SAVE Temple Gymnastics

SAVE Temple Gymnastics

Aug 31, 2021 by Anne Phillips
SAVE Temple Gymnastics


Temple men's gymnastics needs our help. Temple University athletics announced plans to eliminate seven athletic programs effective July 1, 2014. One of these is the storied men's gymnastics program.

This is a story that's becoming far too common in men's NCAA gymnastics. Discontinuing funding of any NCAA men's gymnastics program will shape the current landscape and future of the sport at the collegiate level. Currently, only 17 men's NCAA gymnastics programs remain. Many fear that the loss of one more team could result in a domino effect. Cal Berkeley has been fighting for survival since 2010.

Currently, there are 19 men on this team. The head coach, Fred Turoff, is in his 41st year with Temple men's gymnastics. He has helped build this program since 1976 and is one of the most well-liked coaches in the sport.

Watch this video showing the team members moments after they heard the news:
 


What can you do to help? Spend 30 seconds showing your support by signing their online petition. Then, share it with your friends. 

Click here to sign the petition.



Despite being a former athlete of a rival team, Andrew Stover has stepped up to lead the charge. Read his open letter below. 

This is an Open Letter to Temple University, The Gymnastics Community, and Sports World:

Gymnastics is one of the most watched sports during the Olympics world wide. Including Temple University, there are only 17 NCAA Men's Gymnastics programs in the entire nation. This means that any gymnast who can even make it onto a collegiate team is one of the most elite athletes in the nation. And these are also the gymnasts who go on to represent the United States of America at international competitions, including the Olympics.

Discontinuing funding of any NCAA Men's Gymnastics program will be not only a major loss to the university, but to the entire national gymnastics community. I had to fight to keep the University of Illinois at Chicago Men's Gymnastics program from being cut and I will fight just as hard to save Men's Gymnastics Team at Temple University. Losing Temple gymnastics will cause a domino effect of problems throughout NCAA gymnastics that I am not willing to see happen. The Temple Athletic Director and University President need to understand that not only will they be taking away opportunities from students athletes at their own school but also at schools around the entire ECAC and NCAA.

To the Freddy and the men of Temple Gymnastics: 

You have always been fierce competitors on the competition floor, yet gracious hosts to the City of Brotherly Love. I know the rivalry that stood between us also drove us all to be better gymnasts, letting us reach new levels in our sport. However, there is no place for rivalry when it comes to saving our sport. I am all in. I will do everything I can to rally the troops and stand beside Temple Gymnastics in the fight to save this program. 

To those reading this:

Sign the petition and then be ready to fight! This is a call to arms to support our brothers in sport.

Sincerely,

Andrew Stover
University of Illinois at Chicago 2006-2010

More links: 
templegymnastics.com
Temple Gymnastics Facebook page
Temple Gymnastics twitter