01/25/08
For sports fans, this interterm was the best of both worlds.
There was a variety of sports-related interterm classes offered that allowed students to learn more about the world of their favorite sport while receiving three credit hours.
“I wanted to take a break between semesters and take a fun class,” freshman Ryan McCluney said. “I didn’t even think of it much as a class because it was so much fun.”
More than 100 students enrolled in sports classes including History of Football, Basketball Scouting and Team Preparation, Techniques of Officiating Basketball, Sport Facilities and Practicum Experience.
“I would recommend the officiating class,” McCluney said. “It is a good skill to learn and can be a good part-time job.”
History of Football, taught by the Mark Stutz, chair of the department of health, sport and human performance, studied significant events in football such as the first game, Rutgers verses Princeton and the Marshall University plane crash. The class also involved guest speakers to discuss local football.
Athletic Director Dan Harris gave a presentation on Emil S. Liston, Liston Stadium and Baker football coach Charlie Richard. Don Fambrough, former KU football player and coach, talked about the Jayhawks’ trips to the 1948 Orange Bowl, which he played in, the 1969 Orange Bowl, which he coached in, and the 2008 Orange Bowl. Also, Dr. Bernie Kish, former executive director of the College Football Hall of Fame, gave a presentation on Knute Rockne and Haskell University football history.
In the Basketball Scouting and Team Preparation class, taught by men’s basketball coach Rick Weaver, the students learned basic basketball skills and drills used. The students had to attend and observe basketball practices and scout games. Students in the Techniques of Officiating Basketball class studied the high school basketball rules and hand signals used by officials. Women’s basketball coach Susan Decker taught the class.
She said if the students chose to, they could take a state test to be licensed to officiate high school games. The class members also had to attend basketball games to evaluate the officials and they were able to referee Baker’s three-on-three intramural games. The students ended their interterm by officiating the scouting class’ five-on-five game.
“It was interesting to learn what I didn’t notice before and that college has many different rules from high school,” freshman Lindsay Wineinger said.
Another option for students was the Sports Facilities interterm. The class looked at what goes into the designing of sports facilities and stadiums. Assistant Athletic Trainer Lynsey Payne, who taught the class, and students compared stadiums. The class took trips to see local stadiums firsthand, like the Booth Family Hall of Athletics at the University of Kansas and the Kansas Speedway. Students also traveled to the HOK Sport Center.
“Some were skeptical about the trips, but then saw the venue in a different light once they got there,” Payne said.