A University of Maryland commission appointed by president Wallace D. Loh has recommended that six Maryland varsity sports be eliminated by July 1, 2012 in order to help solve a $4.7 million budget gap in fiscal year 2012 and larger projected budget gaps going forward. The six sports are men's tennis, men's track and field, men's swimming and diving, women's swimming and diving, women's water polo and women's aerobics and tumbling.
Here is a link to the full report, which includes the following statement.
it also became apparent to the Commission that there would need to be a reduction in the number of athletic teams. The Commission came to the painful conclusion that continuing to support 27 teams, with the current budget, would not meet the goal of having every sponsored team and student athlete be supported at the level needed to succeed in his/her studies and in his/her athletic pursuits in order to compete at the highest levels.
There are other measures recommended in the report, but that is the most important one. Loh will ultimately make the final decision on whether to accept the commission's report, which he is expected to do in the coming weeks, according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun.
For more on the Terps' budget situation, visit Testudo Times.