BY HEATHER YOST
STAFF WRITER

There aren't too many times swimming and diving, a nonrevenue sport, can claim advantages over football or basketball. In the case of the relationship between university-wide recruiting and facilities, however, swimming may have an ace in the pool.

That's because more and more, aquatics centers across the country are being built as part of recreational opportunities that help colleges and universities attract students, not just student-athletes.

So while football fields and basketball arenas are set aside for use by the athletics department only, multimillion-dollar aquatics centers are becoming part of a university-wide recreational partnership that benefits schools' swimming and diving programs.

The NCAA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Committee hopes that the trend of adding state-of-the-art aquatics centers also will benefit NCAA championships by providing new venues in different parts of the country.

"There is no doubt that it's about keeping up with the Joneses," said Gothard Lane, director of recreational facilities at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Faculty, staff, students and even the community can benefit."

Maryland spent $40 million to upgrade its aquatics facilities with an instructional pool, an Olympic-size pool and an outdoor pool. The project was coupled with recreational gymnasiums, a 10,000 square-foot weight room, aerobics areas, squash and racquetball courts and other perks.

"Recreation is a growth industry right now," Lane said. "Every time you open a publication these days, there is a picture of a new facility. Quality of life for students, faculty and staff is a big concern right now. When students walk into our facility right now, they gasp. It is impressive to them. It's recruiting."

Maryland's new facilities replaced an aquatics center built in 1954. Ohio State University is about to embark on a similar project that would update pools that have been in use for as many as 68 years.

Although the university is still in the process of choosing an architecture firm and the first phase of the project isn't scheduled for use until 2003, Ohio State is setting its sights on an aquatics center that would attract national- and international-caliber competition.

"Ohio State is one of the few universities across the country that relies on its football and basketball programs to fund the athletics department, whereas others draw funds from university budgets as well," said Tim Hernon, Ohio State aquatics director. "The athletics department is contributing to the project, but it is a shared expense to benefit the physical education depart-
ment, recreational services and others."

Since the aquatics center can be used by the synchronized swimming program, water polo club, age-group swim programs, underwater hockey and masters swimming, along with the men's and women's swimming and diving programs, the cost can be further justified.

"From a recreational standpoint, we need to be able to have lap pools available in the afternoons and evenings to accommodate students and staff," Hernon said. "The recreational facility is a big draw for the students and faculty we try to attract. The swimming and diving teams benefit, too."

Championships incentive

Although the primary motivation for building projects that enhance the facilities for men's and women's swimming does not appear to be the opportunity to host an NCAA championship, the swimming committee hopes to capitalize on the campus trend.

Historically, swimming and diving championships have not had the variety of locations that other championships enjoy. In fact, during the last 10 years, 13 of the 20 men's and women's championships were conducted in Indianapolis or Minneapolis.

Last year, though, Auburn University was rewarded for its hefty investment in the James E. Martin Aquatics Center with the opportunity to host its first Division I men's championships.

Likewise, the University of Georgia will open the Gabrielson Natatorium to national exposure when it hosts the 1999 Division I women's championships for the first time.

The committee is excited about the chance to use

other new facilities for championships as well. According to Kevin McNamee, committee chair and director of athletics at George Mason University, the 1998 men's championship at Auburn provided a big step toward tapping into other venues.

"Auburn brought a lot of energy to the championships last year," he said. "When we can see that a university has a strong commitment to putting on a great show, it is great for the championships and great for the host."

To encourage bids from schools like Auburn and Georgia, which have new facilities that meet championships standards, the committee has already opened up bidding for the 2002 championships.

"This is the first year that I have attempted to extend bidding with the hope that we can get sites locked up two to three years out," said R. Wayne Burrow, NCAA assistant director of championships. "It gives more time to promote the event and increase attendance, making it better for the student-athlete."

In the past, bids have been extended only 18 months before the championships.

"I think (early bidding) helps in two ways," McNamee said. "First, people who are going to bid have to look down the road further. When it was just one year away, there was always next year. The additional time is encouraging to people because it doesn't seem like there would be an overwhelming amount of planning to be done in just one year."

While the committee is opening up opportunities for new players
in the championships realm, nonmember institutions also are asking to be part of the candidate pool. The Long Island Sports Commission is an example. Administrators there believe they have what it takes to fill the bill -- and the stands.

"It's important for all of the sports to rotate around the country and solicit media exposure and enhance grass-roots interest," said John Kiernan, commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks. "We're not as well-known yet as some (campus sites), but we have every bit as good of a facility. I hope eventually we will be recognized as a new alternative because of our facility and location."

The Long Island Sports Commission and Kiernan attracted the attention of the swimming community by hosting the Good Will Games and the Speedo Junior Nationals, a U.S. Swimming event. Besides boasting a facility that seems to meet the facility requirements specified by the commit-
tee, the New York media could give the championships additional exposure.

"We have the physical facilities and the luxury of not being in New York but next to the media market," Kiernan said. "It's a pleasant place to be."

Still the best

Although expanding championships into new markets to can help bring renewed energy and interest in the sport to different regions, the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis and the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center remain the standard by which other championships sites are measured.

"There are two things that put those facilities in a class by themselves," McNamee said. "The main thing -- especially for the short-course meters championship meet in 2000 -- is that they are at the absolute highest level of performance. You know you will have a fast meet.

"Secondly, they have great, very experienced meet-management personnel. It's like playing basketball at Madison Square Garden -- top of the line."

The swimming and diving committee has historically chosen those sites at least once every four years to give championships competitors a chance to experience the facilities during their collegiate careers.

Both will host the Division I men's and women's championships in 2000 for the first short-course meters meet.

Although the committee will likely continue its loyalty to regular championships in the premier natatoriums, consideration is being given to new facilities that meet minimum specifications for each division.

For Division I, the facilities must meet required dimensions and be able to accommodate at least 1,000 spectators. The facility also must accommodate media working areas, press conferences, ticket sales, drug testing, concessions, athletic training needs and meeting space for the committee.

The committee looks for the day when it has a plethora of quality sites to choose from for championships.

Now that recruiting trends have pushed universities across the country to step up their commitment to swimming and diving facilities, the committee hopes that athletics departments will follow suit and step up as championships hosts.