‘Dear Men’s Cross Country’

Dear Men’s Cross Country and Men’s Track & Field Student-Athletes:

Later this morning the University will announce that the UD men’s cross country and men’s track & field teams will be reclassified as club teams and will no longer compete at the NCAA-sanctioned varsity level, effective at the conclusion of the 2011 outdoor season.

Please know that this decision was not reached quickly or without careful examination. We regret the disappointment that this decision will cause you and are especially sensitive to the impact this decision will have on each of you. We will take great care to assist those of you who wish to transfer in order to continue your athletic careers elsewhere, and we will honor the athletic scholarships of those who wish to remain at UD.

I would have much preferred to inform you of this decision in person rather than through an email; however, given the fact that we are in winter session and many of you are away from campus, we felt it was important to get this information to you as soon as the decision was made. Doing so would give you the opportunity to explore your option to transfer, should that be your wish. In addition, we felt it was imperative to inform the prospective student-athletes who will soon be making their college decision.  

I understand from Coach Fischer that you all are scheduled to train at 3:00 PM today. If you would like, I will be available to meet with you at that time to answer any questions you may have. We have reserved the auditorium in the BCC from 3:00 – 4:00 PM. Brian Baptiste will also be in the meeting to answer questions regarding transferring to another institution, if that is your wish. For those of you who are not on campus, I will have another meeting once the Spring semester begins; however in the interim if you have questions related to transferring, please contact Brian Baptiste at baptiste@udel.edu

As this information becomes public, you may be contacted by members of the media. Please remember that our media relations staff is here to assist you with any request you receive. The members of the media know that it is athletic department policy that no student-athlete, coach or staff member should engage in interviews — either in person or by phone, text, or email — with a member of the news media unless it has been arranged by a member of the UD Athletics Media Relations staff. If you are contacted directly by a member of the news media, please instruct that reporter to contact the UD Athletics Media Relations Office first and they will arrangements will be made [sic] for him or her to visit with you, should that be your wish.

Again, I look forward to visiting with you this afternoon or soon thereafter, at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Bernard Muir

Director of Athletics and Recreation Services