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Page 33 text:
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Most criticism of Augsburg athletics has centered upon the football program. The past five years of Auggie football have- been quite painful for players, staff and fans. Winning is important in competition of any kind and sometimes re- ceives too much emphasis. However, in this case the won- lost record has been unsatisfactory by anyone's standards. Winning isn't everything, but when losing becomes the by- word much of what is good in athletics is stilled by a feel- ing of hopelessness, despair and finally “1 don't care-ism” which cannot help but be destructive to even the least sensitive individual personality. It will take two or three years of hard work and a little luck on the part of Augsburg's new head football coach to overcome financial, recruitment and personnel difficulties which have crippled past attempts at program revitalization. Meanwhile, some members of the Augsburg community feel that such revitalization would be a waste of effort and mon- ey. if and when it does occur. I feel that this viewpoint is unreasonable since it is conservatively estimated that a suc- cessful football program at the college would increase male enrollment by twenty or more students resulting in a return of several thousand dollars above that invested. The question 29
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Page 32 text:
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Time Out for Sports On the Role of Athletics EDITOR’S NOTE: This essay was written by Terry Blue, Augsburg athletic trainer, who was asked by the AUGSBURGIAN to comment on the athletic situation here at Augsburg. It should be noted that his essay is presented entirely as he wrote it. and does not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of the editorial staff of the AUGSBURGIAN. by Terry Blue Sports has continuously been a more dynamic part of American culture throughout the past two decades. In this span of time, the growth of athletics from the elementary school level through the professional ranks has been phe- nomenal. That interest in sports has been and continues to be substantial is amply demonstrated by expansion of pro- fessional league teams and the proliferation of television cov- erage of amateur and professional events to more than double the air time often years ago. So where, one might ask, does Augsburg College fit into this picture? Obviously the Auggie athletic program does not come under the heading of either professional or university com- petition. However. Augsburg does field athletic teams which compete on an intercollegiate basis and therefore is subject to scrutiny by those within our social milieu who voice con- cern over the role athletics plays in our culture. Athletics is strictly defined as that phase of a physical ed- ucation program which provided the environment for sport competition among strong, skilled individuals. Thus, ath- letics is a segment of the physical education program which is elitist by definition as are parallel co-curricular activities such as choral or instrumental music and drama, each of which employs a try-out system by which talent may be selected. Competition to make the team can lead to frustration for those who don't measure up talent-wise. Criticism of this situation is warranted only if people who desire to compete are not given an alternate means of participation. A strong intramural program clearly invalidates such criticism. Charles Bucher in IOUNDATIONS Ol PHYSICAL EDUCATION relates a number of aims of athletics which are universal among physical educators. A few of these aims are: 1. Promotion of a cooperative manner on the part of the individual participant. 2. Development of good sportsmanship. 3. Acceptance of people regardless of race, creed, or origin. 4. Promotion of traits of good citizenship. 5. Acceptance of both leadership and followership roles. 6. Development of social poise and selfunderstanding. As a rule there aims are realized in the athletic program at Augsburg. Exceptions to the rule do exist but they are rare. It is as inaccurate and unfair to saddle athletes with the nega- tive connotations of the title jock” as it is to label youth radical for preferring longer hairstyles. 28
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Page 34 text:
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of financing football is not a major concern of mine, but I raise the matter because of the often-repeated charge that football will continue to cost more than it can return to the college. Perhaps I am old-fashioned but one of my strongest drives in life is the quest for community. I envision athletics as one means of achieving and maintaining community on the level of comradeship among the athletes themselves and more importantly as community of spirit and interest among Aug- gies. Athletics and the performing arts bring together alumni, friends of the college, commuters, and resident students alike into one gathering. On the sports scene this is clearly visible in the diverse crowd at a home basketball game. Events such as this are a necessary supplement to Christian resolve in maintaining and building interest in Augsburg among friends and alumni, for they provide the all-too-rare opportunity for contact with the varied elements of this institution. In summing up. I wish to assert that the winds of change at work in athletics today are good and necessary. The day of the authoritarian athletic department is passing. I believe that there will always be a need for discipline and leadership from the staff personnel in an athletic program. However, an important trait of a good athlete must receive greater 30
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