CSUN ATHLETICS LOOKING UP; KEEPING `BROAD-BASED PROGRAM' REMAINS A PRIORITY, WILSON SAYS.Byline: Rizza Yap Daily News Staff Writer Months before Cal State Northridge sliced its men's sports program, athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Paul Bubb met Andy Geiger Andy Geiger (born March 23, 1939), was the seventh athletics director at The Ohio State University. Geiger was named athletic director on April 29, 1994. He officially took over the job on May 16,1994 following his tenure at the University of Maryland, College Park. , his counterpart at Ohio State. Bubb, in his second year at the head of CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge athletics, felt low. Northridge administrators were beginning to consider the worst - cutting some teams to solve budget and gender-equity problems. Bubb wanted to know, what did Geiger think? There is nothing worse than dropping a sport, Geiger told Bubb. Do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening. It was an easy comment for Geiger. Although he had to make that decision years earlier at another school, his Ohio State program is self-sufficient with 34 sports and a $38 million budget. Northridge, on the other hand, has stretched a $6.2 million budget - funded mostly by the state, school and students - over 20 sports. Last spring, $800,000 in the red and far from achieving gender-equity in participation numbers and funding, Bubb had to steel himself for the worst. He consulted a group of faculty, staff, students and community members. Eventually, university president Blenda Wilson and student affairs Student affairs staff are responsible for academic advising and support services delivery at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. The chief student affairs officer at a college or university often reports directly to the chief executive of the institution. vice president Ronald Kopita said they saw no alternative but to eliminate four sports. Small miracles Things seem much brighter today than they did a year ago, June 11, 1997. With Wilson out of town on business and virtually unreachable, Bubb and Kopita announced Northridge had axed baseball, men's volleyball, men's soccer and men's swimming. For good. Almost in the same breath, they voiced stronger-than-ever support of the football and men's basketball teams - marquee sports of the Big Sky Conference, which Northridge joined in 1996. ``At the time of the decision, we thought that was going to be it,'' Kopita said. ``The money wasn't there and there was no assumption that something magical would happen to allow those sports back.'' In the ensuing months, small miracles kept the teams alive long enough to force another major administrative decision. By late December, debate and discussion spearheaded by weekly task-force forums that gave those interested the opportunity to speak publicly for the first time, the receipt of unexpected cash, and a one-time, bailout grant from the state spurred Wilson to announce Northridge is and will be committed to a broad-based athletics program. All 20 sports, she said, will compete for at least another season. Still, she fell short of promising history would not repeat itself. ``I'm not going to say never this or always that. I'm not clairvoyant,'' Wilson said. ``But the commitment of the university is genuine. If we have the resources, we will continue to support a broad-based program.'' Wilson has not yet pledged the resources of the university to retaining every sport forever, or into the next century. In fact, many are continuing to operate on a shoestring, and some faculty members suggest the school is thinking of Division I-AA football national championships and NCAA basketball tournament There are six main NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
But it's a start, and the future seems brighter than it was when a grim-faced Bubb made that announcement. ``(Wilson) has backed us tremendously since the cuts and we did some solid recruiting this year because of that,'' men's volleyball coach Jeff Campbell Jeff Campbell (Born August 25, 1979) is a New Zealand soccer player who has represented his country at U20, U23 and senior levels. The attacking midfielder made his debut for the All Whites against Jamaica in January 2000 and collected 13 caps (5 goals). said. ``We're a little bit more secure now than we would've been (if the sports weren't dropped). Our financial backing is better because of the outcry and we got people in the community rallying behind Northridge athletics. ``I think we're better off now than we were before the cuts.'' Coffers richer California's $4.2 billion economic boom helps that commitment. The governor has proposed an extra $293.2 million for the CSU See DSU/CSU. 1. CSU - California State University. 2. CSU - Cleveland State University. 3. CSU - Channel Service Unit. system, and Northridge's state-allocated general fund is expected to be $3.8 million richer. Now, the idea of doubling the general-fund contribution to athletics - from $1.5 to $3.1 million, Bubb's request for 1998-99 - is possible. Bubb also has asked for more money from the instructional-related activities fund. Bubb received $480,000 for 1997-98; recently he requested $600,000. The University Corporation, the school's fund-raising wing, pledged $600,000 to athletics for the coming year - $100,000 more than its usual gift. So is the problem solved? Not for the long term. But this year's extra money enables 20 sports to stay afloat. By 1999, Northridge is adding women's water polo water polo, swimming game encompassing features of soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. The object of the game is to maneuver, by head, feet, or hand, a leather-covered ball 27 to 28 in. to increase female participation. To abide by To stand to; to adhere; to maintain. See also: Abide Big Sky rules, it also must add men's tennis the same year. Bubb's five-year plan Five-Year Plan, Soviet economic practice of planning to augment agricultural and industrial output by designated quotas for a limited period of usually five years. includes the addition of women's lacrosse Women's lacrosse is a popular version of lacrosse, a team sport of Native American origin played with netted sticks that are used to throw, catch and shoot a small rubber ball into the opponent's goal. by the 2000-01 school year. Then there is the matter of facilities. Northridge, the only Big Sky school with a football stadium that holds less than 10,000, must find another place to play to conform with conference regulations. A recently approved biotech project will take over the North Campus in less than two years, where the football stadium is located. A football stadium must be built or an existing facility leased. The Big Sky also has requested improvements in the Northridge Gym. Coaches and athletes have long been asking for a better baseball stadium. To address these concerns, Wilson is organizing a committee that will work through the summer to determine the best sites and plans for future