April 21, 2003

By Tony Phifer
Fort Collins Coloradoan

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State University still plans to add a 16th sport by Aug. 1, 2004, but athletic director Jeff Hathaway said no decision has been reached on which sport to bring on board. "Obviously, we'd like to get it done sooner than later, so that we can begin the implementation process," Hathaway said.

Hathaway said last fall he hoped to know what sport the Rams would add by the end of May. But uncertainty over the CSU budget because of cuts in state funding being debated by the legislature might delay the decision.

"I think folks know that the campus has been preocupied with other financial considerations," Hathaway said.

Startup costs for a new varsity sports program range from an estimated $150,000 or so for a women's or coed rifle program to more than $500,000 for a sport such as women's soccer and the facilities improvements the new sport would require.

CSU's athletic department budget for the 2002-03 academic year is about $15 million.

To meet the NCAA Division I membership criteria, CSU could add either a men's, women's or coed sport, but to comply with federal Title IX requirements the new sport almost certainly would have to be for women. CSU is roughly in compliance with Title IX requirements now, with roughly the same percentage of female athletes as females in the student body at large, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which monitors compliance with the 30-year-old statute.

Hathaway said no formal committee is in place to review the options or select the new sport but wouldn't rule out forming one in the future.

"The story really hasn't changed much," Hathaway said, referring to Coloradoan stories published Oct. 27 about the school's need to add a sport to remain at the Division I level. "We've got to have it in place by 2004, and we will have it in place to meet the NCAA Division I membership critieria, but again there's more pressing matters on the plate right now."

Eight of the other 11 Division I schools that did not meet the critera at that time already had announced plans to add a sport. Arkansas State, North Texas and Texas-El Paso are adding softball; Utah State chose women's basketball; New Mexico State is going with women's rifle; Oregon State with women's cross country; and San Diego State plans to add outdoor men's track and field to meet the six-sport minimum for men.

Louisiana Tech must add two sports to meet the new requirement, and athletic director Jim Oakes said the two sports have been selected. Oakes declined to identify the sports his school will add for the 2004-05 academic year because no public announcement has been made. But he said they were selected by a committee that included the school's athletic council, faculty members and the associate president of the student government after several months of research and discussion.

"We really had good input as to the level of interest of the student body, facility needs and so forth that go into a decision like this. We feel very comfortable that the sports we add will certainly enhance our athletic program."

Tulane and Vanderbilt also must add a sport and have not yet identified their choice, school officials said earlier this week.

"Nothing's been selected, but I think there's been some culling down of the sports being considered," Vanderbilt assistant sports information director Brent Ross said.

CSU probably has pared its list as well, and Hathaway said a formal announcement still could be made as early as next month if the school's overall budget situation is clarified.

"You look at all the different factors involved and make the best decision you can for the university at that time," Hathaway said.