April 1st, 1999: A dark day in BYU sports history
 

It was 9 years ago today that BYU announced that it would no longer sponsor men's gymnastics and wrestling.

http://magazine.byu.edu/g/?act=view&a=218

Shame on you BYU.

I still blame Bateman and title ix.

Title IX is not a respecter of university presidents, so I doubt Bateman really had anything to do with it.

Wasn't this about the same time the church started cracking down on gays and gay marriage?

Well he was a "business man" so I don't know if that had anything to do with it cause those sure aren't money makers.

You are correct about title ix. It was not long after that the softball team was announced and formed. They must have really been lopsided to lose 2 mens sports and gain one womens within a month.

Agreed. This is a title IX not Bateman issue.

why couldn't they just expand woman's sports instead of axing the wrestling program?

I think the answer is they didn't want to pay the $.

What women's sports does BYU not sponsor?

Equestrian. (Texas A&M)
Rowing. (University of Texas)
Fencing. (Notre Dame)
Lacrosse (Notre Dame)
Field Hockey. (U of Michigan)
Water Polo. (U of Michigan)

etc.

I still think Master had something to do with it, him and that weasly Skousen guy.

Exactly.

The wrestling team raised several hundred thousand dollars in an effort to save their program, but the BYU axed it anyway.

For Title IX compliance, universities don't have to provide equal numbers of sports and scholarships to the two sexes, but only demonstrate "a continual expansion" of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented sex. Starting up softball would have easily met this requirement without having to discontinue men's wrestling and gymnastics, two very successful programs.

Does the BYU receive federal cash? Seems like private schools can do what they want.