INTRAMURALS
SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KANSA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30.1995
Men's sports forgotten in equality issue
On Sept. 3, the Kansas women's soccer team will make its debut as a varsity sport in Evansville, Ill. Soon to follow will be women's rowing. The rowers will hit the water in mid-October.
SECTION B
Title IX was an educational amendment from way back in 1972, the era of the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment prohibits any educational program receiving federal funding from discriminating against students on the basis of their gender.
Both programs have been given varsity status due to recent rullings on Title IX.
To correct the fact that 68 percent of all varsity athletes at Kansas are male and to provide equal opportunities for women, the University added the two women's varsity sports this year.
The idea behind
ate equality
ate equality between the proportion of women enrolled at Kansas and those playing varsity sports.
The idea behind all this is to cre-
The problem with this is that the football team adds almost 100 opportunities that women don't have.
If added up sport-by-sport, there's an equal
SPORTS COLUMNIST
number of programs. Even though there is no women's football team, there is also no men's varsity volleyball.
To be equal, Kansas, and other universities all over the nation, are trying to match the percentage of women athletes (32 percent) to the percentage of women enrolled at the university (51 percent).
It is obvious to me that football must be let out out of the equation.
With leaving football as part of the count, you must add at least two women's sports. By doing this, the University is giving opportunities to women that it is not giving to men.
Can anyone tell me how women being able to participate at the varsity level in soccer and crew while men's soccer and crew members are to pay their own way and compete at the club level is equal? Varsity athletics now offer two more sports for women than for men.
Kansas did react to the rulings better than most; many universities actually cut several important men's programs. UCLA actually cut men's gymnastics because of budget problems.
Now, it did take me a couple of times to get through Math 101, but I still don't see how nine equals 11.
Who cares? Well, UCLA men's gymnastics have provided more than half of the United States' Olympic medals in gymnastics during the last couple of decades.
Many non-revenue men's sports were cut nationwide. These programs harbor Olympic development and will be greatly missed during the 1996 Olympics.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to see women get more opportunities in college athletics. I just believe that men should have the same opportunity to play the same sports. Title IX, by it's own wording, would back my position.
The NCAA wants to count heads and dollars spent, rather than actual sports available. The only thing that would equal out the equation at Kansas is to add two.
The University's excuse for not matching the new sports with their male equivalent is lack of funding. They are even raising student fees $6 to pay for the new teams. Whenever I hear KU has no money, I have to laugh.
Adding two more men's programs is the only way to be equitable. Eleven men's and 11 women's teams are the only way to go.
I think my parking tickets alone during the past four years could fund the men's varsity soccer team for the next few seasons.
While we're at it, let's make it an even dozen. How about rugby? Both men's and women's rugby have been around a long time and have had a great deal of success. They should have been added to the list years ago.
Search for new coach continues
One of 60 applicants should fill baseball job
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
Over 60 applications have been turned in for the vacant head coaching position on the Kansas baseball team.
But there are no front runners for the job, said Betsy Stephenson, Kansas associate athletic director.
Stephenson said a search committee comprised of Kansas University Athletic Corporation staff members would begin to review the resumes of viable candidates to replace
Dave Bingham. He resigned on Aug. 4.
tions to be submitted, Stephenson said. But the deadline is a rolling one as applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Aug. 28 was the first deadline for applica-
The committee will then make its suggestions to Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick who will make the final decision.
"It would be premature to name any names at this time." Stephenpson said regarding the candidates.
Betsv Stephenson
"The committee hasn't even met yet to discuss possible candidates. We're trying to set that un right now."
Stephenson said that she hoped a new coach was hired within the next 10 days.
Iowa State head baseball coach Bobby Randall submitted an application for the job.
"The No. 1 thing that should be said is that I have never been offered the job," Randall said. "I have only made contact with Betsy Stephenson to find out about the job and send in my application.
"It is a terrific University and a terrific program. It would be a great opportunity for myself or anybody who's interested in a solid program."
Kansas pitching coach Wilson Kilmer is
serving as the interim coach and also is a candidate for the job.
"I am extremely interested in the coaching vacancy," Kilmer said. "I've been here eight years helping Coach Bingham build this into a solid program, and we've made tremendous strides."
Kilmer said there is no guarantee that he will be with the baseball team next year as a new coach might want to bring in his own assistants.
The new coach will take over for Bingham, who cited frustration with losing when he resigned. He also wanted to spend more time with his family. Bingham led Kansas to the College World Series in 1993 and 40-win seasons in 1993 and 1994.
Kathy Driscoll / KANSAN
The Kansas defense will look to senior cornerback Dorian Brew for leadership on and off the field. Key injuries and a low number of returfers have forced the one-time receiver into this role.
Senior leads by quiet example
By Robert Sinclair
Kansan sportswriter
There has been a lot of talk this year about the Kansas football team's defense lacking experience and leadership.
Some of this criticism may be justified because of the injuries to senior linebacker Ronnie Ward and junior defensive back Tony Blevins. This perception also may be due to the fact that Kansas is returning only three defensive starters.
