Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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First lady of U 1 " 1 1 "J . HI Pam Paic J* UL111 A. U JL By Mike Chibbaro Sport* Editor Lady Gamecock hafikpthall nnanK vuavn a nil women's athletic director Pam Parsons: considered by many as the premier women's basketball coach in the country. On the court, Parsons is a dictator. She takes complete command of her team. Every move she makes is strategically oriented. She is intense, authoritative, and demanding. She demands me ultimate from her players and then asks for a little more. For some, Parsons' coaching methods may appear too severe. Her winning record, however stands as undisputable revocation for anyone that may attempt to criticize her austere coaching style. Aside from being a coach, Parsons is a pioneer in women's athletics. Her understanding of sports, of people, and of life is impressive. She is a per- , fectionist; always seeking ways to improve her i program, her team, and If IICI 9CU. In a mere three years, Parsons has transformed USC's women's basketball team into a national powerhouse. Before Parsons' arriv*', the women's program as stumbling aimlessly through mediocrity. THIS PAST SEASON, the Lady Gamecocks finished the year ranked third in the nation. Despite last season's success, three members of the team will not be returning this fall. Suzanne Woolsten and Jean Walling have transferred to Old Dominion and Cheryl Autry has transferred to Georgia. In Parsons' three years at usu, over a dozen players have left the women's basketball program before their eligibility expired. When put into proper context, this fact is not as alarming at it might appear. The number of female athletes that USC has lost is on equal footing with the notinnol avororfo TVio 4?MV*V?a?*A MTV* WJJV A IIV University of Tennessee's women's basketball team, consistently one of the leaders in women's j basketball, has lost about 17 | Lady < X 2n nn rIoq ft (next to Ed< I Welcome; y Complete Stoc (\ Pants 4 ft Jeans 4 v Blouses y ^kirtQ Rr X "V * ?^ A \Vv Special Group of V Fall Sweaters y and Velours 50% C\ ') ) no *1- "" I / Layawayis X Open M SC sports sbns; ton players in the past three years. Parsons views the rash of transfers as part of a "national epidemic" which is plaguing women's athletics. She discussed her loss of players from USC. "Sometimes problems of working together arise that just can't be worked out," she said in retrospect. "They usually stem from a lack of communication." "In no way do I deny making mistakes," Parsons said in reference to the departure of Woolsten and Walling, "but in looking back, I believe I did my best to do what was in the best interest of the girls. I wouldn't have done anything any different." PARSONS BELIEVES successful athletes must be mentally tough. She says her ability to teach mental toughness to her players has been the catalyst for her success as a coach. Un tortunately, this quality is not acquired easily. "In an intense moment, sometimes I push a player to make her mentally tough," Parsons explained. "Sometimes things are taken out of context. A player may take one cliche or one thing I said and naroor on it and use it to i move on." Parsons admitted that there have been times when she feels she has pushed a player too hard. "Sometimes I want it so bad for them that I don't realize how hard I'm pushing." "Maybe sometimes I am < too blunt, but that is my style 1 and that is what has made i me a winner," Parsons said. 1 Perhaps the underlying 1 reason lor the great number i of transferring female s college athletes is the lack of r an AIAW rule which would \ force a transfer to wait one c year before becoming f eligible for athletics at a new s school. The NCAA forces its p transferring athletes to sit _ out one year before becoming eligible. The lack of such a rule in the AIAW is a destructive force which is severely hindering the growth of many women's programs. Outlet I som Street J ens Realty) V Back Sale J ;k of Summer ft & T OO I a c/c/ l :g. to $22.00 ft Oxford Button (\ Down Blouses <\ $10.991 I(> IH.OO ft welcomed v -s 10 - <> ^ | gh, but s Parsons said the present AIAW rule would not be changed until "enough people experienced the time, A - - euon ana money that goes into recruiting a girl and then experience losing that girl just when she is ready to begin the best years of her career." TO PARSONS, the essence of coaching rests upon one's ability to "deal with people." As a women's coach, Parsons has had to overcome additional obstacles in learning to handle her players. She said "people aren't used to having a woman lead women. * VUI1 1 VUlVIllkA^l 5CIVIII5 1 mad at my mother for making me practice the piano when I was young. I used to play the wrong notes intentionally just to anger her," Parsons recalled. "But I can never remember getting mad at my father like that. Women have a problem accepting other women as leaders." Although basketball has brought Parsons much fame and prominence, she says, "basketball should be just a part of your life, not your whole life. It's not my whole life." "Student athletes should not be used or abused. I want my players to enjoy college life. I want them to be the best students they can be and I really want them to experience all parts of college life T think if vnn U ??' -? " J take care of these things first then basketball will fall into place." Parsons views her ioaching job as a multiaceted position. "Women lever had idols like men," Parsons commented. "They lave never had any role nodels to pattern them;elves after. I think girls leed more than just a coach vhen they come here. A :oach can be an important actor in their lives at age 18 ind it is my philosophy as a erson to be more than just a B ? 71 s?sif MIC E2Q dyo (npRgnMH " . ; . . ' . ' : >; - 'j coach. I see it as a service to womankind to help these 161 S 1 IN HEH THREE YEARS |MBfiSp?fc at USC, Parsons has witnessed rapid growth in women's athletics in the state of South Carolina. She w .. y./cis obviously pleased with the 11^111 acceptance of her program Bl? by South Carolinians. "It is Mtai so gratifying and touching to THIS see the kind of appreciation ] we have received for what Sunda^ we did last year," she jgggl Qrn remarked. OiTl Hi Reg. "I think the students are a BBv^ii little behind in their ac- Served with ceptance of our program. I puppies. Free wish more of them would come oui ana see us because fhone ai I think once they experience K|ij|| it they find it refreshing and 1725 Broad I exciting," she added. 1208 Knox/ Parsons, however ad- 1HB3200Two^ mitted that she was disappointed with the coverage of women's sports by the local media. "We finished in the top ten in swimming and we had trouble getting the least amount of coverage. I think all of the university's sports do not receive the kind of coverage you would expect -<V from the local papers. O ^ Q \ * * In fighting for the advancement of women's athletics, Pam Parsons has faced many obstacles. One of the toughest obstacles she has had to overcome is the frequent loss of an athlete to another school. Female athletes have departed from USO for a number of reasons. Some have left simply because they didn't find Parsons' style comDatible with their own It is no secret that Parsons clothing, is a demanding coach. But . , she does not make demands DOOKS, without offering a reward for io\A/<=*lr\/ n the fulfillment of those JtJWc? y, y demands. The most tangible and reward Parsons offers her Mayers is the thrill of aCCGSSOfl becoming a winner... the hrill of becoming a /% /" champion. the Reprinted from summer ^ ^ ssue of July 23. 747 SALUD n^JTn |i i WEEK'S SPECIAL H /, Aug. 23 - Sat., Aug. 30 fgpfi all Shrimp Dinner French Fries, Cole Slaw & Hush- ; - \ ?Ice Tea with Meal with USC ID. pffi j head for quick carry out service. HiSSl River Rd. Ph. 798-3032 EM Ibbott Dr., Cayce Ph. 796-1654 otch Rd. Ph. 786-0160 p| j I Alt, ^rihrtm^ ivtr> V/ jyiiL / / ill 11 Wf ff lis. ft AVE. IN FIVE POINTS MB! ?? I iTfj