Tribe QB pushes fellow athletes to vote
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal surprised many last week when he revealed some big news — no pun intended — that he voted for the first time.
“And it feels good,” O’Neal said on The Big Podcast with Shaq.
That thought came across my mind on Monday when me and my wife, Wanda, stood in line for three hours to cast our vote. We admittedly got a little antsy with each passing hour, but we also knew the importance of voting.
While in line, we met a feisty elderly woman who was born in Canada, but moved to the United States more than 30 years ago and became a U.S. citizen. As we stood in line, she told us about her excitement as she prepared to vote.
The one thing that stuck in my mind as we waited was our lines were nothing like the ones I had witnessed in Georgia, Texas and North Carolina — to name a few — where people waited for six or more hours to vote.
I also thought about my great grandparents who faced threats and risked their lives for the right to vote.
That brings me to William & Mary senior quarterback Ted Hefter.
He also heard about O’Neal voting for the first time.
“What is really interesting is that is not as uncommon as I thought it would be,” he said. “I’ve heard many athletes say, ‘Oh, my vote isn’t going to do anything.’”
That’s why Hefter, who is the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, made it his mission to make sure every eligible student-athlete at William & Mary would at least be registered to vote. Mission accomplished.
Hefter, who’s from Washington, D.C. metropolitan area like myself, lives about seven miles from the White House. He said growing up in that area, politics and voting is stressed.
“Coming from D.C. that’s all people talk about,” he said. “I come to the 757 and it’s a little less spoken about … but this year is extremely important, especially with a national
following now.”
California-based law firm Bailey & Glasser, LLP, representing W&M’s women’s swimmers, gymnasts and volleyball players, left the college little choice. In September, the firm announced its intention to sue W&M for “depriving women athletes and potential athletes of equal opportunities, financial aid and treatment in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of1972.”
Previously, interim director of athletics Jeremy Martin had indicated to teams slated for elimination that their contributions to the athletic department’s longterm budget stability was as key to their reinstatement as gender equity. Groups representing swimming and track have raised more than $1 million each in recent weeks to bolster their financial sustainability.
However, with Title IX considerations now in the forefront, the prospect of reinstatement for the men’s gymnastics, swimming, and indoor and outdoor track and field teams at W&Mappears remote.
“What we announced Monday was that, with (gender) equity being the clearest and most concrete frame, it does become more difficult to see pathways for (eliminated) men’s teams within that equitable foundation we’re seeking,” Martin said. “We’re excited for the future of (the reinstated) women’s programs and look forward to seeing them thrive.
“At the same time, (we) recognize the disappointment around the prospect of having to eliminate others.”
That disappointment includes female athletes in sports whose male counterpart is slated for elimination, according to several affiliated with those sports.
Whether that feeling leads to a drop in female participation and fundraising for swimming and track will be of interest to the athletic department and others at W&M.
“Particularly swimming and track have been clear that they wish to be considered one program,” Martin said. “To the extent I’m able to honor that with our studentathletes, I am.
“The emotions were certainly mixed on (Monday’s) move and they’re all William & Mary people that care deeply about others, so that was definitely a day of mixed emotions.”
Rowe said that the days ahead — as W&Mdeals with the Title IX situation, the budget shortfall and discusses its commitment to excellence — are unlikely to be “less painful” or “less difficult.” But she appears committed to a more “phased” decision-making process than the one that resulted in the announcement of cutting the seven sports, and has been a bone of contention at W&Mever since.
“The pandemic meant that every institution of higher learning in the country is facing incredibly difficult decisions such as this,” Rowe said. “Under those conditions, the pressure to take action swiftly is so strong.
“But it’s still better to take steps in a phased way, to show our work and listen to the community as we go. In that instance, we moved too fast and tried to accomplish too much at once and it didn’t do that well.”
Some faculty opposition to the decision has since built. However, the Faculty Assembly stopped short on Tuesday of recommending all seven sports be reinstated immediately — a motion defeated by a 9-7 vote.
The Faculty Assembly did pass a motion to create a task force that includes faculty, staff, students and the local community to consult with the athletic department on decision-making.