2013 Championships

[solodad]

Where are the 2011 and 2012 womens championships being held?

Thx

[Colbybr]

I believe 2011 women's meet is down pretty close to my neck of the woods at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

[iamdonovan]

recession ain't over watch for the double dip. Look at housing starts/sales, gas prices going up and raising taxes by letting the bush cuts lapse what does that equal?

Wow, i didn't realize Ben Bernanke frequented this forum. Thank you for that eloquent statement.

Wow, I didn't realize Al Franken was on too.

You clearly don't know Nehemiah, for he is nothing like Al Franken. He's not quite good enough, he's definitely not smart enough, and quite frankly, no one likes him.

[Bocephus]

I believe 2011 women's meet is down pretty close to my neck of the woods at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

As the meet has been for a couple of years now, its both men and women at the same competition, which next year is at the new Allan Jones Aquatic Center at The University of Tennessee. In the pool's short 2.5 year history, it has been stage for some very fast swims. On a side note, there is also a 50-meter outdoor and another separate indoor 50m pool, should be ample warmup/warmdown space around. Hands down, UTK has the best aquatics facilities in the country and the city is more than equipped to host major sporting events, this should be a great meet. For those of you (alumni & fans) interested in the Knoxville nightlife, I'm sure the current (and recently expelled) Volunteer football players would be glad to show you around for a good time!

[Colbybr]

I have to protest a little bit with the assertion that UT has the best aquatic facilities in the country. First of all, have you been to California? There are definitely facilities that rival the sheer size of UT.

I admit I am biased as a coach here but in many ways Georgia Tech is better facility when you stack it up. We are talking about D3 Nationals here- how many swimmers will be at the meet? Our facility was a little strained for Master's Nats when there were 1500 people here but this meet will be much smaller. Tech has an extra lane on each side, 10 in all, which makes a big difference for minimizing waves- notice that they use 10 lane pools for Olympic Trials and the Olympics as the standard now. The pool is also significantly deeper- UT's website quotes that Allan Jones is 8 ft end to end, which is a fine depth but a little bit short of the international standard. Tech's pool has a movable floor and depths of 10+ feet throughout (ignore the website there have been renovations). Also compare spectactor capacity: UT has bench seating for up to 1200 people, GT has stadium seating for up to 2000.

We are comparing two very great pools here: If I was holding a really huge meet or was training a team with a ton of swimmers on it, of course I would prefer UT's set up. But for one weekend to have a meet that is as fast as possible- its GT hands down.

[Squirttle]

I guess what I don't get is if GT has such amazing facilities, why they can't get a solid team in there. Tech has been historically at the middle or bottom of the ACC. You'd think the Olympic pool would sell itself. Colbybr, what are the recruiting standards you guys are dealing with? Any thoughts on the current status of GT swimming development?

[Colbybr]

Thats a totally fair criticism. I will tell you what I have figured out in my first year.

1. A lack of local recruiting. I've spent this past year canvassing the state's local club teams. We should be at a significant advantage inside the state because our total cost is half and then the hope scholarship decreases that %35. So basically, if the total cost of attendance out of state is 40k, then GT in state costs about 13k- as you can see we wouldn't have to give a whole lot of scholarship money in state to win a battle of cost with a rival ACC school. When I visited clubs this past year, many coaches, some who had been around 20+ years, said they had never been visited by any GT Coach. There is a ton of in-state talent that I believe we have been letting only consider UGA or going out of state

2. I understand that up until some point in the mid 90s around or after the pool was built that GT didn't even have a full time staff coaching the team- not that it matters a whole ton now since we have had a full time staff but that was kind of a dark period for the team.

Also something that I did not know was that our women's team didn't exist until 2000. And they've had 3 different head coaches now. I feel like this is kind of a sleeping giant, but it remains to be seen whether me and my co-workers can make this what it should be. We are certainly trying.

[Colbybr]

Also, I wouldn't say the men's team has historically been at the "middle or bottom" of the ACC. Here are some recent finishes

2002: 2nd
2003: 4th
2004: 5th
2005: 3rd
2006: 4th
2007: 6th
2008: 4th
2009: 4th
2010: 5th

I would say its probably not fair to put "bottom" in there. Its an 11 team league, so technically the only year we were in the bottom %50 is 2007. Now, you might object on the basis that Miami is included in that 11 team total and they only sponsor diving- I think that's fair enough. 5th place was not a great result in our minds this year and I won't make excuses for it- we have to do better.

[Nehemiah Ingram]

You clearly don't know Nehemiah, for he is nothing like Al Franken. He's not quite good enough, he's definitely not smart enough, and quite frankly, no one likes him.

Suck it donovan, i happen to know for a fact that you kinda like me

[DonCheadle]

You clearly don't know Nehemiah, for he is nothing like Al Franken. He's not quite good enough, he's definitely not smart enough, and quite frankly, no one likes him.

Suck it donovan, i happen to know for a fact that you kinda like me

I am wondering how many understood the reference? 80%?

[JHU84]

You clearly don't know Nehemiah, for he is nothing like Al Franken. He's not quite good enough, he's definitely not smart enough, and quite frankly, no one likes him.

Suck it donovan, i happen to know for a fact that you kinda like me

I am wondering how many understood the reference? 80%?

donavan had me laughing my ass off

[Nehemiah Ingram]

oh yeah. missed that one