Trip abroad helps student-athlete see reason to give back

Marist College soccer student-athlete Matt Morsch had never been overseas before he embarked on a semester abroad last year. In traveling to nine different countries in 100 days, Morsch's scenery changed frequently, and, ultimately, the experience altered his outlook on life.

In a departure from the more traditional study abroad experience, the senior elected to take part in the Semester at Sea program. He spent four months on a retired cruise ship during the spring semester of 2004. Classes were held on the ship, which made stops in the Bahamas, Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan before returning to the United States.

Going into the trip, Morsch said he expected the experience to be life-altering.

"I had a friend who had gone before and he came back a completely different person, and I expected that. I was sort of looking for that, too," he said.

Morsch got exactly what he was seeking.

"What stood out most to me was the differences that exist that people don't even realize," he said. "It completely made me re-evaluate my values and it made me realize what is important."

Morsch also returned with a slightly rearranged set of priorities and a desire to give something back.

"Before I went, I was mostly out for myself and being able to create a living for myself. Now, I would like to give back in some sort of way before I fully concentrate on that," he said. "Coming back from something like that, you almost feel an obligation to give back in some way. Everybody who got off that ship, I'm sure, is, in one way or another, trying to give back as best they can just because we have it so good here."

Morsch put his new-found motivation into play soon after returning. He spent an afternoon playing baseball with local neighborhood kids near the school and became friends with one of the boys.

But Morsch, who graduates in May, is eyeing something more structured for the future.

"I'd like to hook up with Habitat for Humanity or some sort of aid effort," he said. "I'd just like to help out and volunteer in any way I can for the summer then return and get a job."

Division III conference recognizes sportsmanship

The Empire 8 Conference launched a new initiative earlier this month that seeks to recognize student-athletes and member schools for demonstrating good sportsmanship.

The league also has developed a logo that will be printed on banners and displayed at conference athletics contests. It also created a slogan -- "Competing with honor and integrity" -- for the initiative.

As part of the Sportsperson of the Week program, which debuted January 11, each league school is invited to select one student-athlete every week who has shown good sporting behavior on and off the field. Honorees are recognized on the conference's Web site, their school's Web site and campus newspaper, and via local media. They also will be recognized publicly with a T-shirt displaying the initiative's logo.

The Empire 8 will honor one school at the end of each academic year with the Sportsmanship Member of Distinction. The award will be presented to the league member that has been most active in educating student-athletes and staff about sportsmanship and developing creative educational programs. Institutional averages of conduct fouls also will be considered.

According to Commissioner Chuck Mitrano, the newest programs grew out of many of the sportsmanship initiatives already in place.

"It seemed to be the right progression for us," said Mitrano. "The first thing we wanted to do was make sure we were educating and holding our student-athletes accountable as appropriate. It seemed the next thing to do was to celebrate the great things they do in a public way so our fans could see what our values are as well.

"The goal is to change the culture. In our conference we've really done a great job and responded well to this challenge. Ultimately, on a larger scale, we hope it will compel others to do similar things and rise to the challenge. Together, if everyone steps up and does the right things, we can make a great impact."

(For more on the Empire 8 initiative, see the guest editorial on page 4.)

-- Compiled by Leilana McKindra

Number crunching

Looking back

20 years ago

Here's what was making NCAA news in January 1985:

• Newly elected NCAA President John R. Davis, the faculty athletics representative at Oregon State University, identifies three "interesting challenges" that he hopes to address during his two-year term. Speaking to delegates at the 1985 Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Davis listed academic issues, integrity in athletics and NCAA governance as key areas of concern. Of the focus on academics, Davis says: "We need to address issues of initial eligibility, academic progress, success in graduation, support services for student-athletes, and the issue of reporting and accountability for academics within athletics."

• The NCAA Football Rules Committee votes that the touchback provision on kickoffs will revert to the 1983 rule, which called for the ball to be placed at the 20-yard line. The rule was changed to the 30-yard line for the 1984 season, but coaches and fans disliked the rule, claiming that it unfairly penalized powerful kickers.

• Old Dominion University coach Marianne Stanley, one of the top women's college basketball coaches of the day, tells the Associated Press that "the NCAA is seeing our game as a marketable one. They're seeing it as something that might potentially be revenue-producing" for athletics programs at NCAA member institutions. Stanley says the gold medal the U.S. women's team won during the 1984 Olympics has helped "open the door to acceptance" for millions of fans.

• The University of Miami (Florida) signs a $2.05 million deal with CBS to televise at least three Hurricanes football games during the next two years. The contract makes Miami the first institution without a conference affiliation to sign with CBS. The agreement does not affect Miami's affiliation with the College Football Association, which has an agreement with ABC and ESPN.