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Show Tuesday, January 25, 1972 SIGNPOST Page 7 U. Arizona fGEmkjtf How does emphasizing athletics help the college or does it? Is a good athletics program an asset or does it drain away funds that should be going to scholarly activities? At a time when the nation's economy is experiencing a-squeeze and people are worried over where every penny goes, colleges and universities are now being formed to re-evaluate the actual benefits of athletics against the costs of turning out graduates who are prepared to contribute and eventually lead society. "The highest enthusiasm in athletics was demonstrated this past season than at any time in the last five years," said Dean Hurst, Weber State College director of development. That Weber teams played to capacity crowds with thousands being turned away last season is especially significant against a national trend of lack of interest and student support of such magnitude that some schools are doing away with intercollegiate sports or cutting down drastically on athletics due to fiscal crisis. According to WSC's Athletic Director Dale L. Gardner, who holds a masters degree from USU, WSC is a product and should be considered as such, with marketing approaches, and the team should in effect be considered the commodity that most people within the community and elsewhere are interested in buying and or investing in. He feels the best athletics programs are often the most criticized programs by persons who are in other professions such as lawyers, teachers, and physicians. He feels criticism is a healthy sign of awareness of teams, and also notes that two-thirds of the costs of Weber's athletic program is supported by gate receipts. The anticipated ticket sales of $189,000 for the 71-72 season is augmented, as in past years, by receipts from the Wildcat Club. This club is comprised of interested community and area residents who go to the trouble of setting up their own drives and donate from their own funds toward the WSC athletic program. Mr. Gardner further notes that gate receipts could be increased with greater seating capacity because turnaway crowds could mean greater revenue for the school if adequate seating facilities were available. Thus the department eventually hopes for a future addition to the basketball stands. The question of whether WSC is a product or not is a good one. Influential members of the state legislature and boards of education are also followers of WSC's progress in athletics and a record of significant wins influences positively the image they have of WSC whether they are aware of it per se or not. In any event, it brings home the case that WSC is alive and kicking. This awareness can and does result in a better case for furthering WSC interests in a more general sense. What about the student? Is he a product in as much the same broad interpretation as is the school? Remember that students do graduate to manage businesses, heal the sick, produce ideas and defend existing ones. They also produce offspring and perpetuate the cycle. Is the preparation for tomorrow's day-' to-day needs in fact in competition with entertainment in the sports arena? Is it a question of priority? If it is a question of priority, many interested persons feel that first attentions should be given to the improvement of academic instruction. Many students and faculty members feel that the library should have priority over the athletic program. Witness the faculty book sale. Faculty members are extremely reluctant to suggest that it is an either-or situation for obvious professional reasons, and are extremely sensitive to being quoted in print. Thus the attendance at games becomes one valid barometer for students' preference. When the total need for student preparation for classes depends primarily on the available facilities at the library, the question boils down to which is more important to the students: five home games at three hours each, at 15 hours a year, or three to six hours a day at the library with a nine-month total for full-time students of 540 hours minimum and 1,000 hours maximum time for completing assignments. The county library has never been intended to substitute for WSC's library. WSC has been criticized not by townspeople so much as by the accreditation committee which has the final say in whether WSC will remain accredited or not. According to Mr. Hurst and Mr. Gardner, athletics is not at odds with academic pursuits and that athletics serves an invaluable means for gaining recognition in an otherwise uninformed or possibly indifferent local, state, and regional climate. "In considering WSC's athletics program it is often overlooked that the gridiron is just as much a classroom for the P.E. major as the chemistry lab is to the chemistry major", says Mr. Hurst. This then comes under consideration as a scholarly pursuit. One approach to the problem is Massachusetts Institute of Technology's program which has no intercollegiate sports except scull racing and that is on a purposely limited basis. In this wealthy private school which doesn't depend upon state funds, athletic facilities are of excellent quality and all students have access to all