Here's one to piss you off

[CowtownPV]

OK lets cut football scholarships by 20, who says they will automatically go to track. How about soccer, wrestling , archery, tennis, golf,rodeo or any other sport that feels they are hurt because of football. More people want thier school to have a good football team and so they get more scholarships. If people demand better track teams then the schools will respond. Right now in my area there are a lot more young kids playing soccer than running track, so they would be next in line for the extra scholarships. So my opionion still is, taking away from other programs is not the answer, we must promote our sport better, make it more popular, get more people involved and excited about it (and I think the PV community is working on it). When we do that we will get more programs, and more scholarships. Thats my 2 cents worth anyway.

[vaultguru6]

Here's my problem with Title XI. It didn't stop discrimination in collegiate sports. It just moved it from one group (all womens sports) to another group (all mens sports less football and basketball). Is that fair? Is that equality? The root of the problem IS title XI. Football doesn't help. There are a lot more way to discriminate than by race and gender. And having a law that is used to legally discriminate against the lesser mens sports doesn't help either.

[PVJunkie]

OK lets cut football scholarships by 20, who says they will automatically go to track.

NO they wont BUT that will dramatically decrease the disparity in the way the school determines compliance of title IX/gender equity. This will help the school in that they will not have to play the cut game to be in compliance.

[Carolina Extreme]

Here's my problem with Title XI. It didn't stop discrimination in collegiate sports. It just moved it from one group (all womens sports) to another group (all mens sports less football and basketball). Is that fair? Is that equality? The root of the problem IS title XI. Football doesn't help. There are a lot more way to discriminate than by race and gender. And having a law that is used to legally discriminate against the lesser mens sports doesn't help either.

It couldn't be said much better. But how do we change things in track and field to keep from being low man on the college sports totem pole with programs getting axed?

There is also much descrimination in hiring of coaches. One school told me flat out that I wasn't what they needed to meet NCAA quota's. They needed a minority with a degree. Coaching ability was secondary and they really screwed up with the guy they did hire. I heard he stole money and there are possible NCAA violations.

If Georgia is making money by breeding and raising horses, maybe other schools can breed track athletes. Think of all the great press the love child of Sergey Bubka and Stacy Dragila would get. It worked with Marion and Tim. Whether it's little Sergey or Sergette the press is sure to follow and the school will want to keep the track program going until the kid is through college at a minimum. Sort of makes you go "hhmmm" doesn't it.

[vaultguru6]

much better. But how do we change things in track and field to keep from being low man on the college sports totem pole with programs getting axed?

It is possible for track program to draw large attendance and support from the community, just very rare. Here at Oregon I have the very high privilage to be in a program that does that. The reason for the support here in Oregon can be drawn back to two people: Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontane. We consistently get attendance of 8,000 plus for all home meets. It's an incredible feeling to know that the community, and athletic program really do care about track. And with hometown favorites, Tommy Skipper, Jordan Kent, and Mike Mcgrath, things are only going to better. Hell, I gave up a 60% scholarship elsewhere so i could come here and pay out of state tuition just to experience it. And let me tell you, its worth every penny. I just wish this could be the norm rather than the exception....

How do we get this to happen everywhere? I don't know. If people don't see the incredible excitement in our event I really don't know...... I mean, where else can you watch people fly?

[VTechVaulter]

simple solution to the attendance problem. Serve beer. Then people will flock .

[VTechVaulter]

plus if people got drunk enough, even the 5k would seem exciting

[vaultinggoat16]

Lol, Wouldnt serving beer increase the chance of breeding more track star children...So put the 2 together add in a full contact 100M hurdles and BAM Redneck heaven! Plenty of money involved there.oohh full contact polevault or the Javelin vs Discus event >:)


-b

[Carolina Extreme]

full contact polevault or the Javelin vs Discus event

Full Contact Pole Vault. We do our version of that now with soccer taking rapid fire shots on the goal while we are practicing. Definitely gets the adrenaline pumping. Both sports fans would love it with meet/match combined.

Javelin vs Discus. I'm assuming you mean at at each other. That's a pretty cool event and a money maker.

Until this year, our shot and discus shared right field with the baseball team. The right fielder was the one throwing them back. That's another money making cross over in sports.

[vaultinggoat16]

How about this javelin no longer needs to throw distance but accuracy and it takes place during the 400 each runner hit counts for 1 point most points win...That would be a wicked one.

0-B-

[TeddyVault]

Well, here's an idea... (gulp) if we all stop watching football. (Yes, he said stop watching football.) And we told everyone we know to stop watching football, then maybe the popularity would go down.
Nah, not going to work, so maybe the javelin/400 meters is the best idea.
What about better endorsments for post-collegiate track and field?
What about cooporate teams that compete against one another, televise the meets, and help us pay for the sport that way, both advertisement/publicity and keeping post-collegiate athletes going.
What about luring retired pro players from various sports, or challenging them to try out? Big name recognition can go a long ways. How far could Michael Jordan Long Jump? How about Ray Lewis shot put?
How about some new events that revolve around other sports? The ball kick to bring in the soccer players, the sled pull for football players...
What about reality tv revolving around track and field? Maybe a reality T.V. show starring the Jansen family, or maybe real life at Bell Athletics? Anyone up for making a good documentary that would air well on T.V?
What about each and every one of us go out and volenteer some time at a junior high or high school program? If we help young kids to have fun and enjoy track, then they will be more likely to stick around and compete in high school, college, and post college, and will be more likely to donate money or attend meets when they are older.
What about holding a meet for the athletes who have been banned for drug/doping related violations? Make that part of it almost WWF style.
Any writers? Write a good book about a sport and it will draw people in.
(Or maybe there should be piranas in the steeple pool, the pole vault crossbar should be constitina wire, and the hundred should be run as ravenous wolves and lions are released from cages just behind the start.)
More ideas...? Most of mine are really lame, but somebody out there has to have a good one, post it!

[Peepers PV]

Well in order to boost interest in track at my h.s., my team usually challenges some other team, most of the time swimming or soccer, to a competition to see who has better athletes.

Both teams put people in pre-agreed upon running races- like a sprint and a distance event. Then if it's against the swim team, both teams put people in pre-agreed upon swim events- again a sprint and a distance. For soccer, we'd do the same with the running, but then we'd play 5 6v6 games.

The running events and swimming events are scored meet style, then the teams just get a point for every soccer game they win. It's pretty fun and a lot of people get involved around the school cause they think "OMG! You're going to be killed! I mean how hard could track possibly be- it's just running... who can't do that? Plus we all know soccer's hard... and y'all don't train for that." Then when we win we get a lot more respect and generate much more interest in the sport ! So that's another idea...

Lori