Photoessay #377 - Oregon Athletics

We'll take a break from the 1987 Santa Cruz trip, but we will return.

This weekend, we go down to finally close the book on U Oregon Athletics. After being involved as a participant for over 5 years, we move on. If you can call being the parent of a student-athlete participating. Different experience than being the parent of a conventional college student. In most cases, you pay money and the student attends to whatever extent they choose. Parents of an athlete in a major conference school have other roles. In one sense, it's made clear, you are to sit in the stands, cheer at appropriate times and keep your mouth shut. Follow orders when given, write checks. You reflect on the program, you are an extension of the program.

I joke about the rules regarding working with a major university athletic program.

Rule #1 - The athletic department tells you what to do and then you do it
Rule #2 - There is no Rule #2, see Rule #1

Applies to athletes and their families. NCAA compliance strictly enforced. To a fault. No recourse.

On Friday, we attend the "Student-Athlete Graduation Ceremony & Brunch" Never heard of it? Neither had we. But we are ordered and thus we obey. "Business attire please". I'm amazed that they would actually give us a free brunch. That's the conundrum regarding NCAA athletics, the impoverishment of the athlete. Yes, you receive scholarship money and other types of perks. What's allowed and how's it governed? Unknowable. Do not attempt to figure it out. I have figured the rudimentaries of NCAA athletic scholarships. But it's like the recruiting rules, once you think you've figured it out, you haven't.

Nothing must be given to the families (except for gameday softball tickets IF your student remembered to sign up and was noted appropriately) Anything else would be construed as 'extra benefit' and strictly forbidden. This means a lift to your car in a faraway parking lot. Or a quick call on a cell phone to find out where your errant high school daughters disappeared to.

This last year, the parents fought back somewhat with the big tailgates out front. Some autonomy and presence.

Still it's been fun, my daughter received approx 100K of scholarship money, she represented the school well on the field. Traveled a lot and played successfully at the highest level.

Go Ducks!