thursday, october 9,2003
news
the university daily kansan
7A
Boosts in scholarships concern University
By John Domoney
jdomoney@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For a self-admitted financially strapped institution, the University of Kansas Athletics Department is not looking to take on more costs.
From a business perspective, the movement by some states to boost athletics scholarships by $2,000 to $3,000 a year does not excite athletics director Lew Perkins.
"The more money I can put in a kid's hand I will do," Perkins said. "At this particular institution that's a problem because we don't have enough money to run our own operations right now."
A group of state legislators and former student-athletes are spearheading an effort for the NCAA to require universities to pay for more than just tuition, room, board and book fees of student-athletes.
In May, the California Senate approved a bill that barred California colleges from agreeing to NCAA rules on scholarships.
Several other states including Nebraska, Iowa and Texas are also upset with the NCAA and are considering legislation that would force universities to give more money to student-athletes.
Perkins may be for improving the financial situation of studentathletes, but he is not in favor of state legislatures involvement on the issue.
"I just think it will make everything more bureaucratic in nature, and I'm concerned about that," Perkins said.
One of the main points of the argument made by the legislators and former student-athletes is that student-athletes help earn millions of dollars for schools.
The millions of dollars that ather
letes make for the their schools is an argument that does not make sense to Perkins.
"A at lot of schools they're not generating money." Perkins said. "At a lot of schools they're not making money off of athletes. That's a big misconception."
Chancellor Robert Hemenway serves as chairman of the NCAA's board of directors. Hemenway said the NCAA had not taken action because of divided opinion on the matter.
"This has been discussed for some time in NCAA circles and the argument usually separates on whether paying the cost of attendance would be a form of pay-for-play." Hemenway said.
Hemenway said he saw the need for more money given in scholarships because many student-athletes struggle to survive on the current scholarships that do not pay for personal expenses.
"Many student-athletes from poor families have trouble making it on just the cost of education which pays tuition, room, board and books, especially if they have families." Hemenway said.
At Kansas, the issue is not whether increasing the money involved in scholarships would go against traditional NCAA ideals. Instead, Perkins and the department have to consider the issue and how it would affect the department budget.
It is unfair that the department cannot give more money to athletes, Perkins said. But, he said, his hands were tied if that extra money does not exist in the current $27 million budget.
Although there exists a perception that student-athletes enjoy numerous advantages, Perkins said, they are also saddled with burdens not applied to normal students. A regular student can
nave dinner at a donor's house and can have a car given to them without breaking the rules or creating a possible NCAA investigation. Perkins said.
In the Big 12 Conference, universities such as Nebraska and Texas with athletics budgets of $60 million and $70 million would be at an advantage if the NCAA decides to force schools to give more money in scholarships to student-athletes.
What concerns Perkins the most is the view that every university should do business with the same amount of built-in advantages.
"One of the biggest concerns I have is everybody says we should be on a level playing field," Perkins said. "Everybody wants everything to be equal for everybody. We can't do that in a democratic society."
— Edited by Nikki Overfelt
GAUTT: Official challenges norms on, off the field
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Wilkinson had built a football powerhouse of all-white farm boys, and Gaunt said people were not ready for a black player yet.
"He was the elixir of opportunity for me," Gaunt said of Wilkinson. "It was not the most popular thing to add a black to that dynasty."
But Wilkinson took the opportunity and was rewarded. Gautta was a star running back in the split-T offense and led the Sooners in rushing in 1958 and 1959. He was named the 1959 Orange Bowl MVP by rushing for 94 yards on six carries. His 15.7 yards per carry stand as an Sooner bowl record. He was two-time All-Big Eight player. Gautt also was a star in the classroom, earning academic All-American honors.
Off the field, Gautt had to cope with racism and prejudice. On several occasions, Gautt was not allowed to eat with his team at restaurants nor allowed in the same places. His teammates backed him up in moments of prejudice, and at one restaurant*
refused to eat as well. The team wound up eating elsewhere where Gaunt could be served.
Wilkinson was like a father figure to him while he played. Their relationship blossomed to friendship after Gautt left Oklahoma, Gaunt said.
After college, Gautt spent seven years in the NFL playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns. LEARNING THE PLAYING FIELD
LEAVING THE PLAYING FIELD
After pursuing a doctorate in counseling psychology at Missouri, Gautt was named assistant commissioner of the Big Eight in 1979. When the Big Eight changed to The Big 12 in 1996, Gautt took the position of associate commissioner. For this, he travels to conferences and NCAA events.
Gautt also oversees the Big 12 Life Skills program, working with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Big 12 board of directors. The Life Skills program is a community leadership course in which 4,000 Big 12 student-athletes participate in chari
He also assists with establishing guidelines for Big 12 academic honor teams, the commissioner's honor roll and other areas involving recognition for academic accomplishments. Gautt said one of the Big 12's goals was to create a higher standard for the student-athlete.
Though Gault is nearing retirement, he is still extremely active within the conference. He often meets with conference coaches to talk about creating opportunities for minority coaches.
Leo Etienne, a former Kansas football player and now a Big 12 intern, said it was difficult to adapt to life without football. Etienne keeps in touch with Gautt.
"He's someone you can turn to if you have problems or need help or need anything." Etienne said.
For his efforts, the University of Oklahoma named an academic center the Prentice Gautt Academic Study Center in 1999, and awarded Gautt with an honorary doctorate in a ceremony in May.
Prentice Gaunt played fullback and tailback for University of Oklahoma during the 1950s.
Courtesy Big 12 Archives
Bo Carter, Big 12 associate commissioner of media relations, said Gaunt was deserving of his honors.
"He is a great guy and extremely community-oriented," Carter said. "Truly one of the classiest people in college athletics and an outstanding person."
VOLLEYBALL:
Team loses fight to Cornhuskers
- Edited by Cate Batchelder
CONTINUED FROM 1A
match away, and eventually won 30-24.
Despite the loss, Lindsey Morris, junior outside hitter, said she thought the team still played with confidence.
"We came out harder tonight than we have in a while and just showed up at the beginning," Morris said.
The victory was the 77th-consecutive overall victory, and the 78th-consecutive Big 12 victory for Nebraska (15-1, 7-0).
"They made the plays they needed to to win and that's why they're really good and have a great chance to win the conference." Bechard said.
Kansas will take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
- Edited by Abby Sidesinger
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