Here is an article from the Tallahassee Democrat on the swimming and diving team:
http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/article/20090729/FAMU08/907290335
Originally published July 29, 2009
FAMU's swimming coach hopes to revive pool
By St. Clair Murraine
Democrat Staff Writer
Every day when FAMU swim coach Douglas Carrington walks into his office and turns on his computer, there is a vivid reminder of what his program used to be — and where he is trying to get it.
His screen saver flashes photos of the pool that's nestled between the campus tennis courts and the athletic department. The snapshots show swimmers competing in crystal clear blue water.
For almost two years, the pool has been drained and the team uses FSU's pool for training. But Carrington hasn't missed a beat since being hired last year, even as it gets tougher every day that the pool is empty for him to persuade potential recruits that they should join the team.
The screen saver keeps him optimistic.
"Seeing the pool just lets me know that it can be done," Carrington said, as the pictures of better days flashed behind him. "It's not just being done at this moment. When I look at (pictures of) the pool, I know it's empty but I look at my screen and know that there can be a pool. It's just going to take time."
Carrington doesn't have any idea when that time might be. He hopes something happens in time for the team to host the HBCU Invitational on Feb. 6. The team also will host meets against Florida Southern and Darton College early next year.
As recently as Tuesday evening, athletic director Bill Hays said there was no timeline for renovating the Rattlers' pool. The student pool behind Gaither Gym is likely to be renovated before the one used by the swim team because of the founding source, Hayes said.
With the athletic department facing a financial crunch, Carrington is making his recruiting pitch with a little different twist. He is not talking about winning championships, but academics.
That's what got him on FAMU's team when he swam five years ago and he believes it can still work.
"I think it's important to get out there and let them know that you're going to be a student-athlete and student is first," he said. "We want to work with that. If this is the right place for them, those are the kinds of people we want."
It's the same strategy he used last year when he came on as head coach. Since then, he's seen promise with personal-best times from Amir Webb on the men's side and Yolanda Baylor and Jasmine Leslie on the women's team.
Carrington is using every possible tool at his disposal to find swimmers — flyers, word-of-mouth and even an occasional appearance at a swim meet such as the one he attended last weekend in Plantation.
He's had some success with two swimmers committing to joining the women's team this fall, with three returning athletes. The men's team will return five. Both teams are also expecting some former members who should have their eligibility restored, Carrington said.
He hopes to get enough additions to surpass the minimum 11 swimmers on each team to compete. That can only be achieved if he keeps it real about not having a pool while mentioning what's being offered in academics.
"I think that's fair to people that's trying to make a decision about a very important stage in their lives," he said. "You have to tell them the truth about where you are and what state you're in."
That might mean missing out on the elite athletes, but Carrington's persistence could lead to a gem as was the case back in 2005 when the program was briefly suspended. Back then, Mujahid El-Amin, grabbed national attention after opting for FAMU. He held 10 Georgia high school records and was one of the top-five fastest swimmers for his age group in the 100-meter butterfly.
He was enticed by FAMU's academics, and Hayes praised Carrington for trying to land other such athletes.
"He goes on about his business recruiting the best he can," Hayes said. "I can't do anything but look at the guy with a lot of admiration."
http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/article/20090729/FAMU08/907290335
Originally published July 29, 2009
FAMU's swimming coach hopes to revive pool
By St. Clair Murraine
Democrat Staff Writer
Every day when FAMU swim coach Douglas Carrington walks into his office and turns on his computer, there is a vivid reminder of what his program used to be — and where he is trying to get it.
His screen saver flashes photos of the pool that's nestled between the campus tennis courts and the athletic department. The snapshots show swimmers competing in crystal clear blue water.
For almost two years, the pool has been drained and the team uses FSU's pool for training. But Carrington hasn't missed a beat since being hired last year, even as it gets tougher every day that the pool is empty for him to persuade potential recruits that they should join the team.
The screen saver keeps him optimistic.
"Seeing the pool just lets me know that it can be done," Carrington said, as the pictures of better days flashed behind him. "It's not just being done at this moment. When I look at (pictures of) the pool, I know it's empty but I look at my screen and know that there can be a pool. It's just going to take time."
Carrington doesn't have any idea when that time might be. He hopes something happens in time for the team to host the HBCU Invitational on Feb. 6. The team also will host meets against Florida Southern and Darton College early next year.
As recently as Tuesday evening, athletic director Bill Hays said there was no timeline for renovating the Rattlers' pool. The student pool behind Gaither Gym is likely to be renovated before the one used by the swim team because of the founding source, Hayes said.
With the athletic department facing a financial crunch, Carrington is making his recruiting pitch with a little different twist. He is not talking about winning championships, but academics.
That's what got him on FAMU's team when he swam five years ago and he believes it can still work.
"I think it's important to get out there and let them know that you're going to be a student-athlete and student is first," he said. "We want to work with that. If this is the right place for them, those are the kinds of people we want."
It's the same strategy he used last year when he came on as head coach. Since then, he's seen promise with personal-best times from Amir Webb on the men's side and Yolanda Baylor and Jasmine Leslie on the women's team.
Carrington is using every possible tool at his disposal to find swimmers — flyers, word-of-mouth and even an occasional appearance at a swim meet such as the one he attended last weekend in Plantation.
He's had some success with two swimmers committing to joining the women's team this fall, with three returning athletes. The men's team will return five. Both teams are also expecting some former members who should have their eligibility restored, Carrington said.
He hopes to get enough additions to surpass the minimum 11 swimmers on each team to compete. That can only be achieved if he keeps it real about not having a pool while mentioning what's being offered in academics.
"I think that's fair to people that's trying to make a decision about a very important stage in their lives," he said. "You have to tell them the truth about where you are and what state you're in."
That might mean missing out on the elite athletes, but Carrington's persistence could lead to a gem as was the case back in 2005 when the program was briefly suspended. Back then, Mujahid El-Amin, grabbed national attention after opting for FAMU. He held 10 Georgia high school records and was one of the top-five fastest swimmers for his age group in the 100-meter butterfly.
He was enticed by FAMU's academics, and Hayes praised Carrington for trying to land other such athletes.
"He goes on about his business recruiting the best he can," Hayes said. "I can't do anything but look at the guy with a lot of admiration."
No comments:
Post a Comment