stadiums. When recommendations will be accepted and how they will be implemented has yet to be determined. Even the softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' team's ``Field of Dreams'' - funded by sponsorships - is behind schedule. Groundbreaking was set for June but plans must be approved and design problems remain to be solved. ``We've had tremendous teams, and people know a lot about them, but we do not have a tremendous fan following,'' Bubb said. ``Part of that is due to facilities. They're proud, but do they want to come out with the dilapidated facilities we have now? Seeing your team win is nice, but do you want to if you walk away with splinters splin·ter n. 1. A sharp, slender piece, as of wood, bone, glass, or metal, split or broken off from a main body. 2. A splinter group. v. splin·tered, splin·ter·ing, splin·ters v. ?'' Gender-equity factor Another problem is Northridge's failure to meet the strict gender-equity guidelines instituted by a 1993 consent-decree the CSU system signed with California's branch of the National Organization for Women. All Cal State campuses must have athletic participation rates and funding for women's sports mirror within 5 percent their school's female population. Compliance must be by fall 1998. That means that by September, 52 percent of Northridge's athletes must be women, 52 percent of scholarships must be awarded to women, and 42 percent of the operations budget must be set aside for women's teams. Northridge should achieve the last two but is an estimated 3 percentage points shy of meeting the first mandate. Come fall, 19 Cal State campuses will send the Cal-NOW attorney a report explaining what the school has done to reach compliance, or how the school tried. Northridge is focusing on the second option. The latest figures, from 1997, show Humboldt and Pomona have complied while six others have met the terms regarding expenditures. Fresno State president John Welty Dr. John Welty is the president of California State University, Fresno. He was appointed president on July 29, 1991. Before coming to Fresno, he had previously served as president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania for seven years. , chair of the consent-decree monitoring committee, has determined that most campuses will make the fall deadline. Of those expected to comply, five are football-playing schools, including Fresno, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Cal Poly Cal Poly may refer to:
 `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. and
Sacramento. There was some speculation that Cal-NOW members would make
easier the terms of the consent-decree, the result of an out-of-court
settlement An agreement reached between the parties in a pending lawsuit that resolves the dispute to their mutual satisfaction and occurs without judicial intervention, supervision, or approval. between Cal-NOW and CSU. State Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi
Valley, who engineered last year's $586,000 bailout, has suggested
as much.
But Linda Joplin, the group's athletic equity chair, said no changes will take place. ``What do they want? Another 10, 15 years to do what they should've done 20 years ago (when Title IX was implemented)?'' she said. Joplin said she expects to review all CSU reports by early next year. If the organization feels that a school did not reach compliance, and did not try hard enough, Cal-NOW likely will take the university to court. Wilson said she is optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op Northridge will pass the ``good-faith effort'' test. People power CSUN faces many other obstacles, too. The school's spring athletics fund-raising drive Noun 1. fund-raising drive - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising campaign, fund-raising effort crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported raised at least $75,000 overall. Football got $15,000 - of which $50 came from boosters' efforts. What happened a year ago - and its public pain - apparently forced all to face the issue head-on. It wasn't until students, faculty, alumni, people who lived in the Valley, those who felt the pain of the affected athletes and coaches, and others who simply believed a university like Northridge must offer a complete athletics program demanded the sports be brought back that CSUN acted. ``In the long run,'' swimming coach Barry Schreifels said, ``we've found a new level of stability, and we're building from that. There's no wondering. Nobody wonders anymore, and that's the greatest thing.'' (Friday: the future.) SPORT-BY-SPORT: THEN AND NOW BASEBALL Where it's been: One of the most successful programs at Northridge. Has competed in the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional Tournament four times and took home the WAC WAC (Women's Army Corps), U.S. army organization created (1942) during World War II to enlist women as auxiliaries for noncombatant duty in the U.S. army. Before 1943 it was known as the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Its first director was Oveta Culp Hobby. title in 1996. Where it's at: With only five returners, completed the 1998 schedule with a 37-19 record, including a 25-2 performance to end the season. Chris MacMillan and Carey Novits were drafted by major-league teams. MEN'S SOCCER Where it's been: Struggled with a 4-10-2 finish in 1996-97, when about 600 fans attended each home game. Where it's at: Last fall, rebounded from a 1-9 start to finish 7-11-1. Attracted an average of 659 fans per game and was led in scoring by Federico Arroyo with 31 points. MEN'S SWIMMING Where it's been: Before Northridge's move to Division I, the men's swim team was a Division II powerhouse, winning four national championships at that level. Finished 1-7 in the 1996-97 season. Where it's at: Northridge lost all six of its dual meets this past season and finished fifth of seven schools at the Irvine Invitational in·vi·ta·tion·al adj. Restricted to invited participants: an invitational golf tournament. n. An event, especially a sports tournament, restricted to invited participants. Adj. 1. in January. MEN'S VOLLEYBALL Where it's been: Enjoyed its best season in 1993, as MPSF MPSF Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champions and NCAA runners-up. Coached by John Price for 12 seasons until the cuts led him to accept the women's volleyball head coaching position at Cal State Bakersfield. Where it's at: The team lost 15 players after the cuts were announced. Competing in the MPSF, the best men's volleyball conference in the country, Northridge finished 10-14, 6-13. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box, Drawing PHOTO A year after the turmoil, Cal State Northridge athletic director Paul Bubb is optimistic about the direction of the school's sports program. Michael Owen
BOX: SPORT-BY-SPORT: THEN AND NOW (see text) DRAWING: (Color) no caption (collage of CSUN sports program headlines) Illustration by Bradford Mar/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion