Page 6 § The Vista § June 8, 1989
Sports
Soccer funds sought EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part in depth article about the Central State University's soccer club seeking varsity status. By Mike Sullivan Guest Writer The Sport of the future. A can't miss opportunity. An athletic event that will finally link us with the rest of the world. These are some of the labels soccer promoters have attached to the sport since the early 1970's when enthusiasts predicted the game would take over American football by the end of the decade. Twenty years have passed since soccer was predicted to be the next messiah, and in some areas it has taken root, but in other parts of the country, soccer has yet to make an impact. Several nation-wide professional soccer leagues have come and gone in the past two decades, and the game on the collegiate level remains at best, a secondary alternative sport. Football American style is the sport of choice in this country, particularly in Oklahoma, where none of the state's three major universities has a varsity soccer program. Tulsa University and Oral Roberts University compete in varsity soccer at the NCAA Division 1 level, while Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State University and Central State University compete as club teams. "This is Big eight country," said Jalal Daneshfar, coach of the Central State University soccer club. "There's not much big time soccer around here, it's all football and soccer. You just don't hear about it around hear." Regardless of its level of popularity, soccer gurus continue to praise the benefits of the game saying, "the game is less dangerous, it doesn't promote agression,
and it's one of the least expensive games to operate." Advocates of the game usually draw upon this "low overhead" associated with the sport when they plead their case, and Daneshfar is no exception. that is why he and several of his teammates feel soccer warrants varsity—level status at CSU—because of its costs,rather than in spite of them. "Students are always complaining about the cost of varsity athletics; well soccer is the least expensive of them all,"said CSU soccer club member Patrick Ruefle. Ruefle, a senior history major, said because the players in the club had to pay for entry fees and uniforms,many potential players on the Central State University did not even try out for the team. "There are a lot of good players on campus who aren't playing because the cost is to high," he said. "If we had a varsity team these
people would play, and we could start recruiting too." For the time being, the CSU soccer club competes in tournaments statewide and belongs to an unofficial winter league composed of clubt teams from Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University, as well as varsity teams from Oklahoma Christian College, Oklahoma City University and Southern Nazerine University. The club teams from the three large universities are at a disadvantage when competing against organized varsity level squads, part of the reason the CSU team failed to win a game this past season, Daneshfar said. While not wanting to make it sound like an alibi for the team's losing season, Daneshfar insists varsity status would be necessary if the team were to be expected to win. "The number of potential play-
ers would increase tenfold if we went varsity," he said. "We could also recruit the quality player and walk-ons. The Edmond area is loaded with talent. I'm sure we could get some of those kids." It is this apparant abundant number of high school and youthlevel soccer players in the metropolitan area that places the three local NAIA soccer teams (SNU, OCU, OCC) among the country's best, say the teams' coaches. Wes Harmon, Southern Nazarene University's soccer coach, said not only was the area a hotbed for talent, but the time would be right for CSU to make soccer a varsity sport. "I don't know why Central State doesn't have a varsity team, but they have a golden opportunity right now to add one," Harmon said. They're a state school with low tuition, so even if they couldn't offer the student a scholarship, he could still afford it." "They're sitting in the middle of a rich area of youth programs these kids aren't going to have anywhere to play, we have to turn away quality players all the time." CSU athletic officials have said repeatedly the department would not be adding any sports, leaving Daneshfar with the realization that it may be quite some time before the soccer club is added to the Central State athletic agenda. There isn't much mood right now for supporting soccer on this campus," Daneshfar said. "Besides, men's volleyball will probably be the next sport which is added to our varsity program." Broncho volleyball enthusiasts might very well agree a men's team is next in line to be added to the list of varsity sports on the CSU campus, but according to athletic department officials, any additions to the program are not in the forserable future.
Coach's Corner By John Lukehart Sports Editor As you are reading my column, you probably already know the outcome of the first game of the National Basketball Association's Championship Series. But, just for fun Randy Anderson and I will tell you who is going to win and how they are going to do it. Since I am the Sports Editor, I will go first. I will take Detroit in six games. The Pistons are physical enough to slow down the Lakers express. Depth, off of the bench, is another Detroit plus. Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson is the key, if he is hot the Pistons are hot. However, I think that Detroits most valuable player could be Los Angeles' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If he throws up a few air-ball sky-hooks it could make the difference in a close game. Well, John, since I am just the Sports Writer I guess I will go second. The grand old man Kareem Abdul-Jabaar will have the championship series of his life. He will be playing in the last few games of his career and with his sky-hook he will perform magic. While we are on the subject of magic let's talk about the greatest player in the game of basketball, Ervin "Magic" Johnson. He can do it all. They will do it again! The Pistons like to fight a little too much, so while they are busy being ejected one-byone, my Lakers will be running up the score two-by-two.
OFF THE BENCH.. By John Lukehart under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent. Sports Editor Beginning Monday June 5, the Central State University's reBroncho Fieldhouse will offer adcreation facilities at Broncho Fieldhouse will be available to ditional weight lifting from 2-9:30 CSU students, faculty, and staff p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 1-5:00 p.m., Saturday and members this summer. The facilities will be available Sunday. The gymnasium will be availfrom 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays able for open recreation from 2 to through Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, recrea- 5 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call tional swimming from 2 to 3:30 341-2980, EXT 5230. p.m., and fitness swimming from *** 3:30 to 5 p.m. Mondays through During the weekend of June Friday. Scheduled activities include 4-5, Presidents of the nine universwimming, basketball, volleyball, sities in the Lone Star Conference table tennis, and weightlifting. met at Central State University to Validated university identifica- discuss issues and react to recomtion will be required. mendations made by the faculty A qualified lifeguard will be representatives, coaches and athavailable at all times. Children letic directors said CSU President
Bill Lillard. Some of the issues may involve scheduling, travel, scholarships and coaches, he added. Lillard hosted the presidents in the University Center Friday evening for a dinner, with the meeting being held Saturday in the President's Conference Room in the Administration Building. Universities represented were: Abilene Christian University, Angelo State University, Cameron University, East Texas State University, Eastern New Mexico University, Texas A&I University, Texas Woman's University, and West Texas State University. *** Oklahoma and Oklahoma State's golf team ranked 1 and 2 in the coaches poll will make their
bid for the national championship 38th NAIA this week in the 92nd NCAA Golf National Golf Tournament Bay Valley Golf Club Championship at Oak Tree CounBay City, Michigan try Club. A total of 156 golfers, including 30 five-man teams will begin first1 Guilford College round competition on Wednesday. 2 Huntingdon College Play will begin at 7:30 a.m. 3 Texas Wesleyan University The schedule will remain the 4 University of West Florida same through Friday, but the start5 University of North Florida ing time will be moved back to 8 6 Texas Lutheran College a.m. for the final round on 7 Mobile College Saturday. 8 Elon College Tickets are available at the gate 9 University of Charleston or by calling Oak Tree, the ticket 10 Saginaw Valley State offices at the University of Okla11 Central State University 12 College of Charleston homa or Oklahoma State University. 13 Tri-State University 14 Henderson State University Ticket prices are $5 each for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Grand Canyon College and $6 for the final round Satur- 16 Central Washington day. All-session tickets are $15. 17 Carson-Newman College
