NCAA cut games in balancing act
By: Michael Whitson
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
The Angelo State athletic programs will soon be doing something they are unfamiliar with: losing games.
It will not be because they are being out performed on the fields and courts by their opponents. These losses will be to the NCAA.
At its annual convention in Atlanta, GA Jan. 13-16, the 293 presidents of the schools that make up Division II overwhelmingly voted to pass a "Life in Balance" initiative that will shorten the playing season, allow for fewer competitions during the school year, set a later report date for fall-sports and create a no-game, no-practice break in December.
Back in 2005, the D-II Presidents adopted a stance of providing "growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of societal attitudes in service to community."
This established the philosophy for its students to go pro in life, not sports.
"We don't have a lot of Lebron James' coming to Division II schools," Athletic Director Kathleen Brasfield said. "We are primarily a teaching division, and we want to do what is in our best interest and the best interests of our student athletes."
The vast majority of them felt this approach had become skewed by time commitment involved in athletics and compromised class work.
Studies performed prior to the convention showed Division II student-athletes had similar time commitments to their Division I counterparts, leaving the administrators looking for a solution.
Keynote speaker retired Brig. Gen. Sheila Baxter spoke to those in attendance about her struggles as a student-athlete at Virginia State in the 1970's.
"She talked about her senior basketball season and how hard it was to handle her studies and her 17 basketball games," Brasfield said. "That's a real subtle way to point out how far we've gone to the other side."
In comparison, the Rambelle's basketball team will have suited up for 26 games at the end of the 2009-2010 regular season.
It will not be because they are being out performed on the fields and courts by their opponents. These losses will be to the NCAA.
At its annual convention in Atlanta, GA Jan. 13-16, the 293 presidents of the schools that make up Division II overwhelmingly voted to pass a "Life in Balance" initiative that will shorten the playing season, allow for fewer competitions during the school year, set a later report date for fall-sports and create a no-game, no-practice break in December.
Back in 2005, the D-II Presidents adopted a stance of providing "growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of societal attitudes in service to community."
This established the philosophy for its students to go pro in life, not sports.
"We don't have a lot of Lebron James' coming to Division II schools," Athletic Director Kathleen Brasfield said. "We are primarily a teaching division, and we want to do what is in our best interest and the best interests of our student athletes."
The vast majority of them felt this approach had become skewed by time commitment involved in athletics and compromised class work.
Studies performed prior to the convention showed Division II student-athletes had similar time commitments to their Division I counterparts, leaving the administrators looking for a solution.
Keynote speaker retired Brig. Gen. Sheila Baxter spoke to those in attendance about her struggles as a student-athlete at Virginia State in the 1970's.
"She talked about her senior basketball season and how hard it was to handle her studies and her 17 basketball games," Brasfield said. "That's a real subtle way to point out how far we've gone to the other side."
In comparison, the Rambelle's basketball team will have suited up for 26 games at the end of the 2009-2010 regular season.
Be the first to comment on this story