Athletic programs continue to fall by the wayside as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its fourth month. Hampton University is hoping its fans can help save its teams.
Hampton announced its cuts Wednesday, dropping its men’s and women’s golf programs due to “the negative financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“COVID-19 has put everyone around the world, and especially those in higher education, in a financial situation that no one could imagine or plan for,” Hampton’s release said, noting that the university in Virginia hopes a fundraising effort will allow the golf programs to return. “It is our hope that ‘Hampton Nation’ will be able to help us keep both Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs, as well as assist Pirate Athletics in generating enough outside revenue to make our department whole again!”
Hampton, which competes in the Big South Conference, said it will need $600,000 to bring both golf programs “back to full strength.” The program needs about $352,000 to compete during the 2020-21 school year. Finally, $1,400,000 is needed to bring the entire Hampton athletic department “back to normal.”
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There is precedence, as donors have saved Bowling Green State University baseball and University of Alabama-Huntsville men’s hockey this spring. Many more look like they will stay dormant, as Sports Illustrated reported Thursday that 30 Division I programs have been discontinued.
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