University Daily Kansan
Thursday, April 21, 197
Tennis facilities: add out for now
Although tennis has been enjoying a nationwide popularity boom, it's literally entering the twilight zone at the University of Karasas as a varsity sport.
No, KU's program isn't going downhill.
It's just that when the Jayhawks hosted
Arkansas last week the match wasn't over
by 7 p.m.—five hours after it began.
The problem isn't with the team's ability, but with the facilities. KU's four varsity tennis courts, located on the southwest side of Allen Field House, are inadequate.
"I WANT to look at the entire package first and then work on plans to finance it. Once we decide to spend such a substantial sum the cost of something as minor as the tennis courts won't seem like much, and it's more likely to be completed."
There is land available on the south side of the present courts that would be ideal for new courts. But, is there the money available to build them? Gates says two new courts would be "a sizable expenditure."
THE LACK of courts caused the match to
WALKER WOULD only estimate the construction cost of two new courts at a "ballpark figure of $25,000." He said that the construction was feasible, but only as one of many capital improvement projects he had under study.
The major proportion of Walker's project is Memorial Stadium, which he said has extensive concrete (but not structural) that was used for renovation of locker rooms and rest rooms.
The athletic department needs to stumble across someone like William Kurtu, KU's new $220,000 football dressing facility next to the field house was named in Parrott's honor for his substantial financial contributions.
So, if there is a wealthy tennis enthusiast out there ready to serve up some cash, the KU tennis program gladly will step into the receiving court.
drag on beyond an average spectator's endurance, prompting many of them to wander off. And if they did, they missed the conclusion of the meet's most exciting clarke and KU RUs 3.1. two teams of Clarke and KU Haskingham trailing to a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 win.
The players themselves suffered when the match wore on, darkness set in and the automatic lights remained off. It wasn't dark enough for the lights to turn on or remain dark enough for competitive tennis. And it was dark enough to turn me off on KU's tennis facilities.
"I think we’re the only major university without six courts, coach Kirkhams Gatenate and Jillian Haines."
construction of two new courts. And, importantly for the current tennis team, his
Walker wants to tag the cost of improved tennis facilities onto a presumably two-year multi-million dollar project to upgrade much of KU's physical needs.
"The tennis courts are a part of an overall package for all of our facilities that need improvement," Walker said. "It's one phase of a multi-interest project that would involve improvements to the stadium and final improvements in the field house and permanent baseball stands.
Gary Vice
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"WHAT WE need are six courts. I don't care how we get them, we just need them. And until we get them, a lot of the money we spend on the tennis program won't be fully utilized because our program won't grow the way we want it to.
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"First of all, it's the facilities you impress recruits with. And secondly, tennis has to be a spectator sport in order for it to be appreciated at this University. You can't play tennis without watching a tennis match. If we had six courts we could've done two hours ago."
Thursday, April 21, 1977
Gates would like to improve his tennis facilities beyond the addition of two courts. He would like the present courts resurfaced, the fences around the courts' east side extended to include permanent bleachers and a windscreen put on the eastern fence.
BUT HE says he's not angry about the status of KU's tennis funding.
"I'm not upset with our athletic department," Gates said. "They fund us well—as well as anyone in the Big Eight. I've talked with Clyde Walker (Athletic Director) on this, and he assures me we'll have substantial improvements in a year or two."
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