Seven Minutes
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ( ITA ) has just released a video on the history of American college tennis. It can be seen on YouTube. Seven minutes of the production deal with the complex issue of International players ( beginning at minute 53 to minute 60 ). David Benjamin gives an accurate and fair summary of this conundrum.
Personally I am grateful for the concern I have expressed starting in 1972 is history.
I have concluded that some amount of tennis scholarship money should go first to Americans. How much ? 50% ? As the film suggests–”…that is the question”!
In 1982, having been voted down by the NAIA , I exited the meeting only to hear the NAIA CEO (Dr. Charles Morris ) whisper to me “….you are right, don’t quit “!
Once I questioned my own persistence to a respected professional. His adamant response was “… worth the effort? You’re damn right it is worth it. It’ s our children. Child advocacy !”
The one point I take issue with is the suggestion only parents were concerned and disappointed. Young Americans are eliminated . 300 schools have dropped men’s teams for reasons Coach Benjamin cites. Many Coaches throughout the nation had nice local programs rendered unacceptable. Fans and students say who cares?
Still American Parents and citizens write the checks.
To have Parents and youngsters dismissed to go hunting for a fifth option for their higher education is not acceptable .
As mentioned the video can be accessed on YouTube. Or you can show it from the ITA website below:
https://wearecollegetennis.com/
I have included a letter to the ITA on this issue and others related
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CTkVeUfiQ5Ny7QMlYPZH4kBPvqvIMzMO8YpkxDxD1_s/edit?tab=t.0
MORE !!
The History Of College Tennis and the ITA
I viewed with pride and appreciation the new video. Everyone in College tennis in general, and small divisions in particular, owes gratitude to David Benjamin.
The NAIA, Division II, and JUCOS were where the influx of international tennis players began. From 1970 to 1980 was our boom.
Early on many of us wondered if this was the best thing for our schools and students and their families. Many of us still do.
We lost the argument even though a majority of ITCA coaches supported limitations. Fear of a lawsuit frightened some. The diversity issue merited influence.
I do take issue with the video on several points.
The suggestion that there are many opportunities for American youngsters at high quality Universities and colleges ( with a sizable scholarship) is flawed. Division I schools number in the hundreds before most of those have Americans with large grants for tennis. Division II is almost totally international among its elite institutions. Ditto for JUCOS. Women too. Don’t mention DIII with no grants, just price tags that create family debt for even wealthy families and students. The ITA website now makes data available that refutes earlier USTA numbers.
Paying the players will attract more and better internationals. They will bump more good American kids and lesser internationals. Will the same happen with basketball with losers being mostly Black kids? Really all “Global Sports” ( Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Track. Etc.)?
Don’t we have a right to take care of our own?
Links below are lengthy articles I wrote on scholarships, portal and payments, Artificial Intelligence and college tennis , colleges to pros.
Please relay my sincere regards to David Benjamin. Tom Parham.
The Little Green Book of Tennis 