8
Wednesday, September 18, 1974
University Daily Kansan
Academic counseling for athletes emphasizes scholarship, not sports
By MIKE FITZGERALD Sports Reporter
In 1964, athletes came to the University of Kansas or went to other universities to participate in sports. Academic counseling was unheard of then, and took a look at the students as long as athletes stayed eligible and studied didn't interfere with schools, school was fine.
Ten years later the scene has completely turned around. The emphasis upon student-athletes has changed from being athletes first, last and always, to being students second.
In 1964, Gale Sayers was a senior at KU and a member of the football team. He is now assistant director of the Williams Fund at KU. His job is to raise money from alumni for athletic scholarships. Sayers said yesterday that as far as he knew, KU, like most schools, did not have an academic program for athletes when he were here.
"There was more emphasis on football-taking Mickey Mouse courses to stay eligible. But now the athlete is smarter, and we're smarter."
Now student-tathletes, in any of KU's eight sports, can go somewhere to get help in practically any subject. The man to see is Bobby Skahan.
Skahan, quarterback for Kansas in 1964-66, assumed the duties of athletic counsel in 1971. His duties are to coordinate all facets of academics with athletics.
"My No. 1 objective is to make sure the student-athlete progresses toward a degree in a chosen area," he said recently. "What I do is counsel individuals on degree requirements, possible avenues that they may pursue, and certain area and possible graduate work."
Skahan, who keeps a record of all athletes and their work, said the freshman program worked closely with students.
He said the freshman student-athlete had to make the transition from his home environment to a college environment. He said there was a difference in the amount of adjustment non-athletes and athletes had to make—the athlete could do well in his sport, school or social life, but not in the classroom.
At the heart of the freshman academic counseling program is a mandatory two-hour study hall each Sunday through Thursday. Students can be scheduled to attend the study hall.
"We think it's imperative to have tutorian help, if needed," Skahan said. "It 'not used to any great extent over-all, but only as much as needed."
"It has been changed around here since Clyde Walker (KU athletic director) has taught us how to see the differences we see to me that every athletic graduates and he believes this goal is obtainable. He feels this is an academic institution, number one, and our program has been upgraded."
A majority of the 1973 and 1974 freshman football team members plan majors in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Of the 1974 freshman team, 19 team LA&MAS, two plan education majors, four plan to go into engineering and two are undecided.
Skahan said there was a reason for this trend.
Fewer injuries plague 'Hawks
KU's injury situation has improved for Saturday's clash with 17th-ranked Tennessee, head coach Don Bambrough said. The team was pleased with the day's football practice.
"It was a real work day," Fambrough said after the workout in which the Hawks practiced against the Tennessee offense and defense game plays.
Fambrough said KU's injury situation was in its best shape since the start of fall.
Senior noseguard Mike Lemon, who had back spasms in last Saturday's game against Washington State probably will be ready to play at Stormy against Tennessee. He would back Buck Bill Camp field. Dean Baird, who was injured earlier, is also back at full speed.
The team will work out Thursday at Memorial Stadium and Friday night under
Towle ranked No.1 on defense in Big 8
Steve Towle, University of Kansas senior linebacker, was named yesterday as the Big Eight Conference defensive player of the season. It was a crucial choice of a panel of area sportswriters.
In KU's opening game against
Washington, the team faced
tackles, all of which were unassisted. His play contributed to a defensive effort that held Washington State to 155 total offensive
reactions in the final period.
"He was all over the field," head coach Don Fambrillau said. "He made some big mistakes."
"What I want to do, I do for all athletes," he said. "Ninety-seven per cent of all freshmen, both athletes and non-athletes, don't know what they want to do. I recommend LAARS because if they just jump into the sports field they may wind up a semester behind."
There are some misconceptions attached to the student-afterteacher, especially football players. One is that all athletes major in physical education because it is easy. Another is that all athletes are dummerheads. Skahan doesn't care for either.
"If there's any reason why (the athletes) are moving away from physical education," she said.
Skahan said Wayne Ossen, professor of physical education, and Henry Shenk, professor in physical education, had done a great job in upgrading that department at the university. He also completed a several difficult courses: anatomy, physics and chemistry.
Skahan said the "dumb joe" concept, believed by many was false.
"Athletes are, of course, conditioned to be athletes from perhaps 5-year-olds," he said. "Gestures are made to them in terms of 'we like you' because you're athletes. They try to be better in athletics than academics. The student懂得 the same way, exert in academics."
"If many athletes do stay in that area, it's because they want to," he said.
According to Skahan, the athlete had a difficult life—he had to perform well in sports and also meet the test in the university classroom.
"Those individuals who believe all athletes are ignorant are themselves ignorant to what it takes to be a student-athlete. I invite anyone to come out for a sport and maintain a good academic standing."
"It upsets me very much and I would debate anyone at any time on this issue."
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