Economy puts hold on softball plans
By Braden Howell
Staff Reporter

Plans to add women’s softball to TCU’s intercollegiate athletics program have been put on hold due to budget cutbacks caused by the current economic situation, Athletic Director Eric Hyman said.

“We’re in a position right now where we’re trying to do more with less,” Hyman said.
Hoping to better comply with Title IX scholarship standards, Hyman said TCU athletics unveiled a master plan in November 1998 that included ideas such as renovating several athletic facilities and adding women’s softball as a varsity sport.

According to the NCAA, the requirements of Title IX promote gender equity in college athletics and require universities to provide sport participation opportunities for women and men substantially proportionate to undergraduate student enrollment.

Marcy Girton, associate athletics director, said the last gender equity plan was presented in 1997 with a goal to have all women sports completely funded in five years. Besides the rifle team, she said all women’s sports teams meet the maximum number of scholarships mandated by the NCAA. Starting next fall, Girton said funding will be allocated to provide the maximum number of scholarships for the rifle team.

“When the softball program was approved, everyone thought it would happen immediately,” Girton said. “But we needed to take care of our other sports first. We want to help our women’s teams be competitive, not just exist.”

According to Title IX regulations, the number of scholarship opportunities must be proportionate to the number of female athletes at the school. While 37.6 percent of all scholarship opportunities are for females, only 35.7 percent of all TCU athletes are female. An extra 1.9 percent is needed to comply with Title IX.

Chancellor Michael Ferrari said a major investment has to be made to initiate any new sports program. He said enough money must be secured to pay for a new facility, coaching salaries, student-athlete scholarships and operating funds.

“The athletic department has a continued interest in a softball program, but has not secured funding at this date to announce the launching of the program,” Ferrari said.
Hyman said softball is not the only victim of the current budget cutbacks, as several original plans presented in 1998 have also been put on hold. More practice fields for the football team and new facilities for women’s and men’s basketball have been postponed.

“Any new work would require more donations, and right now it’s just not happening because of the economic stress,” Hyman said.

Some students question TCU’s sincerity in attempting to add a softball team.

“If it wasn’t for Title IX, we wouldn’t have to worry about stuff like this, and we could put more money and focus on the sports where we are serious competitors,” said Brian Sullivan, a senior accounting major.

Once the new chancellor arrives, Girton said the athletics department will be reviewing the next five-year gender equity plan.

“Softball will be the next sport implemented at TCU,” Girton said.

Braden Howell
b.r.howell@tcu.edu