Page 16/The Battalion/Friday, February 7, 1986 Organization seeking to change college athletic system (continued from page 1) misplaced priorities,” DeVenzio said, “but they have a short time to take advantage of college sports and are forced to take a light load of clas ses.” Wally Groff, associate director of finance of the Texas A&M Athletic Department, agreed there is a need to extend scholarships beyond the five-year limit set by the NCAA. Currently, athletic scholarships can cover five years of school over a six-year period, he said, allowing a year off for work or personal rea sons. After their four years of athletic eligibilty, they still might have seve ral years of course work to complete for their degree and no scholarship money to cover the expense, he said. DeVenzio said it’s tragic that ath letes from poor families can’t afford to finish their education. Often, he says, these athletes leave without a degree or a professional contract. Nationally, less than one-third of the athletes from revenue-produc ing programs graduate, DeVenzio said. Groff, however, said over 60 per cent of the scholarship athletes at A&M graduate — about the same percentage as the entire student body. DeVenzio said he thinks the orga nization will gain power this year and convince players to stage strikes at several of the major bowl games of the 1986 season. Strikes would be aimed at post season games because the players aren’t required to participate and because these games are the most lu crative, he said. DeVenzio said if the RPMCPA did strike, people would realize it was a “changing of the guard.” Such a dra matic action would result in a land slide of support, he said. “It would be an athletic Boston Tea Party,” he said. Groff acknowledged that the cur rent system is not perfect but said the goals of the RPMCPA are ex treme. He said that pushing for such drastic changes, however, could im prove the current system. currently paid to appearances and If the money schools for bow network coverage went instead to general players’ fund, he said, it would aflect non-revenue sports possiblv forcing schools to elimiii them. Football is the only sport tiati tually produces revenue at Aii 1 Grofl said, and basketball is then sport that breaks even. DeVenzio said, “We're not out cause problems. The problemist system. It we fail, we’ll fall bad our athletic experience, learnfra our mistakes and try again. something everyone in the want ads Battalion Classifieds Call 845-2611 Dillard’s ewsslSS TIME’S UP! SATURDAY IS THE LAST DAY OF DILLARD’S BIG SAVINGS EVEN! Don't miss your last chance to shop our once-a-season, value-packed event that we create just for you! Take advantage of our special buys on wanted items, plus reductions on many of our best sellers, current fashions, famous maker merchandise and basics from our regular stock! FEBRUARY STORElfifIDE INY ADS. BUT REAL HEAVYWEIGHTS WHEN RESULTS REALLY COUNT. o matter what you've go to say or sell, our Classi fieds can help you do the big job. ALL: The