MR TWISTER
05-24-2007, 11:17 PM
The issue that won't go away. Tom DuBois a Eastern Illinois graduate and Principal at Richmond - Burton high school (Jordan Blanton's school) penned a letter about the Eastern Illinois administration to the Charleston Times Courier editor. After reading this letter I felt compelled to share it with you. His words express his frustration with the handling of the demise of the wrestling program.
Twist
Letter to Charleston Times Courier
Mr. Nielsen,
Do you believe the rhetoric being spewed by the athletic administration at Eastern Illinois University? I would hope that as a member of the community of journalist that you wouild thoroughly research the claims of the athletic department. How convenient, school not in session, athletes gone, perhaps even Coach McCausland not in town. Throw in a lame duck (retiring) president and what a convenience for an athletic department that has provided virtually no support for the wrestling program. Poof! Program gone. Is this magic? No, it is a gutless act. Can we perhaps show some sense of honor and humanity and meet face to face with the athletes and the coaches? No, there is no honor here. There is no honesty here. What we have is one less program (a men's program no less) that this athletic administration must concern itself with. I have had the honor of working as an educator for the past 29 years. I received both my B.S. and M.S. from Eastern Illinois. I am proud to have encouraged a number of former students and athletes to attend EIU and support the university financially, sometimes beyond my means. I love this university and much of what it has stood for; today I am embarrased. Mr. McDuffie lost nothing!What many young people in the wrestling community lost was an opportunity. So you can tell Coach Spoo and all of the other coaches not to worry. Thay have been spared by the obliteration of the wrestling program. Who knows Mr. Nielsen, there might even be a day when the football team will win a play-off game, or perhaps the basketball team might even crack the 10 win barrier. Perhaps Mr. McDuffie can hang his hat on the success of the women's rugby program (how many scholarships do they have?).
Tom DuBois
Principal
Richmond-Burton Community High School
Twist
Letter to Charleston Times Courier
Mr. Nielsen,
Do you believe the rhetoric being spewed by the athletic administration at Eastern Illinois University? I would hope that as a member of the community of journalist that you wouild thoroughly research the claims of the athletic department. How convenient, school not in session, athletes gone, perhaps even Coach McCausland not in town. Throw in a lame duck (retiring) president and what a convenience for an athletic department that has provided virtually no support for the wrestling program. Poof! Program gone. Is this magic? No, it is a gutless act. Can we perhaps show some sense of honor and humanity and meet face to face with the athletes and the coaches? No, there is no honor here. There is no honesty here. What we have is one less program (a men's program no less) that this athletic administration must concern itself with. I have had the honor of working as an educator for the past 29 years. I received both my B.S. and M.S. from Eastern Illinois. I am proud to have encouraged a number of former students and athletes to attend EIU and support the university financially, sometimes beyond my means. I love this university and much of what it has stood for; today I am embarrased. Mr. McDuffie lost nothing!What many young people in the wrestling community lost was an opportunity. So you can tell Coach Spoo and all of the other coaches not to worry. Thay have been spared by the obliteration of the wrestling program. Who knows Mr. Nielsen, there might even be a day when the football team will win a play-off game, or perhaps the basketball team might even crack the 10 win barrier. Perhaps Mr. McDuffie can hang his hat on the success of the women's rugby program (how many scholarships do they have?).
Tom DuBois
Principal
Richmond-Burton Community High School