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Battalion/Page 11
March 5, 1982
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The flavour is distinctly British, but
He application is universal. And the
tuation is prophetic.
Sir John Gielgud, in the role of a Cam-
ridge University administrator, is chid-
ig amateur athlete Harold Abrahams in
scene from the film “Chariots of Fire,” a
ue story about the 1924 British Olym-
ic running squad.
“Here at Cambridge, we’ve always
een proud of our athletic prowess,” he
eclares in his most stoic Shakespearian
lanner. “We believe — we have always
elieved — that our games are indispens-
ble in helping to complete the education
f an Englishman.
“They create character, they foster
urage, honesty and leadership — but
tost of all, an unassailable spirit of ioyal-
and comradeship, and mutual respon-
bility.”
Gielgud tells Abrahams that his atti-
de and methods of training are in con-
|ict with these ideals. The alleged
Tense? The sprinter has violated the
irit of the amateur code by engaging a
professional coach to prepare him for
e Paris games.
The British Olympic committee
>ked on the situation with such dis-
that the coach, Sam Mussabini, had
watch his athlete win the 100-meter
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dash from an apartment overlooking the
stadium.
Things certainly have changed.
It’s hard to imagine new Aggie head
coach Jackie Sherrill — now the highest
paid professional in American higher
education at $267,000 a year — discreet
ly watching football games next season
from the top of Rudder Tower.
Perhaps Abrahams’ dilemma was one
of the first cracks in a gap that has con
tinued to widen over the last 60 years —
the gap between the ideals summed up
by Gielgud and the reality of today’s
para-professional collegiate athletics.
The two latest developments in the
trend: first, the hiring of Sherrill at a
price that, even adjusted for inflation,
would have appalled the 1924 British
committee, and second, a January feder
al court decision that, in effect, did away
with the idea of student athletes and in
troduced the notion of athlete students.
The latter incident forced the Univer
sity of Minnesota to loosen its policies so
an academically deficient star guard,
Mark Hall, could continue to play basket
ball for the school. The judge ruled that
Hall’s protected interest is in playing bas
ketball, which will prepare him to be
drafted by a professional team.
In accordance with the decision, the
university was forced to design a special
major to match Hall’s credits — play
ground-recreational activities.
Such has the system evolved.
Sports, both amateur and profession
al, have reached a prominence that past
Olympians would have never imagined.
Athletics reign alongside television as the
most popular form of entertainment in
this country. Star athletes are likely to
make more money than doctors, busi
nessmen and some politicians.
It is only natural, then, that the college
arena has become the training ground
for professional careers. And the in
creased competitiveness that has accom
panied the rise of athletics has pushed
college sports closer and closer to the
professional system.
It’s time to align illusion with reality.
Since college athletics can no longer
reasonably fit into the “extra-curricular”
role they were assigned decades ago,
perhaps it is time to make them “curri
cular.”
The Texas A&M Athletic Depart
ment, for example, would become the
Department of Athletics. Dean Jackie
Sherrill presiding.
A student like Hall could pursue a de
gree in basketball, or coaching, or physic
al education, which would become a part
of the new department.
A player who spends a season on a
team could sit out of classes for that sea
son and receive credit for the experience
as a University-approved co-op plan.
Classes in coaching, strategy, first aid,
teamwork and football fundamentals
would be normal, three-credit-hour
course options.
College athletes would be better pre
pared for professional careers, since they
would major in their real chosen fields.
If the whole idea seems ludicrous,
there’s another alternative, however un
likely — that of restoring amateur spiorts
to their original places as character-
building, vet extra-curricular interests.
Gielgud’s Cambridge man would be
proud.
(coaitiiiuiKl from page 9)
officials ruled it no good because
they said Aggie center Rudy
Woods had stepped into the
lane.
Joe Copeland brought the
Bears within two points on a 15-
foot jumper with 1:18 left, and it
appeared that Woods’ mistake
would give Baylor the break it
needed.
No one could explain the call
after the game. Metcalf, Woods
and Baylor coach Jim Haller
were mystified.
Metcalf said:. “That’s just a
new interpretation that nasn’t
gotten to College Station yet.”
Woods, who scored only
seven points but added a game-
high 19 rebounds, didn’t believe
he had committed a lane viola
tion.
“I don’t know,” Woods said.
“He (the official) said I was on
the line, .bUf I don’t think so. I
know I’ve got''big feet, but I
' don’t think I was bn the line.”
Lewis’ free throw gave the
Aggies a three-point lead, and
Teagle’s final basket of the night
wasn’t enough. When Roberts
received the in-bounds pass
from Lewis, he covered the ball
and. allowed the final two
seconds to expire.
Roberts finished with 14
points, Naulls had 10 and
Woodley had eight. For Baylor,
Copeland had 14 points and
center Ozell Hall had 10 points.
The Aggies, who out-
rebounded the Bears 36-33,
shot 46 percent from the floor.
Baylor hit 45 percent of its field
goals and 65 percent of its free
throws.
Texas A&M shot only 62 per
cent from the line.
Woodley said: “This was an
unusual game. Everybody was
trying to execute perfectly and
they were watching what they
were doing rather than just
going out and playing.”
Even if Texas A&M doesn’t
qualify for an NCAA post
season berth, it is almost assured
of a spot in the National Invita
tional Tournament. If the
Aggies do not receive an NCAA
invitation, they probably will
open the NIT at home
Wednesday.
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