Lets Go... Towson?

Towson University announced in the fall that they were possibly going to stop funding a men’s soccer and baseball program. On Friday the school announced that they were in fact going to stop the baseball program at the University after this season. Worried of a criminal and violent reaction from players, and players, to their announcement, the school went as far as hiring police support before making the announcement. The coaches, players, and fans had a different reaction to the news; they decided to use black duct tape to cover up the “Towson” on the front of their uniforms. 

“We don't support Towson, so we don't want to wear something that says 'Towson,' “catcher Zach Fisher explaining the team’s decision to taking this action. It may not me the largest protest ever performed, but it is most certainly a stern middle finger straight in the face of the University, the Athletic Director, and the President of the University that says the move will save $800,000 a year. Many people believe that they will be spending this money now on football and men’s basketball will now lead to more championships, including Head Baseball Coach Mike Gottlieb.

 "What concerns me is that they apparently have the philosophy that whatever sports we have, we're going to have the infrastructure to have a legitimate chance to win a championship," said Gottlieb. "I can appreciate that. Probably that's the way it is in the ACC, the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12. There are a lot of mid-major programs in the country that don't have those resources."

"There was a time not long ago when it was about giving kids the experience with a combination of education and athletics. We didn't have the support we needed to be great, but looking back, a lot of kids loved their experience here. I've had a deluge of that support over the last 24 hours. ... They seem to think that if you're fully funded, you're going to always win. It doesn't work that way."

I have absolutely no issues with the student-athletes crossing out the name of their school on their uniforms. For one, these students are no longer player in honor of the school; they are simply just playing for themselves. These players do not care about the school anymore; many of them will even leave the school to possible rival institutions at the end of the year to continue playing baseball. Secondly, they want to make it entirely clear to all interested in the school that they will no longer be fielding a baseball team. If they would continue wearing Towson on their jerseys they could deceive some naive individuals into going to the school to possible try and walk on the team, which would benefit the school. Thirdly, by making this move the school is basically telling the players that they are not important to the school, so why shouldn’t the players be able to tell the school that it is not important to them? I understand that the school will continue to acknowledge the scholarships of those who stay at the school, but they are ripping away the experience these students will gain as student-athletes in college and for many they ripping away the last years that they will be able to play the sport, period. I know that many will transfer colleges and continue to play but not all of them will have that chance. 

And with all of that, the team has been at least consistent having winning seasons in 14 of the past 16 seasons, so they are not terrible.

The players deserve to cover up the name on the front of their chest. The only thing I would like to see them do is go to Michaels and by some of that cameo duct tape, or some of the tie dye, or others. Don’t just go with black, have fun with it!!  

-JM


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