Yesterday I went to my daughter’s graduation from the University of New Hampshire. A school that I went to, a school that my wife went to and a school that our son goes to.
The commencement speech was given by General Lori J. Robinson UNH class of ’81. Commander of North America Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command.
The pride that I felt as I sat there watching each graduate and go up and get their diploma cannot be described. Not just pride in my daughter’s accomplishments but pride in MY school.
That is a pride that I want everyone in the gymnastics community to feel towards USA Gymnastics. USA Gymnastics has lost the confidence of some and many will need to search for a reason to be proud of the organization once again.
I want USA Gymnastics University to be both a brick-and-mortar University and online as well. I want the best and brightest to be out teaching at at national, regional and state congresses and conferences. I’d like a university where gymnastics professionals can go and learn from the best and one to where the best can go and share their ideas and drills with each other.
I want a National Team Training Center where our National Teams in all disciplines can train on a regular basis and where we can develop the talent of our up and coming athletes and coaches. This university and training center should be a safe place for all participants.
I know this is a dream. The money involved in doing this would be astronomical. There certainly are ways to offset the cost of overhead through sponsorships, tours, hosting training camps, camps and possibly competitions.
Everything worthwhile starts with a dream.
