"Davidson Sports Should Consider Division III," The Davidsonian, November 7, 1986. · College Archives: Women of Davidson

Title

"Davidson Sports Should Consider Division III," The Davidsonian, November 7, 1986.

Description

Davidsonian article by Debbie Podolin '86, a member of the 1984 Division III championship women's tennis team. Podolin argues that the college should rejoin the NCAA Division III in order for their women's sports teams to succeed.

Date

November 7, 1986

Text

"A tree must not merely stay alive, it must also bear fruit." Most Davidson athletes are familiar with this quote describing the philosophy of Davidson's athletic program. But as I examine our fall season team records, I can't help but wonder where the fruit is. The soccer, football, field hockey, and volleyball teams are all having tough seasons. The cross country teams have been slightly more successful, but as to a winning season, that depends on how one interprets their final results. But it's not just this season, this is reflective of all Davidson's attempts to compete in Division I. The argument most often thrown at me when I suggest we re-evaluate our commitment to Division I is similar to Charles A. Neisler's in the latest Davidson Update: a shift to Division III would lower the quality of students coming to Davidson. Isn't it ironic that we spend so much time comparing ourselves to schools like Williams (Division III) but believe an athletic program like theirs would obstruct our efforts to attract "Williams-quality" students?
Two of the best experiences I shall leave Davidson with are from the women's tennis National Championships my freshman and sophomore years. I grew incredibly close with my teammates, experienced intense yet realistic competition, and learned something about my own limitations and abilities. You don't know how sorry I am that the tennis teams of '86, '87 and from here on in, will never get the opportunity to experience the thrill, the pressure and the excitement of a National Championship. And what makes me sadder is that they are being deprived not because they have lacked the talent (far be it from that!). but they have had the door shut in their face. Why does Davidson view Division II as so beneath them? Three of four years in Division III would produce several All- Americans and National Championship teams. We really shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking we're above the schools we compare ourselves to. And why are we always asking to be the exception? The only thing that makes us the exception is that we are letting Davidson sacrifice our athletic program—a program designed for the students—for the sake of everyone but students. I realize I am setting myself up for much rebuttal in the upcoming issues, but I am tired of sitting on my hands hoping Davidson will make a decision in the best interest of all Davidson students. They haven't and I'm not holding my breath. I can't stand to see our "minor" sports made a mockery of for the sake of one "showcase" sport (need I remind everyone that last year was the first winning basketball season in 11 years?). If Davidson wants a showcase sport so badly, I strongly urge the trustees to invest in a Charlotte professional team and allow Davidson to compete at an appropriate level. Davidson, in Division I, makes me think of this analogy: There is a room filled with water at throat level. There is one person, all of five-feet tall, who frantically tries to pile books and other unstable materials on top of one another in order to keep his head above water and breathe. The book falls repeatedly, but our five-foot friend keeps struggling to stay alive. The pile isn't going to do it, he can't pretend to be that tall. He is going to drown. Our friend is Davidson—he is in way above his head.
Davidson claims to be committed to a liberal arts education, a balanced and well-rounded exposure to many discipline . Davidson's athletic decisions, on the other hand, seem hypocritical of this philosophy. Were we truly concerned about the general welfare of all our teams when we threw together the golf team last spring, joined the Colonial League in football, dropped the women's basketball program, or pushed the women's tennis team in mid-season to Division I? For a school that places such emphasis on being balanced and well-rounded, we sure convey a different message in our athletic decisions. Are we bearing fruit? I see the tremendous numbers of injuries each team is inflicted with, and I can't help but wonder if we are driving ourselves into the ground. I've head that a referee once said about a Davidson-Furman football game, that if it were a prize fight, he would have stopped it. I'm asking Davidson, no, I'm imploring Davidson, reconsider Division III and stop this prize fight.

Publisher

The Davidsonian.

Contributor

Debbie Podolin.