NCAA Gifts

I have heard Duffle bags, a towel, and a shammy. Thats about all information I have heard, I wish I wasnt too old and I could still get one.

@spswimmer wrote:

I have heard Duffle bags, a towel, and a shammy. Thats about all information I have heard, I wish I wasnt too old and I could still get one.

Confirmed by a swimmer.

@spswimmer wrote:

…Duffle bags…

Oh, good, they haven’t given out luggage the last two years already. Everyone needs more bags.

Perhaps next year we’ll get the gloves (to match last year’s hat), a travel trolley (to carry both duffel bags, and a coffee cup….. as we have gotten three different drink containers.

I just to provide some insight on how the gifts are actually done, because there is certainly no conspiracy to screw the athletes by giving similar gifts each year.

The host has a certain amount of $$ from the NCAA to spend and they choose the gifts accordingly. The NCAA doesn’t determine what the gift is. I’m sure that the Houston Sports Authority had no idea that there had been a bag of sorts given out the past two years. I was coaching at Emory the year we gave the pants, we just thought it would be cool to complete the jacket that was given out the year before. Our goal was always to give one pretty “big” item and then get as much other cool little stuff as possible (visor, water bottle, tshirt etc…).

Actually hosts are given a list of the previous years gifts -but in all actuality what else are you going to give swimmers and divers – keep in mind that from year to year you are not seeing the same group. I myself appriciate the bags.

@oldswimnfool wrote:

keep in mind that from year to year you are not seeing the same group.

I’m not going to try to prove or disprove this – I’m just going to say that I don’t think you can make this statement without supporting evidence. It’s way too much work to compile the data. However, there are quite a few athletes who make the meet multiple years, so I am guessing that there are many swimmers and divers out there who will finish their careers with four bags, a hat, a nalgene, and a towel. I don’t want to sound unappreciative (I know that’s how this sounds), but can’t there be a little more variety for those that do come to the meet more than once? By the way, isn’t a towel and a sammy a little redundant?

You are right my statement was not specific and the research would be daunting. However, I still stand by this – A MAJORITY of the athletes probably do return, but there are still athletes who only qualify once, or get an oppertunity to compete once. I agree a little variety would be nice – a Jacket one year, a bag the next and alternate. I myself would like to see NCAA do away with gifts altogether and add more athletes.

@oldswimnfool wrote:

I myself would like to see NCAA do away with gifts altogether and add more athletes.

Excellent point.

Maybe the reason for the bags is that you need somewhere to put you rother gifts. At least they provide some variety within luggage styles. At YMCA nationals, they used to give you the same little cheap-ass synthetic bags, only they would change the colors every meet to give you the facade of variety. You could barely fit a towel and a t-shirt into those things. I still use them though.

I use last year’s bag all of the time. It is perfect for a week road trip or travelling abroad.

@oldswimnfool wrote:

You are right my statement was not specific and the research would be daunting. However, I still stand by this – A MAJORITY of the athletes probably do return, but there are still athletes who only qualify once, or get an oppertunity to compete once. I agree a little variety would be nice – a Jacket one year, a bag the next and alternate. I myself would like to see NCAA do away with gifts altogether and add more athletes.

dude.. seriously.. good point!! how much do you think they spend every year on those gifts?

I love the Y.MC.A. National bags, and I maintain that there is no end to what you can fit in there. It is all I would use while down there, and I traveled with all the usual championship meet apparel.

@Greenbacks wrote:

I love the Y.MC.A. National bags, and I maintain that there is no end to what you can fit in there.

Haha. Very true. I didn’t mean to be hard on them.

And, by the way, what are we complaining about? There are little kids dying of thirst and we want better NCAA gifts in addition to overpriced educations.

I wonder if athletes from bowl games complain when one year they get a xbox and the next a playstation…..Maybe they want some luggage and we could negotiate a trade.

perhaps……especially if they wanted to be DIII Swimmers.

the “boxers” from the 2003 ncaas at emory were nice, but i finally managed to destroy them in the wash.

I tried to get my hands on one of the ncaa t-shirts for the timers (I was first alternate for the meet – so I had a lot of time), but when I asked I was told that i had already received enough free shit and that I should “go play with my calculator (ouch).” I’m still not sure if he said this because i was asian or from hopkins or both, but i’m over it…

anyways, I liked the emory stuff the most because the logo they designed was pretty cool and original.

@lost at sea wrote:

the “boxers” from the 2003 ncaas at emory were nice, but i finally managed to destroy them in the wash.

you actually liked those boxers? weren’t they the ugliest and most uncomfortable things ever?

im with treat. those boxers were not cool. and as far as the bags, i dont think swimmers need more bags. i have recieved sub-par bags my whole life. although i do have a supply that i will be using for the rest of my life, and that will continue to break or tear at the most in-oportune(sp?) times.. ultimately though, im not gonna complain about free stuff, plus its good memories for those of us who are done. thank you ncaa.

the boxers were nice to sleep in. I stand by the boxers.