That Old College Why

The University of British Columbia wants to take its athletic programs out of Canadian University Sport (CIS) and bring them to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Much has been made in the sports pages over the last couple of weeks as to how this move will stem the 'jock drain' to U.S. schools, rake in revenues from TV coverage and merchandizing, and give alumni the outside chance to brag to their grandchildren about how the Thunderbirds won the Final Four and the Bowl Championship* Series in the same year. How likely is all of that to happen? Given that the T-Birds would be relegated to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Division II of the NCAA) and face an ongoing feud with the CIS schools they leave behind, Rapid Transit will arrive at the UBC campus long before any substantial athletic honours do - and they'll be serving free drinks on that gold-plated SkyTrain too.

If anything, joining the NCAA would give student athletes at UBC and SFU a bit of break by playing against schools in the Pacific Northwest, allowing more time for study rather than perpetually trekking over the Rockies in the Canada West conference. UBC's baseball team already plays against Northwest Schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the second tier of U.S. College Sports, as no other Canadian schools have a baseball program. After an easier travel schedule, the tangible benefits drop off dramatically, and are tied to a school qualifying for the NCAA's coveted Division I.

Don't get this page wrong, I love my sports, but I'm also aware that in this country, Universities aren't run by their athletic departments, nor do they try to shake down the school or nearby taxpayers. From what this page has observed of the 'big-time' Universities in the NCAA, those would be the only tangible 'benefits'. There are some notable jockrider wannabes among UBC alumni (our Olympic-obsessed Premier for one) who might favour the NCAA in our collegiate playground, but Vancouver is still far better known for making videogames about sports than for any substantial sporting accomplishments**. This page is thankful that Canada doesn't have the well-oiled army of boosters who fuel the NCAA's corrupt recruiting games, slip the occasional performance-enhancing substance to a student athlete, turn a blind eye to cheating on exams, or shell out 100 grand to get a football coach fired.

Besides, if this page wants to see NCAA competition, I have to look no farther than the nearest TV. It's not like cable sports channels in this country give the CIS that much attention.

*Warning: not a real championship.

**Except for Roger Bannister and John Landy breaking the four-minute mile at Empire Stadium in 1954.