This fall Temple Update began coverage of the historic 2013-2014 budget cuts which left seven Temple athletic programs out in the cold. Reporters Beccah Hendrickson and Tommy Sladek take a look back on the cuts and the students they affected.
The cuts were announced on December 6, 2013 and affected the following teams: mens baseball, womens softball, mens indoor & outdoor track & field, mens gymnastics, mens crew and womens rowing.
Soon after the cuts were made, Temple President Neil Theobald was made aware of a federal investigation regarding his administration’s Title IX compliance.
Following a two and a half month period of uncertainty, Temple University along with the City of Philadelphia and the Lenfest Foundation reinstated Men’s Crew and Women’s Rowing to their original Division I status. $5.5 million dollars was donated by both Philadelphia and the Lenfest Foundation for the construction of a new Temple boathouse on Kelly Drive. This reinstatement, however, did not include the other five cut teams.
Although the baseball team did receive a one-year offer from Camden’s Campbell’s Field for the recruiting of new players, the deal fell through. Softball continued to play at their field in Ambler, however both baseball and softball ended their seasons with losing records.
It was also the end of the line for men’s indoor & outdoor track & field. Head Coach Eric Mobley will return to Temple, however, to coach the women’s teams next year.
Men’s Gymnastics coach Fred Turoff will be forced to find a position elsewhere, as his team will not be reinstated by the university.
The five remaining cut programs will be cut July 1st, when the facilities used by the teams will be left vacant for good.
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