2008 Woodie Awards
Talk back: Letter to the Editor (Athletics at Guilford)
In response to recent discussion about the role of athletics at Guilford
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Forum
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Dear Editor,
As a former Guilford student-athlete and member of the Community Senate I would like to add a perspective to the recent discussion regarding the importance of athletics at Guilford.
I encourage members of the current Guilford community to pick up a copy of Dr. Herb Appenzeller's Pride in the Past. This book chronicles the great history of Quaker Athletics, inspiring pride in our alma mater.
Unfortunately today's Guilford is a place where trophies from past national championships are literally being used as doorstops and programs are firmly settled at the bottom of their conference standings due to a lack of funding, imagination, and creativity from the campus leadership.
As a current college athletics administrator, I am aware of how low attendance at games can be frustrating for coaches, student-athletes, and the fans who do show their support. I respectfully take issue with any opinion which lays the blame for low attendance on the make-up of a campus or the lack of a fraternity system.
This assertion from "new" Coach Scott Smith reflects a lack of knowledge of the Guilford College tradition of not having exclusive Greek organizations. This type of ignorance is not surprising, as the athletics department at Guilford has been in a state of steady decline for the last ten years. It is also one of the reasons why the worlds of athletics and academics at Guilford are always at odds.
Why is this the case? The blame can be placed at the feet of the last three presidents, as none of these men have had the vision to examine what a top-flight Division III athletics program would mean for the institution. Instead, the alumni and current members of the Guilford community get treated to the same lame promises of a better tomorrow ... only tomorrow never comes.
It has long been my opinion that the role of athletics at Guilford College has deteriorated to being ONLY a conduit to recruit more students into the residence halls. Other than a 90-foot miracle basketball shot and the men's golf program, the Department of Athletics has not been a plus for the college in quite some time. I do not blame Director of Athletics Marion Kirby, as he can only work with the tools that he is provided. Kirby has no budget, no staff support and no "pop from the top" to make the program turn the corner. If anything Kirby and his coaches should be given awards for putting together as good a program as is in place.
As a former Guilford student-athlete and member of the Community Senate I would like to add a perspective to the recent discussion regarding the importance of athletics at Guilford.
I encourage members of the current Guilford community to pick up a copy of Dr. Herb Appenzeller's Pride in the Past. This book chronicles the great history of Quaker Athletics, inspiring pride in our alma mater.
Unfortunately today's Guilford is a place where trophies from past national championships are literally being used as doorstops and programs are firmly settled at the bottom of their conference standings due to a lack of funding, imagination, and creativity from the campus leadership.
As a current college athletics administrator, I am aware of how low attendance at games can be frustrating for coaches, student-athletes, and the fans who do show their support. I respectfully take issue with any opinion which lays the blame for low attendance on the make-up of a campus or the lack of a fraternity system.
This assertion from "new" Coach Scott Smith reflects a lack of knowledge of the Guilford College tradition of not having exclusive Greek organizations. This type of ignorance is not surprising, as the athletics department at Guilford has been in a state of steady decline for the last ten years. It is also one of the reasons why the worlds of athletics and academics at Guilford are always at odds.
Why is this the case? The blame can be placed at the feet of the last three presidents, as none of these men have had the vision to examine what a top-flight Division III athletics program would mean for the institution. Instead, the alumni and current members of the Guilford community get treated to the same lame promises of a better tomorrow ... only tomorrow never comes.
It has long been my opinion that the role of athletics at Guilford College has deteriorated to being ONLY a conduit to recruit more students into the residence halls. Other than a 90-foot miracle basketball shot and the men's golf program, the Department of Athletics has not been a plus for the college in quite some time. I do not blame Director of Athletics Marion Kirby, as he can only work with the tools that he is provided. Kirby has no budget, no staff support and no "pop from the top" to make the program turn the corner. If anything Kirby and his coaches should be given awards for putting together as good a program as is in place.
