Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Women 's Athi Meadt Coach BY BILLY BAKER Sports Writer This is the second of a two-article interview with women's athletic coach Violet Meade. In this article Meade continues to give her views on the organization of USC's women's athletic program. GAMECOCK: In what ways has the women's program expanded in 1968 and 1969? MEADE: We played a longer season on a schedule basis with volleyball, basketball, and tennis (Meade coached all these sports at the time). In 1971, I was appointed AAU Regional Chairman for Region Three. There was no team to represent Region Three at the AAU Championships in Omaha, Neb. We had a good season and tried to raise money to go to the championships. I wet to the athletic department and talked to Tom Price (Sports Information Director) and Coach Baskins (Administrative Asst. to the Athletic Director). I was told the NCAA would not allow any money to be spent for a woman's team in NCAA competition. At this time, Vice-President Brunton (Vice President for Student Affairs) approved $1,000 for air travel. This ELE' etics Oppo ies Are. was the first time in the history of women's athletics in South Carolina that this was done. 1 believe very firmly that this was the birth of our women's in tercollegiate athletic program as we see it today, for it has been "There is no doubt in my mind that I am qualified to be director of women's athletics in any school..." --Meade since that time that the girls teams have travelled all over th Southeast competing . In 1971, th Association of Intercollegiat Athletics for Women wa organized on the national level. Last year, as acting director of thi AIAW at USC, I received a reques for membership which I im mediately took up with 'Presiden Tom Jones. Dr. Jones was ver3 much in favor of us being mem bers, and he referred us to th( tuden n Sprin -Feb. 25, Can OTIONS - March 4, E le -*March 6, 1st - March 8, 2n4 - April 2. Inaw es Way Picked athletic committee. I was irVited to a luncheon, and we discussed the benefits of being a member of the AIWA. One of the benefits became very clear later with the girls basketball team. If we had not joined the AIAW, we would have never been a ble to go to the Regionals and later the National Tournament where we finished sixth in the nation. There is no doubt in my m ind that we were intercollegiate sports teams last year. If not, then all the money given out to us from student affairs was misused. GAMECOCK: The past few months have been busy for those involved directly with the women's program. So you think the right personel is in charge of putting the program in the right direction? MEADE: There is certainly a lot of pain when one grows from a small program into a large one. As far as our women's athletic director is concerned, I certainly hope success for her program. I w'sh nr ill wishes for any part of thi program. I do remember times in the past when I begged for money at meetings. The only thing I question is that an individual who has coached only one sport is now t Govel .g Elec spaign Starts ct ion Run-Off I Run-Off gu rat ion director of women's sports. GAMECOCK: Are you referring to Helen Timmermans? MEAI)E: Yes, I am. GAMECOCK: In a factual sense, how did Helen Timmermans became the director of women's athletics? MIEADE: How does snow fall? No, I realize that was a serious question. There is no intention for me to make light of the position. After all, she is in the position of hiring coaches now--qualified to coach winning teams. I'm sure the powers that be feel that she is qualified to be in that position, and I am not going to quarrel with their decision. I do know that when I was away from the University last October, some unprecedented and unprofessional things in women's sports happened. We wereintercollegiate in 1971-72 but for a few moments in 1973 we were club sports and we elected the coaches. During that time there were 13 girls present in a room, five of whom elected another rment 1 ions "...when I was away from the University last October, some unprecedented and unprofessional things in women's athletics happened." -- Violet Meade basketball coach who turned them down very quickly, due to the fact he did not feel the elections were either ethical or professional. There were no represenatives there from the golf team or swimming team, yet someone elected them coaches. I think also at the same time they elected an advisor to the WRA , which was an old organization which existed before Bob Dalrymple took over the intramural program. (The WRA was set up just to run the women's intramural program. The WRA has nothing to do with intercollegiate sports in any way. The sponsor of the WRA (Tim mermans) was quickly promoted to assistant of the womens athletic program under the direction of Bo Ilaean. GANIEO('K: I)o you feel qualified to be women's athletic rlirector? MIEADE: There is no doubt in my mind that I am qualified to be director of women's athletics it any school in the United States )f America.