However, it also is possible that the team's defensive leaders choose to let their actions speak for them.
"A lot of people have talked about how I've been thrust into the position of the leader on defense," said senior outside linebacker Keith Rodgers. "If I'm put into a position to be a leader, then I'll be a leader. But I lead more by example than I do by just mere words."
This also could be said about another returning defensive starter, Dorian Brew.
As one of the few returning starters, players are apt to come to you for advice; when you are one of the only seniors, it is almost guaranteed.
"He started the last couple of years. Obviously, there are not too many seniors on defense, so I guess people will look up to him." Blevins said.
Like Rodgers, Brew is soft-spoke and modest when it comes to football
"He's a quiet guy. He's one of those 'leaders by example,'" Blevins said. "He doesn't really say much. He just goes out there and does his job."
He has been doing this job for only a couple of years.
Brew — who is majoring in African Studies — didn't start playing football until his sophomore year at McCluer North High School in Florissant, Mo. Although he has always played cornerback, Kansas football coach Glen Mason and his recruiters wanted him to play in a different role.
"Actually, I was recruited to be a receiver at first. Then I got a call from
Coach Mason three days before I was supposed to report," Brew said. "He asked me if I minded playing corner. I said no."
He said that cornerback was better suited for him because it was more of a challenge. Anybody can catch a football, but it is a lot harder to neventhe.
"Secondary, I think, is the hardest position on the team," the 5-foot-10 defensive back said.
It would seem that Brew has lived up to the challenge.
During his three years at Kansas, Brew has played in 27 games, starting 11. He has 48 tackles and three interceptions — two of which came against Iowa State two years ago.
"Dorian Brew is an exceptional talent that has been, for whatever reason, overlooked," said Brew's secondary coach David Gibbs, who moved to Kansas this season from Colorado. "I'm not saying that he's a polished player. But as far as his skills lining up man-to-man, he's as good as anybody we ever had at Colorado."
That puts Brew in good company considering Gibbs has played with or coached NFL cornerbacks like Chris Hudson (who plays for Jacksonville), Dennis Collier (Chicago), Ronnie Bradford (Miami) and Deon Figures (Pittsburgh).
Brew also has been an asset to the Javahaws a punt returner.
"I'm out there by myself," Brew said. "I don't get nervous. I like the challenge."
During his Kansas career, Brew has returned 19 punts for 249 yards and averaged 13.1 yards a return, which ties the record for third best in Kansas history.
His 81-yard touchdown return last year represents the fourth longest in school history.
"He can line up and play anywhere in the country, I believe that," Gibbs said. "I'm sure a lot of coaches say that about a lot of people, but that kid has all the talent in the world. To have his speed and covering abilities is without a doubt his strength."
Diver's late start doesn't hamper success
Bv Bill Kenealv
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas diver Michelle Rojohn has come a long way in a short time.
Rojohn didn't begin diving until her junior year in high school, but she became the first female All-American diver in the University of Kansas' history last season.
The Olathe senior was a gymnast in high school and switched to diving to escape the injuries and physical rigors inherent in gymnastics.
"I had to take an easier route," Rojohn said.
Kansas diving coach Dore Fearon said that Rojohn's gymnastics training gave her a head start when she joined the Kansas diving team three years ago.
"I think Michelle came in with a lot of ability from gymnastics that allowed her to pick up diving," Fearon said. "She's got a lot of athletic ability, and she is a quick learner."
Last season, Rojohn broke numerous Kansas diving records and won the Big Eight Conference championship on the one-meter board. The previous season, she was Big Eight champion on the three-meter board.
Kansas diver Michelle Roijon hopes to remain consistent on both the one-meter and three-meter boards this season. Her past accomplishments include two Big Eight Conference championships.
"One of my goals is to stay consistent."
Rojohn said. "I would love to win the Big Eights on both boards."
"I try not to watch if they do a dive. You hear the scores and just try to not let it effect you," she said. "A lot of the times you can't block out the score of an eight or the crowd going wild — that's probably the hardest thing."
Rojohn, for the most part, has mastered the physical aspects of diving, she said. Now, she is ready to concentrate on the mental aspects of diving, such as ignoring the dives and scores of her competitors.
One incident Rojohn was unable to block out occurred this summer at the NCAA diving championships. While Rojohn was awaiting her final dive, the diver before her hit her head on the board.
Roloh had to wait 15 minutes for the blood to be cleaned from the board and the pool. Seeing the preceding diver carried away from the pool tends to shake one's confidence, she said.
Though her subsequent dive was sub par, Roiloh still finished 13th.
She knows her best dives are yet to come. "I used () think that if I would have started earlier, I could have gone further by now," Rojohn said. "But I don't think that you reach your full potential in college."
Rojohn, a community health major, plans to keep diving after her college career ends. While a trip to Atlanta and the 1996 Olympics next summer isn't likely, her options remain open.
For now, Rojohn's sights remain set on the season ahead.
"I just want to have a better season than last season," she said. "I just want to perfect everything."
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