Research shows sports sponsorship increase Although countless articles, I-A institutions, 82 programs including one in the NCAA added 146 women’s sports News, have reported that a while 19 programs dropped 33. shortage of money is causing The net gain was 113 women’s 13 numerous intercollegiate ath- sports. letic programs to cut back The reports of program cut- 12 sports, recently completed backs were heaviest during the NCAA research indicates that early summer (the NCAA 11 the number of sports spon- News story appeared May 15), sored by NCAA member insti- but they have been as recent as 10 tutions actually has increased the September 15 issue of The Average over the last three years. Chronicle of Higher Education number of Contrary to most of the re- (“Growing Deficits Force Col- sports 9 ports, the gain has been partic- leges to Eliminate Some Var- ularly pronounced in Division sity Sports”). I-A institutions. During the Even though the number of period from 1978-79 to 1980-81, sports programs has grown, it 21 institut,ions dropped men’s seems clear that intercolle- sports, 62 added them and 53 giate athletic programs still remained the same. The 21 are short on money. But this members that dropped sports latest research would indicate eliminated a total of 143 that, although times are diffi- sports, but the 62 that added cult, athletic programs are sports took on an additional providing more opportunities 132. The net gain was 89 men’s for participation than ever be- Div. I Div. Ii Div. III Div. I Div. II Div. III sports. fore. men’s sports. The number of women’s The totals for all institu- dropped a total.--- of-^ 238 men’s of 369 men’s sports. sports sponsored grew at an tions studied follow: sports since lY78-7Y. l 316 programs have main- l 343 programs have added a even faster rate. At Division l 158 programs have l 219 programs added a total tained the same number of Continued on page 5 VOL. 17 - NO. 14 October 15, 1980 Meeting of CEOs deemed a success The first NCAA-sponsored NCAA Governance, Organiza- meeting of selected chief exec- tion and Services recommend- utive officers, held September ed such an annual gathering as 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency a means of more effectively Hotel in Kansas City, earned involving chief executives in the praise of those attending discussion of the major policy and will result in the meeting areas in intercollegiate athlet- becoming an annual activity. ics. A total of 27 presidents and It was offered as a discussion chancellors representing Divi- forum and educational pro- sion I conferences and institu- gram but was not designed to tions attended the’ initial be a decision-making meeting. meeting. Each Division I vot- Each chief executive in at- ing allied conference was invit- tendance will receive a sum- ed to send one chief executive, mary of the meeting for use in and 24 of the 25 conferences communicating with the other were represented. On a propor- presidents in the conference or tionate basis, presidents of four region represented. independent institutions were After introductory remarks invited and three of those at- by President Flynn, the atten- tended the meeting. dees heard a detailed report by “The chief executives com- the Special Committee on pleted an evaluation form be- NCAA Governance, Organiza- fore leaving the meeting and tion and Services presented by unanimously indicated that James Frank, chairman; John Pennsylvania State University President John W. Oswald (left) and Washington State University President the NCAA should conduct L. Toner and Kenneth J. Glenn Terrell confer during the meeting of chief executive officers held September 29-30 in Kansas City. At the meeting, 27 presidents representing Division I member institutions discussed several key athletic such a meeting annually,” re- Weller, members of the com- issues. ported William J. Flynn, mittee, and Ruth M. Berkey, a NCAA president, who chaired former member of the commit- the meeting. “All participants tee now serving as NCAA said the meeting was worth- director of women’s champion- while, with 70 percent check- ships. Commissioners discuss issues ing a response marked ‘ex- William D. Kramer of tremely worthwhile.’ ” Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, The Collegiate Commission- implications, the report of the and Steve Hatchell, Big Eight Flynn said the division the Association’s Washington, ers Association held a special Special Committee on NCAA Conference; Wayne Duke and steeiing committees would D.C., legal counsel, presented a meeting October l-2 at the Governance, Organization and *John Dewey, Big Ten Confer- begin in their October meet- status report on Title IX, in- Kansas City International Services and proposed legisla- ence; Robert M. Whitelaw, ings to plan a similar meeting cluding an extensive analysis Airport to receive background tion for the 1981 NCAA Con- Eastern College Athletic Con- for 1981. “With this type of of the Title IX investigator’s information from the NCAA vention, primarily in the areas ference; David Price, Missouri advance planning, we hope we manual. staff on various current issues of academic requirements and Valley Conference; Wiles Hal- will be able to conduct concur- The chief executives also in athletics. recruiting restrictions. lock and Mike Slive, Pacific-10 rent meetings for Divisions II considered primary legislative Walter Byers, executive Conference; Lewis A. Cryer, and III chief executives, as well topics anticipated for the 1981 The meeting was chaired by director; William B. Hunt and Pacific Coast Athletic Associa- as Division I,” he said. The NCAA Convention, including Ted C. Tow, assistant execu- Fred Jacoby, Mid-American tion; C. M. Newton, South- Divisions II and III sessions financial aid, recruiting and Athletic Conference commis- tive directors; Ruth M. Ber- eastern Conference; Kenneth were canceled this year when academic matters. sioner and president of the key, director of women’s G. Germann, Southern Con- only a few presidents were able John R. Davis, chairman of chamuionshiDs, and Stephen CCA. ference; Clifton M. Speegle, to accept invitations to repre- the Committee to Review R. Mbrgan,*executive &sis- Others in attendance were Southwest Athletic Confer- sent those divisions. NCAA Financial Aid Legisla- tant, appeared before the CCA Robert C. James, Atlantic ence, and Joseph L. Kearney, The meeting was scheduled tion, discussed that topic, in- members to review Title IX Coast Conference; Carl James Western Athletic Conference. after the Special Committee on Continued on page 3 The Editor’s View Sponsorship news encouraging The news that sports sponsorship actu- brings heartening news. The doomsday ally is up at NCAA colleges and universi- conclusion drawn from the perceived re- ties comes as a very pleasant surprise. duction in programs was that intercolle- Throughout the spring and summer, it giate athletics was on the downturn. Now, seemed as though each day brought news any doubters would be pressed to prove of another program failure. No program that point since more opportunities than The approaching scandal? seemed sacred; big institutions as well as ever before exist for varsity participation. By Blaine Newnham small were forced to curtail their athletic Ironically, just as the NCAA research Eugene Register-Guard programs. revealed an increase in intercollegiate The phone rings, and somehow you know the question. Now, The list seemed to grow daily and the sports sponsorship, a survey by the Na- can you find the answer? plea went out from many quarters- tional Federation of State High School “Did Muhammad Ali ever fight Archie Moore? And if he did, including this one-for more austerity. Associations showed that sports participa- who won?” As it develops, there still is much to be tion in the nation’s high schools had de- You go to the Ring Record Book and discover that, yes, they did fight, and Ali won. said for austerity. The recently completed clined in the last year after a decade of You tell the guy on the phone. NCAA research indicates that more sports heady growth (see page 3). are being sponsored now than during the “Great,” he says, “but now tell my friend.” You tell the friend quickly and get off the line. You don’t want 1978-79 academic year. The average The NFSHSA has improved its data collection techniques, so it is possible the the guy recognizing your voice or tracing your phone line. People number of men’s sports sponsored at each who lose bets don’t do so gracefully. NCAA institution in 1980-81 is 9.3, com- decline could be the result of more precise reporting. Unfortunately, declining enroll- A few sports writers have been known to tell one guy one pared to 9.1 in 1978-79. Projected over the answer and one another. And then hang up posthaste and start ment in the nation’s secondary schools entire membership of 740 institutions, that laughing. But those guys might need police protection to get means there are about 6,827 men’s sports, appears to be at least a partial factor. The home. almost 250 more than three years ago. For implication that holds for the continued We will continue to answer sports trivia questions if we can women, the average for 1980-81 is 6.7 sports growth of college sports is not good. find the answers. It isn’t always that easy to determine who per institution, compared to 6.4 in 1978-79. After everything is considered, the cur- quarterbacked the Detroit Lions in 1975 or who played shortstop Therefore, there currently are about 4,950 rent score is as follows: Intercollegiate for the Seattle Pilots in 1969. But we try.