Study Reveals Alarming Decline in Men's College Athletic Opportunities

CSC Cites Pattern of Discrimination, Cuts Happening Across the Board

Contact: Eric McErlain
202-657-5877

March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2007 - A study of NCAA athletic participation data released today by the College Sports Council shows steep and steady declines in college athletic opportunities for men.

The longitudinal analysis reveals an ongoing pattern of eliminating male teams over the last 25 years. Previous studies of long-term participation rates failed to account for the growing number of NCAA member schools. For the first time, the CSC study accounts for that factor, uncovering a host of downward trends.

"Anyone that examines the data should be alarmed to see that schools have been cutting men's teams across the board for years," said Eric Pearson, Chairman of the CSC.

"There has never been a more urgent time to reform Title IX and restore the law to its original intent which is fairness for everyone," said Jessica Gavora, CSC Communications Director and author of "Tilting the Playing Field." "Proportionality enforcement has cost thousands of young men their place on the team and these study findings should be a wake-up call for everyone who cares about athletics."

Link to Study: http://collegesportscouncil.org/presentation/

Highlights of the study findings include:

• More than 2,200 men's athletic teams have been eliminated since 1981 - a consistent, declining trend of 17 percent. 
• The total number of women's teams has outstripped the number of men's teams since 1995. The number of men's teams per school is dropping to less than 7.8 per school while the number of women's teams per school has risen to more than 8.7 per school.
• Some of the sports that have been hardest hit include swimming, wrestling, and tennis.
• Nearly every men's sport has experienced consistent and often steep declines in teams throughout the country. Even football has seen a decline in the number of teams.

Press Conference and Briefing to Announce Study Results

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 2:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

WHO: Eric Pearson, Chairman, CSC; Jessica Gavora, CSC Communications Director and author, "Tilting the Playing Field"; Jim McCarthy, CSC Media Relations

HOW: Dial-in Number: (888) 632-5950 Reference: College Sports Council

FORMAT: Brief overview of the study findings will be followed by open Q&A and discussion.

The College Sports Council is a national coalition of coaches, parents, athletes and alumni who are devoted to preserving the student athlete experience.

Additional Background and Sources: www.collegesportscouncil.org

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