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Smitherin has been here long enough to face this hard decision.

1) If he is reducing schollies on successful programs to prop up MBB & WBB funding, it WILL kill Long Beach Olympic Sports

2) He should publish what his pet project 'Anchor Fund' is actually doing. the way I read it it's a general fund, so if money intended to support Olympic sport NIL is actually going to fund a one and done demand for salary, it's fool's gold, and good maney chasing bad

3) Keep MBB and WBB alive as long as possible, just to stay in D1 until some systematic change is needed. MBB is a professional sport now.
lol.

4) Bobby Knigt one year years ago tried a whole season with walk-ons. Frankly at this point I do not care if we fieled for two years MBB & WBB as walk-ons, and have coaches willing to to train as interns. Seriously, the statement of doing that alone would be great press, and yes derision, just those that deride it I would not give a $ht aboutl

5) I MBB is the most visible. It's also right now not providing any benefit overall nor will it, nor will there be continuity. I feel bad for Acker, even he could not have envisioned it would be this difficult.

6) MVB, WVB, and Beach VB compete well and DRAW support. WVB draws better than MBB. MVB is yes a niche but also at least is something the Student Body has supported and an IDENTITY that is not possible with MBB. They do have continuity, that will be tested as well. However if Smitherin tries to find some silver bullet in a MBB fairy tale, he risks being left with NOTHING

6) Baseball is a smaller version of MBB, the increased schollie cost and NIL is damaging it. The Baseball team does ahve a lot of good will historically and community support, so hopefully it can recover somewhat.

these are tough decisions, the Big West Commissioner hinted to throw more resources at MBB, yes with ZERO plan of doing that and he is smart enough to know that. I'm sure he wants to avoid a revolving door of teams leaving and entering.

Jane killed any chance over the last 10 years to build a sustainable model, and I do credit her for the fee increase, but her void of leadership and putting down boosters and lecturing put Long Beach in this position.

Yeah, if there's a $1 mil fully supported MBB fund that does not siphon from the other sports, go for it, if not. Have doubts there is some new booster base to support that.

If VB is allowed to wither, there will be nothing left, unless one likes Golf, and kudos to those boosters and Virginia Country Club for a viable model and pipeline.

reading these boards is fascinating. 95% of the posts are about a sport that is not viable to compete nationally and following former players aside from a couple, who are going nowheere anyway.
and 5% are aabout sports that do compete well and have coaches proving they can compete nationally with far less resources.

rant over