Turn, Turn, Turn

One hundred forty years ago, Georgetown students took their intramural athletic endeavors to a new level and, for the first time, began to compete against students from other schools. Thus, intercollegiate athletics on the Hilltop were born.




One hundred forty years ago, Georgetown students took their intramural athletic endeavors to a new level and, for the first time, began to compete against students from other schools. Thus, intercollegiate athletics on the Hilltop were born.

Amidst a surge of similar competition occurring among colleges throughout the country, the principal emerging issues of this intercollegiate activity (aside from establishing agreed-upon rules for each sport) were 1) funding the costs of competing (mostly equipment and travel at the time), and 2) keeping a semblance of competitive balance amongst opponents. Not surprisingly, in this era of little-to-no regulation, the disparities on these issues between institutions could be significant and even from year to year within the same institution.

Collegiate athletics today has come a long way since those early days of student-managed intercollegiate teams. Yet, in this evolving and revolving environment, intercollegiate athletics today continue to face the same essential financial and competition issues.

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun outlines a range of options that the University of Maryland will be studying in the coming year in its strategic planning for athletics. These possible choices stem from resource limitations which, in turn, shape future options for competition. They include increasing revenues in the current unstable economic climate to tiering some of its athletic programs to eliminating teams altogether.

Georgetown has not stopped grappling with such issues since its first contest in 1870. However, through the years, the University has always embraced an additional parameter, i.e., the guiding principle that participation in intercollegiate athletics ought to be a meaningful and formative experience for the student.

In the past forty years, we have seen steady progress and growth both in resources and level of competition. Participation in the Big East Conference in basketball and track and field has led the way in contributing to the overall accomplishments of the Hoyas. Sailing and crew have also achieved impressive competitive success. Lacrosse and soccer have expanded their reach in recent years as well. Still, the lasting measure of success for all Georgetown teams is the meaningfulness and formative impact of the athletic experience on every student-athlete.

Dynamic forces in intercollegiate athletics continue to affect resource and competition factors. As a result, Georgetown must keep a close eye on the athletic landscape, ready to adapt to the changing environment.