Here follows a series of observations and thoughts about the reasons and significance behind the demise of two prestigious programs in the area of kinesiology on the west coast: Oregon and Washington. The purpose of this short paper is to provide some details about recent challenges to the legitimacy of kinesiology in major Research I universities and hopefully draw some useful lessons about managing the tightly coupled fields of kinesiology and physical education. Before proceeding, however, some important caveats are required. First, the material presented here is essentially personal. I had served as head of the Department of Physical Education and Human Movement Studies at Oregon for 11 years immediately preceding the elimination of its academic home, the College of Human Development and Performance. Naturally, I took a great and personal interest in the developments both at Oregon and at our northern academic neighbor, the University of Washington. The observations about Oregon are derived from immediate and first-hand, personal experience. The comments about Washington included some secondary involvement with Bob Hutton, executive officer of the Department of Kinesiology, and several faculty members when the department was being eliminated. Further, since memories are somewhat perishable, be warned that these events are about 10 years old and presented here with no opportunity to validate data or impressions. Nevertheless, the observations have also profited from an opportunity to examine the events from a distance in time and are informed by my service as dean at another R1 institution, the University of Illinois. The rest of my presentation will focus on each institution separately, with greater emphasis on the events at Oregon. Then, I will attempt to draw lessons for the future.