facilities, as well as faculty, Physical prowess is acquired according to individual goals. Much has been said and read about participation in athletics to develop those characteristics that are important to the game of life, i.e. courage, spirit of cooperation, unity, belonging, service, unselfishness, discipline, obedience, loyalty, emotional stability, pride, self-confidence, dedication, sacrifice, the will to succeed, etc. This is realized, according to Mr. Gardner, to the extent to which the athlete and- or the viewer is involved. Spiro Agnew calls athletics in Sports Illustrated "The bit of glue which holds our society together, one of few activities where people can proceed along traditional avenues, where offectives are clear, where the desire to win in not only permissable, but encouraged and conversely, where a man can learn how to lose without being destroyed by the experience." In the light of current books by athletes themselves, such as Dave Meggysy, Curt Flood, Johnny Sample, Jim Boughton on such problems as drink, drugs, racism and blackballing, some questions may legitimately arise about the traditional thinking. Stars Co play hoio The Utah Stars, defending ABA champions, will play the Memphis Pros in Ogden next Thursday, January 27. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Weber State Gymnasium. Sponsored by the Weber State Wildcat Club, the Stars will make their second appearance in Ogden since the team came to Utah last season. The Stars, now coached by former Utah State mentor Ladell Andersen, will bring their group of exciting players into the Wildcat Gym to meet a team which has proved to be very competitive in the race for the ABA crown. The big "Z", Zelmo Beaty, plus great stars like Willie Wise, Red Robbins, Ron Boone, Glen Combs, Merv Jackson, and Jimmy Jones lead the Star's exciting fast break brand of basketball. Tickets are on sale now at the Weber State stadium ticket office, Ralph's Chevron, Kar Kwik Market, Roy Drug, Wolfe's Sporting Goods, and Sears in Brigham City. Prices ar $4.00 for main floor, $3.00 for center balcony, and $2.00 for end balcony seats. There are plenty of good seats available now, and fans are urged to purchase their tickets early. All seats are reserved. WBKFJM am . n UKJ TAKE A BREAK THIS AFTERNOON 35 a game WSC BOWLING ALLEY Weber State returns to Big Sky action tonight, January 25, in Wildcat Gym when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks come to Ogden. The Cats and Axers will tip-off at 8:05 p.m. The preliminary game at 5:45 will feature the Weber Frosh and the Intra-mural All-Stars. The Cats will be looking to make amends for their Der-formance in Flagstaff last week. Weber had trouble penetrating the Lumberjacks' 1-3-1 zone and were generally flat against the NAU team. "I don't want to take anything away. from NAU," said Coach Gene Visscher. They were ready to play and are a much improved team this year. Coach Herb Gregg has some outstanding players and our team must be more ready to play this Tuesday." Visscher will be glad to get back home after three straight road games, but the homecoming will be short-lived since Weber travels to Idaho State and Boise on the weekend. Northern Arizona boasts its finest players since Weber began playing the Lumberjacks in the 1965-66 season. That year the Wildcats managed to squeak out a four-overtime 115-113 battle. Last week the Axers led Weber by as much as 27 points with 5:40 to go before the Cats scored 18 straight points and lost to the final buzzer 82-74. In the game in Flagstaff last week, Weber had difficulty containing 6-4 junior college forward Charles Flemons. Flemons scored 22 points and hauled in 17 rebounds against the Cats. Another junior college player, 6-3 guard Lester Madison, surprised the Weber defense with his illusiveness and managed 17 points in a reserve role. The game tonight is an important conference clash, and the Wildcats cannot afford to lose a league game at home. They must win Tuesday night and carry Big Sky momentum into a crucial weekend series on the road at Idaho State and Boise State. January MENS WEAR SALE S I double $(a)88 knifS (flare.) ' 1 reg. to $25 M pants $88 i M flare and straight Vft M reg. to $13 VA shir T 1 reg. to $10 Hj T... 3, or $1000 I immons CLOTHIER I2tt)-&WASW. BLVD. FOR SALE 1966 Mustang, Conv. 289 C.I., 4-speed, mag wheels. Call 394-1391. WANTED Wanted: Good String Bass Player for Ballad Singing Group. Information call 782-5109; Wanted: Part time Beautician for evening work. Call 393-7803 POETRY WANTED for anthology. Include stamped envelope. Idlewild Press, 1807 E. Olympic, OLos Angeles, Ca. 90021. PERSONAL One blow snake in the lii brary could take care of the mouse that all you WILDCATS can't catch. PERSONAL Pasta lovers, unite! A'cap-pella Choir's 2nd annual spaghettidinner-Wednesday, Mt. Ogden Jr. High, 5-10:30 p.m., all you can eat Jeannie always reads the classifieds. The Ombudsman committee will listen to your grievances. Get help with any problem : grades, finances, records, traffic, disciplinary, dorms, or racial or sexual discrimination. UB Rm 230. Daily from 10 am-4 pm. or call 399-5941, ext. 525. Advertise in the classifieds for only 5c per word. What a bargain! |