NCAA News Archive - 2006

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Opinions


Dec 4, 2006 1:01:15 AM



Division II Sports Festival

Todd Iacovelli, cross country student-athlete

Hawaii-Pacific University

Pensacola (Florida) News Journal

"It is just such a cool idea. Not only do you get to see the athletes in other sports, which I think will inspire other athletes’ performances across the board, but all the get-togethers and events that are planned during the few days really help everyone enjoy the experience and not just sit around your hotel fretting until it’s time (to run)."

Joan Lehoullier, associate director of athletics

University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Pensacola (Florida) News Journal

"Sometimes, I think Division II athletes feel like they’re second-class citizens. Not because anyone says it or makes them feel that way, but because Division I has a different mind-set.

"The fact they’re pulling out all the stops here does make it feel much more like a special occasion than a regular championship. Hopefully, it will get more people noticing Division II athletics and the quality of athletes we have."

Stress of coaching

Tommy Tuberville, head football coach

Auburn University

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

"My dad died at age 53 of a heart attack. I’m 52. Stress is the No. 1 killer. There’s no doubt to me.

"I am a true believer that stress is something that will kill you quicker than anything."

Houston Nutt, head football coach

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

"I want to win and I put a lot of pressure on myself, but you’ve got to have an outlet. You’ve got to get away from the office sometimes. Whether it’s walking or playing basketball or riding horses, I try and always do something to give myself a break and get some exercise."

Les Miles, head football coach

Louisiana State University

Arkansas Democrat Gazette

"The sad thing about coaches is that we used to be players and we had that healthy young body and that’s the memory that you have. You just keep going and you think, ‘Ah, (health problems) aren’t going to happen to me.’

"You find a way in your own daily schedule to rationalize how little or how much you’re working out, how poorly or how well you’re eating, how little or how much you’re sleeping."

Technology and compliance

Jeanne Stangel, assistant director of athletics/Phoenix Fund and senior woman administrator

University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

Green Bay Press-Gazette

"With each (technological) step along the way, you lose a little more control. And that’s not just unique here to intercollegiate athletics. That is something that every industry and business throughout the world has to do. ...

"We’re global. We can do business globally, we can recruit globally and the lines of communication are opened up, which is a great thing. But it also means we have to have different procedures and practices in place to monitor that."


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