University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Addition of NCAA benefits athletics t new ball game Stringent entrance requirements and recruiting appeal have accompa- nied KSC’s gradual change to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) in the past year. Two main causes prompted the NCAA change process; the trend of other Central States Intercolle- giate Conference (CSIC) schools leaving the confer- ence, and KSC’s goal to upgrade the athletic program by providing stronger competition both in academics and athletics. KSC has continued to be associated with both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA to insure the opportunity to quali- fy for NAIA national championships if a team has a winning season, according to Dick Beechner, athletic director. CSIC, an NAIA conference, traditionally includ- ed smaller schools. But it disbanded in May 1988 leav- ing four teams in the conference. So KSC has been forced to look for additional opponents, according to Beechner. “The four schools still in the CSIC, including KSC, would list as independent teams (in national competition) if they qualified for tournaments, ” he said. College athletics are supervised by NAIA and NCAA. In contrast with the NAIA, NCAA involves major institutions, is more widely known and can be called an all-sports athletic association, according to Beechner. While KSC belongs to both associations, certain 12 NAIA-NCAA Beechner sets pace SC is undergoing M. change - a new colise- um, pickle card sales, and the athletic association move from NAIA to the NCAA. Athletic director, Dick Beechner, met the challenge with a goal to get more people involved with athletics. Since his arrival in 1986, Bee- chner has focused on promotional programs for athletics such as cam- pus broadcasting for football, vol- leyball, and basketball games. The decision to have KSC broad- cast students cover KSC games came about, Beechner said, after a talk with Tom Draper, director of broadcasting. Broadcasting games has become a way for broadcast stu- dents to gain experience. Beechner is also credited with starting the weekly “Loper Lun- cheon” in which films of previous games or events are viewed by community members, players and coaches. A particular coach may be featured as a guest throughout each season, according to Beechner. An after-the-game gathering for players, fans and parents called the “Fifth Quarter” was one of Bee- chner’s ideas from his days at Washington State University. However, at Washington the gathering usually involved 400 to 500 people and KSC’s gatherings are considerably smaller, he said. by Angie Steffen Enjoying free time, Dick Bee- chner sinks a putt at the Kear- ney Country Club. Photo by Kevin Methe a w g a tc U] ri a ai s ei w ru w Pi cc g sc or de be ch ar m fu afc th lei pe sic thi ck pu to tin CO! an by lar a i fui me sta bu liqi

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in the residence halls. She can no longer just throw a load in whenever she wants to. Now she has to go to a laundramat to do her laundry. She also misses not having all of her friends around. “It’s kind of lonely not being able to stick your head out of the door and say, ‘Hey! Let’s go do some- thing ” she said. Regardless, Hitz said she’s glad she moved out of the residence halls. “I like being able to come and go as I please or playing my music whenever I want,” she said. It only took Hitz and her roommate two weeks to find their apartment. Other students weren’t quite so lucky. Some students who returned during the sum- mer had little luck finding a place to live. Diane Schutte, Auburn sophomore, and her roommates started looking in mid-July. Price, size and location were equally important in their search (It’s kind of lonely not being able to stick your head out of the door and say, ‘Hey! Let’s go do something.’ Hitz for a place to live. Schutte said that by the time they started look- ing, there weren’t many places left. “We felt frustrat- ed because all of the places we looked at were out of our price range,” she said. “Plus, when we called the places, they would usually say, I’m sorry, it’s already been rented.’ ” Eventually, Schutte and her roommates found a house that they could afford on 2nd Avenue.They pay $235 a month without utilities but they do have laun- dry facilities. Lauren Downing, property manager at Coldwell Banker-Town and Country said their properties were rented out by mid-July or earlier. They have their biggest rush of students looking for housing in June, although some students started looking when school was out last May. According to Downing, price is important when students look for a place to live. Location is also impor- tant for students who don’t have transportation. By Julie Wenninghoff Jeff Ortmeyer, top, Omaha freshman; Gregg Trumble, Aurora freshman; and Tim Thiele, Clearwater freshman; find living conditions crowded as they share a room in Mantor Hall. Photo by Ken Kruse Unusual apartment floor plans can lead to greeting a guest at the front door while still in the shower as Brad Rea, Wichita, Kan. junior, and Dana Pospisil, Norfolk junior, find. Photo by Patti Podraza

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By Marlon BF Sykes, Angle Steffen, and Pam Wood advantages are part of the package. Traditional rivals will be built, schedules will improve and KSC may gain a new reputation due to added NCAA credibility, according to Beechner. Eligibility rules are stricter for NCAA, according to Joan Bailey, swim coach. Students must measure up academically as well as athletically. But tougher rules for academic qualification haven’t really been a problem, she said. “Most of our swimmers have excellent grades anyway,” Bailey said. “We only lost one excellent swimmer because her ACT score wasn’t high enough.” KSC will eventually join NCAA completely which many feel will benefit the college in the long “I feel it’s a good move. When you recruit, people will want to come here because of the notoriety NCAA provides,” Claire Boroff, football coach, said. “The competition won’t get any easier though.” Larry Hennessy, Omaha sophomore, said, “It’ll generate more money, athletes and fans for the school.” Beechner said, “NCAA status can be used not only to enhance athletic recruiting, but also for aca- demic and faculty recruiting.” But, some remain skeptical as to the immediate benefit of KSC’s proposed change to NCAA. “The change probably wouldn’t influence me in choosing a college,” Ann Gibson, Chadron sophomore and swim team member, said. Dan Wurtz, Lady Lopers basketball coach has mixed feelings about the change. “If we had all the funds to make the (NCAA) switch Pd feel a lot better about it. It’s going to be an uphill battle until we raise the money. Regardless of the change to NCAA, KSC’s ath- letic expenses will increase because of travelling ex- penses, according to Beechner. Additional money will have to be raised by out- side sources. Two unique fund drives are underway through the KSC Foundation and KSC Athletic Asso- ciates, two major fund-raising organizations on cam- pus. “Grain for the Loper” is a plan to allow farmers to donate grain to KSC, who receives the profit from the sale of the grain, and the farmer gains all growing costs as tax deductions. This idea was created by the KSC Foundation and the Athletic Associates, but is being implemented by the Athletic Associates. A second idea to increase funds for athletic scho- larships is pickle card sales. The Athletic Associates, a nonprofit booster dub, has developed this unique fund-raising activity, Beechner said. The cards were made possible because of legislation passed by the state. “An agent goes to businesses to put them on sale; but they are limited to country dubs or places with liquor licenses,” Beechner said. run Sophomore Sam Somerhalder, Lincoln SE takes a scoop shot to the hoop against Mis souri Western during the 1987-88 season.