Strockbine Echoes Dr. L. Jay Oliva on Value of Athletics

IRVING, Texas - University of Dallas Athletics Director Dick Strockbine shared his reflection on the value of athletics in higher education. He stated, "When I retired from the Air Force and took my first job in Athletics at Connecticut College I found an article written by L. Jay Olivia, then President of New York University, entitled "The Importance of Athletics." It resonated with me and I have carried around with me for well over 30 years. I pull it out every once in a while and find it still has relevance. It obviously does not address the importance of UD Athletics directly, but I believe it answers the question." 

Below is the article quoted from Dr. Olivia.

“First, let me say that sports have a legitimate and important place in higher education.  This assertion is often made, but all too often the argument is phrased in terms of school spirit, community support, financial contributions, alumni interest, and the approval of legislators.  These are worthy products, and sports can indeed help produce them.

But the more important point is how athletics relates to education.  Students in college today can seldom find experiences that compel them to put their talent and egos on the line and exhibit their strengths and weaknesses in the way that athletics does.  Summoning the guts to compete in the public eye and take one’s lumps is an aspect of education that athletics delivers in its purest form.

I wish this situation could be more widely evoked in education, for there inevitably will come moments in life, far from the field of sport, where the willingness to put oneself on the line and suffer the consequences will make a major personal and social difference.

I am not speaking here of romantic notions of friendships born on the field of sport that last a lifetime; friendships are made in all collegiate endeavors.  Nor am I speaking of learning to like your colleagues.  Just the opposite; I am speaking of learning to work with those whom you don’t like very well at all in order to achieve a common objective.  That is really education for life.

Another important aspect of education is learning how to organize one’s life.  Many activities encourage it; athletics demands it.  Traveling, studying, practicing, going to class, balancing social commitments all impose the need to organize and set priorities.  Discipline has much to do with a productive life.

Another lesson in athletics is learning to invest time, energy, and commitment, especially when that investment falls short of the goal or is frustrated by the talent, or good luck, of others.  Learning to live with earned defeat, or harder still, defeat by a twist of fate, and to come back again for the next contest with even stronger determination is a lesson for life.

Regardless of the many beneficial side effects of a sports program, in the end, it is the educational value of sports that connects them to our institutions of higher education.”