All too often it seems to be the bittersweet song of the University of La Verne athlete to envelope themselves in their own world of athletics while going to school. To one extent this is a sign of dedication, motivation and perseverance. However, in some cases, it leads to a great deal of misguided energy.
I am a fan of sports. With the exception of horse racing, lawn bowling and badminton, I can probably sit down and watch any sport and find entertainment in what I am viewing. I have always been that way.
To be totally honest, when I chose to attend ULV, the fact that there was a football team to go watch every Saturday afternoon in the fall was a major plus in my eyes. I would not have to leave behind something that was so important to me in high school.
There’s something special to be said about ULV athletics. La Verne allows students in high school the opportunity to continue their passion for a sport while going to school in an environment that is more casual than your typical college scene. At ULV, athletes need not worry about the pressure of pro scouts, draft picks and many of the Division I politics that seem to often taint the the spirit of college sports.
With all of this in their favor, athletes at the University can play the sport of their choosing and not loose sight of the reason that they are attending college.
Then again, I guess that is in an ideal world. I have observed for the last three years countless individuals who I think will face a disheartening reality when they graduate from ULV. They will have to come to terms with the fact that their sports career has concluded.
As competitive as the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is and has been since its founding in 1915, it is a Division III athletic league. The majority of the athletes playing at ULV are not at the level which would grant them a spot on a Division I squad. This is not to say that the caliber of competition is any less impressive here than at the University of Southern California. I think it is safe to say, however, that the program and the athletes are moving in a different direction.
This fact cannot be ignored. University athletics, with all of its prestige and history, has on occasion been a sanctuary to high school heroes who seek to continue their sports career and little else. For those individuals, a serious lesson need be learned.
I had the opportunity to speak with ULV alumnus Anthony Rice (’97) this past week and the conversation proved to be an enlightening experience. Rice was an exceptional athlete at La Verne. He held national honors in track and was one of the most powerful running backs to ever stand in the Leopards’ backfield. Now, he has landed a career in professional football. He is one of the lucky ones.
But even for Rice, the road was difficult having come from a Division III program. The world of professional sports was less than welcoming to an individual who had little background with Division I athletics. Rice represents the few who can excel and continue with their athletic ability.
Recently at ULV there was a reactivation of a student organization known as the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Their goal is simply to improve relations between the University and its athletics.
I charge the members of this organization to remain diligent in there efforts and to uphold the image of the scholar athlete at an institution where such a role should be more than common.
Danny Craig, a junior journalism major, is features editor of the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at craigd@ulv.edu.
