University
of California Riverside Athletics Director Stan Morrison will
answer selected questions from our online readers throughout
the school year. To submit a question to "Ask Stan Morrison",
click here.
Question:
"Stan,
You may remember me from the 2000-2001 academic year. My dormitory
hall dressed up as Scotsmen for the home basket ball games.
My question has to do with a sport that UCR no longer has
but had at one time. Why is water polo not being offered at
this University? UCR is a Division I school and attracts many
students that could play. So why not bring men's and women's
water polo back to the Highlanders??"
Submitted by Darren McNeil.
Stan's
Reply :
"Dear
Darren,
First and foremost, I do remember you and the formerly named
"Killer Kilts". Thanks for your great question about
Water Polo. As a great fan of the sport, I too would love
to see it on our sports offering menu. In fact, I hear similar
questions two or three times each month about Water Polo,
Swim Teams and Synchronized Swimming. It is going to take
some time however, for the following reasons:
•
Last year, in 2001-2002, we added six sports to our UCR Intercollegiate
Athletics offerings. They included: Men's and Women's Soccer,
Men's and Women's Golf, and Men's and Women's Indoor Track
and Field.
•
UCR now has 17 Intercollegiate Sports offerings and all compete
in the Big West Conference except for Men's and Women's Indoor
Track and Field which compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports
Federation.
•
A 5 year moratorium was put in place last year to assure that
all current programs are properly funded and supported before
considering adding any other sports to our Intercollegiate
Athletics program.
•
The only UCR campus pool is not regulation size for Water
Polo. I am hopeful that the eventual Student Recreation Center
pool, which is on the drawing board but without funding, or
a start date at this time, will be a possibility for Intercollegiate
Athletics use after the moratorium and in the future.
I
hope this adequately answers your question. Get that Highlander
kilt on and come to the games. Thanks."
"Braveheart
is Alive!" - Stan Morrison
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