climate, but it continues, and will until accepting the nonsense, big or small, is not. "

common sense wrote on Jun 4, 2007 7:43 AM:

" Finances were not a reason given for dropping wrestling but it should have been the main reason. EIU has no business offering so many sports. They offer many more than the other conferences schools and were offering three more than the University of Illinois. The other non-conference EIU sports should also be seriously reviewed. Two more years wrote that EIU should be offering opportunities wherever possible. I would argue that it is not possible (or even reasonable) for EIU to offer so many sports. Big Ten schools with all of their resources have even made that conclusion. "

Panther Blue wrote on Jun 4, 2007 11:26 AM:

" Let's go EIU alums. This is not right. The wrestling program deserves better. This has been a proud program for years, and it shouldn't be eliminated this way. Let's support Coach and the EIU Wrestling program by contacting President Hencken at 217 581 2011. "

????? wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:32 PM:

" How should it be eliminated? There is no good way. "

Matt Osborne wrote on Jun 4, 2007 5:31 PM:

" Well said Ralph. You know you have the support of myself and my entire family. "

Tough Break wrote on Jun 4, 2007 9:54 PM:

" Common Sense - I agree with everything you said. Cuts are never fun, but this one was needed. I hope all the people complaining about the cuts give money to EIU athletics. "

I agree wrote on Jun 5, 2007 7:19 AM:

" I agree with Move On and Tough Break, Wrestling, along with about 6 other sports, should have gone the last time dropping them was considered. The individual sports benefit only the individual, not a team concept. and the finances required to keep them in this day and age are not really justified. The U of I realized this some time ago, as did most other schools. Yes, Ralph has done a good job with the finances provided to him to recruit and run the program, but the writing is on the wall with the APR ranking. This is only the tip of the ice berg in college sports. Watch in the next couple of years at all of the dropped sports at other universities as a result of the APR rate. Let's move on and support the decision that has been made. "

Panther Blue wrote on Jun 5, 2007 8:08 AM:

" 1) Since when did we start modeling ourselves after U of I? 2) Anyone who thinks wrestling isn't a team sport has never attended a wrestling match. 3) Call or write Lou today. "

APR wrote on Jun 5, 2007 11:39 AM:

" It would be good for everyone to become more familiar with what exactly the APR scores indicate. I think if most people took a few minutes to understand how a sports APR score is calculated, you would all be scratching your heads and not be so judgemental regarding the wrestling program or any other programs score for that matter. The APR was recently overhauled to address the many flaws in its original form. The NCAA is allowing schools to re-do previous scores by applying the new, up to date criteria retroactively because they acknowledged the original APR system was flawed. I think anybody who is chastaising the wrestling program for poor grades doesn't truly understand how far off the original APR system was in truly identifying sports programs that had poor academic performance. "

Scholar/Athlete wrote on Jun 5, 2007 3:22 PM:

" Thank you, Panther Blue and APR, for a modicum of reason and common sense here on this thread. Intercollegiate athletics at EIU is meant for the student-athletes first and foremost. It's our distinctive culture. It's why we field as many sports as we do. It's a very refreshing alternative to the corporate sports model at many universities, designed for the middle-aged donors whose identities and self-worth are tied to the won/lost record of their school. Can you spell M-I-C-H-I-G-A-N or A-L-A-B-A-M-A? God help us when we start modelling our programs on the Big Ten. As for "I Agree" who would like to see "6 other sports" dropped because they are not "team sports," I'm guessing his or her sports experience never extended beyond baseball, basketball or football, or more likely, he or she has no sports experience at all. It is a stunningly ignorant comment to make. As for those universities currently dropping so-called minor sports--Syracuse most recently--they want to be players on the national stage, which means success in football or basketball (Syracuse just invested big time in football; they've long been a basketball power). Our only hope for that at EIU is if we return to Division II, where we were players on the national stage once in many sports. We now invest so little in cross country, wrestling, swimming, tennis, etc. that cutting them will likely make very little difference on the football field or the basketball court. And do we really care that much about performing at a national level in those two sports? Most students and faculty at EIU couldn't care less--their identities are not defined by the reputation of their football or basketball teams. AD's don't make their reputations and job advancements on wrestling or how many student athletes are given the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level; they make it on football and basketball "success," which usually means wins not graduation rates. If that is your vision of EIU athletics--sports for the few and the semi-professional-- then applaud this decision. If your vision of EIU athletics is a little more nuanced, don't let your silence endorse this decision about the wrestling program. "

EIU ALUM wrote on Jun 6, 2007 8:28 AM:

" Another terrible mishandling of a situation and a coach by the EIU athletic administration. It is obvious little consideration is given to the coaches and athletes or the consequences these actions have on the future of EIU athletics. Is eliminating wrestling really acting in the best interst of EIU athletics? Instead of doing everything to save the wrestling program the administration uses the APR to eliminate the program. Like most coaches at EIU, Coach McCausland has done much with very little. Nobody can question his success over the past 24 years and considering his budget and lack of scholarships his record is even more impressive. I hope all the contributors to EIU athletics will demand that the University re-establish the wrestling program. Better yet, tell them you won't contribute until the program is reinstated! First men's basketball now wrestling. How will EIU ever attract and retain quality coaches and athletes when the good coaches that the university already has are poorly mistreated? There needs to be major changes in the athletic administration at EIU!!! "

Dr. S. wrote on Jun 6, 2007 11:42 AM:

" APR... can you tell me where I can find this "retro-active" procedure? "

Barb Walker wrote on Jun 8, 2007 2:25 PM:

" What has happened to Coach McCausland, his wrestlers, and to the EIU community is an atrocity! This unethical action is a black eye on the EIU community at large. Ralph has given his life's blood for this program. While other (revenue) coaches get paid high end salaries, while driving their dealership issued cars, Ralph drives to work everyday in his old pick-up truck, trying to make something great out of the few resources that he's been given. What other coach can say that they've gone to nationals every year? What other coach can say that he/she, and his/her players, had to help with parking at every home football game in order to raise money for their program? I find it very sad and disheartnening that a person who has sacrificed so many personal luxuries for the love of a sport and it's players is being treated so disrespectfully. I suspect that this all has less to do with GPA's and more to do with personal bias and ego on the parts of the powers that be. I was told by someone that Mr. McDuffie hadn't ever set foot in the wrestling room...in 10 years...and his office is right upstairs. If true, it's a sad commentary. I believe that the public projected image behind the cut is no more than a well timed, well worded smokescreen. Coach McCausland and the kids on the wrestling team have been wronged here, and I hope that someone in authority has the honesty and the integrity to right this wrong as quickly as possible! "

scholar/athlete wrote on Jun 12, 2007 9:09 AM:

" Does everyone notice that Brian Nielsen and staff are missing-in-action on this one--no opinion at all about the place of athletics on EIU's campus, no opinion about the shameful way the matter was handled, no opinion on anything regarding this issue as far as I can tell. Soon or later even lap dogs have to raise their heads from their master's perch. "