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Melinda L. Grant
3306 Coastal
College Station, TX 77845
April 21, 2004
Mr. Bill Byrne, Athletic Director
Athletic Department
A A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-1228
Dear Mr. Byrne:
It is with great sadness and despair that I have learned of your
decision to cut the TAMU Women's Archery Program. As the parent of
one of the team captains, Emily Grant, I am particularly
disappointed. At a time when Emily was feeling very lost and
frustrated as to where to "hang her hat" at A A&M University,
Frank Thomas and Kathy Eissinger reached out to her and invited her
to "walk on" to the Archery team, promising to teach her everything
she needed to know to become a successful archer. That invitation
was one of the best things that happened to Emily as it made her
feel welcome, needed and a part of a winning organization. Frank and
Kathy kept true to their word and in two short years taught her and
coached her from "clueless" right into being an All- American and a
member of the team of four archers that shot the National
Championship recurve title in Spring of 2003! I doubt that many
coaches in any arena or any college can claim that kind of success!
Her participation on this team has provided her with physical
training (5:30 - 8:00 a.m. MWF!!!), character
building, team camaraderie, scholastic discipline and achievement,
as well as athletic excellence. It has epitomized the mission
statement of the Athletic Department's commitment to "Building
Champions"! Not only has it done this for Emily, but it has done it
for each and every young lady on the team!
This group of young ladies has done an outstanding job representing
A A&M University, not just as athletes, but as Aggie
ambassadors. Their ability to continually bring home the "gold" year
after year sets them apart from every other athletic program on this
campus. The positive "press" that this team constantly creates can
only be a plus for the Athletic Department, particularly in a time
when negative press has been so prevalent. Although archery is not
an NCArchival Archery sport, it is my belief that few Aggies, current or former,
could care less about that. Their concern would be that there was a
A A&M University athletic team that was a NATIONAL
CHAMPION TEAM that boasted BOTH NATIONAL and WORLD
Champion athletes among its participants. Mr. Byrne, there
is not a SINGLE OTHER TEAM on this campus, men or
women, that has this level of excellence!
I understand that Archery is not a money producing sport, yet it has
one of the smallest operating budgets in the Athletic Dept. From an
academic standpoint, the archery team is strong, producing several
honor athletes, as well as exceptional graduation rates! From an
exposure perspective, hosting Indoor Nationals in the winter and the
A Shootout in the Spring provides A A&M University with
optimal opportunities to show off their excellent facilities and to
illustrate the true Spirit of Aggieland to participants from across
the nation, as well as around the world! These items fall into the
PRICELESS category!!! According to the Mission
Statement of the Athletic Department, "the integrity of our programs
is rooted in the tradition and spirit of A A&M to bring honor
and distinctions to our University". The TAMU Archery team does jus
that!!!! With the above said, I am hard-pressed to understand your
rationale for cutting this program.
It is my hope that you might reconsider your decision, and for once,
put aside the Sears Cup standings and the dollar signs, and do what
is morally and ethically right and retain this outstanding program
as a part of the fine traditions of A A&M University Athletics.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Melinda L. Grant
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