Carolina Alumni Review - May/June 2012

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How Important Are College Sports?

Budget cuts are prompting some universities to cut back on the number of varsity sports. Critics also say that sports overshadow and sometimes corrupt the core academic mission. Supporters counter that successful sports programs are great marketing for universities and provide a bond for students and alumni across generations. We asked alumni to tell us about how they rate the importance of sports to universities and the college experience. Excerpts of comments are below; read others and share your thoughts at alumni.unc.edu/go/collegesports and on the GAA’s Facebook page at alumni.unc.edu/facebook.

“I agree with the rationale that athletics provides marketing visibility for the University as a whole. I have noticed over the years that broadcasts of major football games contain short promotional clips on both institutions, and invariably the thrust is on the academic merits of the institution. Were it not for the athletic contests, most prospective students would never see the promotional information. More important, to me as an alumnus, at least, is the community among alumni, which is built on the athletic program. This community extends to alumni of other institutions, as well. Another person may not share my passion for my major, nor I for his or hers, but we both have an interest in the athletic programs. This helps bind us, even sometimes as friendly rivals. Athletic scholarship programs usually make news when there are abuses, but in the majority of cases, I believe they provide opportunities for students who may otherwise never have pursued a quality higher education. As one NCAA ad puts it, most student athletes will ‘go pro’ in some field other than sports. From my perspective, intramural athletics and intercollegiate athletics are very important parts of the total campus experience, and I would certainly like to see them remain so.”

Doug Clapp ’ 70

Greensboro

“I see and hear statements along the lines of, ‘If the money wasted on (pick a sport — generally football or basketball) was spent on academics, just think what a difference it would make!’ I strongly suspect that if Carolina football and basketball went away or were scaled back to a lower level, the money would NOT simply divert to academics. I can think of at

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least three reasons: ( 1) Sports are not funded out of the academic budget. Money removed from the athletic budget doesn’t automatically go to academics. ( 2) For better or worse, many people seem more willing to contribute to college sports than to academics. Much of the money from athletic contributions would go elsewhere (other sports, other entertainment, retirement funds?) rather than to UNC academics. ( 3) Carolina sports serve as a strong reinforcement of our ties to UNC. While I have a strong attachment to the University, I’ll be the first to admit I spend more time, interest and money on UNC sports than I do on UNC academics. I suspect I’m not alone. Obviously, people do contribute to academics (otherwise campus buildings might be known by numbers rather than by names), but I’ve seen (anecdotal) evidence that success in sports has had a strong positive impact on UNC’s academic contributions — and the reverse. Go Heels! (on the field and in the classroom).”

Robert Cline ’ 78

Greensboro

“ ... As alumni, we are rightfully proud of being graduates of perhaps the finest public university in the South, if not the nation. No alumni would ever want anything to change this. Ever. But give me a break. We have heard a great deal over the last two years about how strongly we at UNC feel we need to comply with NCAA regulations. … The problem is that the NCAA is a BUSINESS. Their first priority, as you can easily observe from the disparate treatment it provides to the ‘money schools’ like Auburn, is to produce revenue. They OWN the images of college students, they market these images, they make millions of dollars on these images via licensed video games — along with the myriad TV contracts, advertisements and endorsements that come with the NCAA label. … If you want to have superior STUDENTS in pads on Saturdays in Kenan, fine, but first let’s just get rid of the hypocritical, self-serving NCAA-managed sports business we currently maintain. Perhaps we should all go back to club sports and intramurals? … I would have to say that UNC sports is the principal means that I have to stay connected with my University. ... It is one of the many

UNC NEWS SERVICES

While critics raise questions about the benefits of college sports to players and universities, fans find them a way to share an experience among a diverse student body.

things that makes Carolina special, and if we ‘de-emphasize’ sports we will also detract from the overall educational experience of the students and sever a key connection with alumni. Don’t do it. … Carolina should continue to do what it has always done, i.e., strive for excellence in every area in which it applies itself.”

Steve Brady ’ 81

Newport

“I am mystified by the exponential rise in the cost of education. In the course of some of the [Penn State University] fallout, the role of sports and fundraising has come into question partly as justification for big-time college sports. If they raise so much money, why does tuition continue to rise so rapidly? Spoken as a huge sports fan, I wonder if sports has become too big a part of the collegiate experience and in society in general. It even seems to affect our political discourse as we choose ‘teams’ ideologically, square off, hate the opponent and there can be but one winner. Ultimately, what I want out of college is a good education and life/vocation skills for my children and not necessarily entertainment at the expense of 18- to 22-year-old kids.”