As a former college cross-country and track athlete, a brother of two Ohio University graduates, the editor and publisher of RUNOHIO and a high-school teacher and cross- country and track coach in the Columbus area, I hope Ohio University officials will look at the overall negative impact to the university that has occurred since dropping the Men's Outdoor Track and Field program.

When I think of Ohio University, I think of the oldest university in the Northwest Territory, which has a strong tradition of academics and athletics. I also think of a men's track and field program that had been part of the university for nearly 100 years.

It is my understanding that one of the main reasons Miami University did not drop track and field a few years ago was it saw track as one of the programs that attracted minorities to the university. One of Miami's trustees was able to convince the board that it would not be a smart decision to drop the sport.

Track and field is the oldest sport known to mankind. More countries participate in track at the Olympic Games than any other sport.

Ohio has 728 boys high-school track and field teams. In Ohio, only basketball and baseball are offered by more schools than boys' track and field. The Ohio High School Athletic Association's State Track and Field Championships will celebrate their 101st anniversary this June.

There are nearly 2,000 members of the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches. Most of these members are teachers in Ohio high schools and have a tremendous influence on high-school students.

I would think that there are more Ohio University track and field alumni than any other group of athletic alumni at Ohio University. Probably 30 to 45 students were walk-ons participating in men's track and field and paying tuition to Ohio University. It is my understanding Ohio University saved less than $20,000 in travel expenses by dropping Men's Track and Field, but might lose over $500,000 in lost revenue every year by students not attending Ohio University to run track and field. I have found that the cross-country and track and field teams have some of the highest grade-point averages and graduation rates of all intercollegiate teams.

It is my understanding that since Western Michigan University dropped a number of men's athletic programs four years ago, there has been an uprising of alumni and teachers and friends, who have held their donations to the university and encouraged high-school students not to attend Western Michigan. It is also my understanding that Western Michigan's enrollment is down nearly 18 percent since it dropped a number of men's athletic programs.

I think if officials look at the impact of dropping Men's Outdoor Track and Field at Ohio University, they will realize that it did not make educational, economic, business or political sense. I hope you will consider reinstating the Men's Outdoor Track and Field program at Ohio University as soon as possible.

Matt McGowan

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Feel free to send the following your feelings on Ohio University Men's Track and Field program.

Email President McDavis at: mcdavis@ohio.edu

Email the Board of Trustees at: trustees@ohio.edu

Email the President of Student Senate at: senate@ohio.edu

Email the Student Senate listserv at: everyone@mystudent senate.com

Email the President of Graduate Student Senate at: gss@ohio.edu

Email the Graduate Student Senate listserv at: gss- l@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu

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The following is from the web master of: http://bringin gbackohiotrack.blogspot.com

As I predicted last year, Kirby Hocutt, the Athletic Director at OU, used his position as a stepping stone to get a better job outside of Appalachia. He wanted to improve the football and basketball teams at the university and student's expense to amplify his resume. Now, apparently he is seen as a viable option at a major university athletic department where their basketball and football teams are central -

On Friday, February 9th he was announced as the new Athletic Director at the University of Miami with his duties starting June 1st.

With Hocutt on his way out the door, it is absolutely imperative that the Ohio University community, namely the student body and alumni, demand from President McDavis that Hocutt's successor will bring back Ohio track. This can be achieved through letters to the editors, letters to the OU administration, and most importantly resolutions from Student Senate and Graduate Student Senate.

More on the Ohio University Men's Track and Field program - http://www.runohio.com/news/01-22-08KEEPING- TRACK.html