Editorial: CWRU athletics' accomplishments praiseworthy
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Opinion
The Case Western Reserve University Spartans football team just completed its third straight regular season undefeated, and everyone involved with the team should be congratulated for putting together one of the most best stretches in school history.
At the same time, the rest of the Case athletics department deserves recognition for delivering positive experiences to students while remaining flexible to students' academic needs.
Case football hasn't lost a regular season game in three years and will host a playoff game tomorrow, and while football's run of success the last few years has received the most attention, other sports have turned in notable performances as well. In the past few years, men's soccer has also had a trip to the playoffs, and women's cross country has become a regular participant in the NCAA national tournament, last year finishing 16th out of 31 teams. The volleyball team won 24 games this year, completing their best season since 1997.
Yet beyond the kind of success measured in a team's win/loss record, Case athletics staff and coaches deserve much of the credit for providing quality experiences to students. A particular sport's success certainly has a role in recruiting, and Case's academic reputation is also a draw to certain students. But to keep students involved, coaches must always be willing to work with students around academics, and it is a testament to their ability to do so when students stick with athletics and go on to both athletic and academic accomplishments.
Given their solid accomplishments, Case's coaches may warrant some increase in compensation (see "Compared to others in UAA with football, Case spending is fourth; head coaches lowest paid," Mar. 20); we recognize that Case's goal is to balance their budget, but the point is that the athletics department is getting the job done.
Good luck to the Spartans as they face Trine University tomorrow - show up at noon to support the team and Case athletics.
At the same time, the rest of the Case athletics department deserves recognition for delivering positive experiences to students while remaining flexible to students' academic needs.
Case football hasn't lost a regular season game in three years and will host a playoff game tomorrow, and while football's run of success the last few years has received the most attention, other sports have turned in notable performances as well. In the past few years, men's soccer has also had a trip to the playoffs, and women's cross country has become a regular participant in the NCAA national tournament, last year finishing 16th out of 31 teams. The volleyball team won 24 games this year, completing their best season since 1997.
Yet beyond the kind of success measured in a team's win/loss record, Case athletics staff and coaches deserve much of the credit for providing quality experiences to students. A particular sport's success certainly has a role in recruiting, and Case's academic reputation is also a draw to certain students. But to keep students involved, coaches must always be willing to work with students around academics, and it is a testament to their ability to do so when students stick with athletics and go on to both athletic and academic accomplishments.
Given their solid accomplishments, Case's coaches may warrant some increase in compensation (see "Compared to others in UAA with football, Case spending is fourth; head coaches lowest paid," Mar. 20); we recognize that Case's goal is to balance their budget, but the point is that the athletics department is getting the job done.
Good luck to the Spartans as they face Trine University tomorrow - show up at noon to support the team and Case athletics.
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