Morehead State University - Raconteur Yearbook (Morehead, KY)

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The experience of playing competitively in High School gives some golfers, like Mike Fields, a ju- nior from Morehead, an edge on the college teams. Fields was one of five players to advance to invita- tional tournaments. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy Early morning practice and long hours on the course are parts of the everyday life of golfer Jay Cameron, a sophomore from Clearwater, F1. The team practices daily at 6:30 am. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy gal; 159

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Their days start by waking at 5:30 a.m., eating breakfast at 6:00 and then heading to the golf course to tee off at 6:30. The golf team began their day at the crack of dawn in an effort to be the best golfers they can possibly be. Coach Rex Chaney says that golf is 759?; mental and 25a; physical. iiGolfers win through careful strategy, rather than physical strengthf he said. Players are encouraged by their coach to keep everything in perspective dur- ing the golf season. 0A5 in all sports, golfers must consider academics as their first priority, golf as their second and their social lives as their last, said Coach Chaney. uGolfers need to be ex- tremely mature and dedicated? Once players reach the University, they are exposed to daily practice and competition. iiThe competition for a tournament actually starts two days before the team leavesf said Mike Fields, a Morehead junior. He commented that the entire team has the opportunity to qualify for x, Golf is more of a mental sport than physical. Play- ers must be in control of their mind out of the course as shown on Ronnie Byrdis face, a senior from Lawrenceburg. Byrd is the e2 player on the team with Fields holding lst. PHOTO BY: Kevin L. Goldy tournament action. iiEveryone has the chance to gofi said Fields. iiMembers of the team compete against each other, and then those with the five lowest scores advance to tourna- ment competition? Fields said that the Eagle golf team is capable ofwinning the Ohio Valley Con- ference Tournament iwth a lot ofdedica- tion and practice. The tournament will be held at Tennessee Tech in Nashville and the Eagles will be competing against eight teams. iiNext year the golf team should be a success because ofthe incoming recruits combined with players, experience from the past season? remarked Fields. One of the highlights of this season Getting in the swing of things was in Florida, where the team com- peted in two invitational tournaments. Five players went on this trip; they were Ronnie Byrd, Patrick Strong, Mike Fields, Todd Martin and Bud Taylor. The Florida tournament was com- pletely different than what the te 1m was used to, because the course had numer- ous, tough obstacles, such as water haz- ards and sand traps. The Eagle team fin- ished 10th out of 12 teams. Most golfers feel that this season has been a good experience, because mem- bers have gained valuable experience to carry them into next season, said Fields. - By: Angela Carter 8: Karen Craigo .

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tiltis hard to say whether weire ioverpaidi ior underpaid? Those were the words ofUniversity quarterback, Chris Swartz, after he was asked if he thought col- lege athletes received special treatment they do not deserve. , , iiItis true that we get tuition, books, and meals paid for, but itis still hard on us because we have all that extra time to put inf he said. iiSometimes we put in eight or nine hours a day on football alone? Swartz said the extra time he must spend with the team is the biggest difference between him and the average college student. You have all that free time when youire aregular student. As an athlete, you have the pressure to excel in the classe room as well as on the field? Such is the rationale University athletics departments use to jus- tify handing out full scholarships, as well as other amenities, to their student athletes. til donit think people realize the time that goes into it? said Lady Eagle basketball player Kelly Stamper. tiltis just continuous. Thereis no free time. College has- ketball is a fullatime job? Many football, basketball and volleyball players at the Univer- sity are awarded full scholarships based solely upon their athletic prowess. Many athletes who are not on scholarship obtain other forms of financial aid, although administrators insist that the amount of this aid is not influ- enced by the studenfs value to a sports team. iiAs an athlete, itis almost like being a commodity m- an asset to the school? said Roddy Peters,.an Eagle basketball player. iiAs long as we bring in funds for the school, then I think the school should pay for our education. Peters said he agrees with National Collegiate Athletic Association rules which forbid-monetary awards or material gifts to athletes beyond the cost jtfffColqulmun of their education, hut he would be in favor of Spons 160 I! is estimated that alhletes miss up to llm of their classes because oftrm cl time, So illia Rt-nllroi a senior guard from ML Sterling. durin r tl lmnanirmingham game in Fthiruury 3. PHOTO BY: college athletes receiving a salary as long as every l Athletes 0r Students.p , athlete across the ,country were paid the same f amount. L ' L ' Athletes may receive other benefits. Some are assigned better quality housing, and all are tempov : rarily forgiven for missing classwork when their team are travelling. ; , ,, Some argue that giving college athletes such spe- cial treatment is not consistent with the goals of an academic institution. US. Representative Thomas A. Luken tDemocrat-Ohiol, in an article appearing in a 1987 issue of USA TODAY magazine, wrote that the way college sports have evolved is distort- ing campus life for student-athletes. iiThe fact is that lcollege athletesl aren,t students ' 111 every sense of the word, he said. iiThey some- lmes donit live with regular student body. Their ousing may be superior in some ways . . . but it is profoundly inferior in a more important sense; segregation from other students. The ath- letes are denied the rich social and academic experience that comes from mixing with a broad range of students? The University did away with separate housing for the football team in 1986 with the closing of Downing Hall. But the basketball team still occua pies the first floor of Alumni a Tower, Which is more luxurious than the other floors. The floor is carpeted and includes a large television lounge. The doors to the basketball floor are locked at all times, offering more secu- rity than the average student ' enjoys. tA few of the rooms on the floor are occupied by non- athletesj L a y L It has been estimated that some college athletes miss 11p to 40 percent of their L classes because of travel to and from away games. The universities must consequently prOVide a way , for the student-athlete to make up the work he or she may miss. Our University is no exception. L a uIf we have to miss a test, we get an excuse for i that? Swartz said. iiUsually the teachers under- L stand. We gryeto make it up before we leave, or as , soon as we get back? a Stamper said missing classwork is 9116 ohthe 1c University olLAlue