Arkansas Blog

Warriors?

I would have thought maybe the Poets or the Lumberjacks. The men would be the Poets.

As an alum, I got a survey call back in February which went to great lengths to disguise the fact that they were REALLY REALLY PUSHING FOR A FOOTBALL TEAM. I told them that it was a waste of money and wanted no part of it. Just who is pushing for this? Students? Faculty? Alumni? Administration which is trying to relive misspent glory from their past? Bingo.

So now when I get my monthly call urging another donation I'll tell them that Madison Murphy can pony up for my share.

I'll tell you what.

We'll have a 4 team football tournament between UCA, Hendrix, ASU, and, oh, Central High School. The winner gets to play the Razorbacks. The winner must also give up the right to whine, moan, and complain when people don't do them a favor.

Probably won't be a student body builder. I went to school similar to Hendrix and no one gave a shit about football for the most part and I suspect that is their niche as well Obviously I must be wrong as they would've checked into the feasibility for this. There was actually a lot of other things to do nearby my college which is obviously different than being stuck up in Conway. (Yes, I would describe it, if you are college age with outside interests, as being stuck up in Conway. )

Yeah, yeah. Great place to raise family and all, but c'mon, you want to hang out there in school for four of the "fun" years of your life?

So maybe football is their option.

Oooh ooh, division 3 football. These are kids who were second string in high school. Maybe Hendrix should dig deeper and ask what type of school they truly aspire to be going forward. Maybe the answer isn't so boring.

Why is football always the answer down here. Maybe we don't ask the right question?

Maybe times have changed but in the early 90's I could barely scrape 5 or 6 Hendrix kids together to watch the Super bowl. Good luck getting a whole team together at a small liberal arts college that doesn't offer scholarships.

Speculating on what the big rivalries in division III football will be is like speculating on potential rivalries at the Special Olympics.

They'll get their players the same way other D III schools do. They'll give them "grants" instead of scholarships. Don't think it doesn't happen among the hallowed halls of academia.

Oh, man! I really loved bragging about how our football team was undefeated since 1960!

Go Warriors!

Arky

I believe about 5-10 years ago one of the egghead publications (Chronicle of Higher Ed maybe?) had a really big article about football being a huge plus for small liberal arts colleges. Schools adding non-scholarship football saw enrollment grow by about 150 students (players, girlfriends, siblings, friends, etc)

The schools spend zero on scholarships, equipment goes on a 2 to 4 year replacement cycle.

Hendrix will likely spend around $200,000 a year on football but will gain between $350,000 and $500,000 in in tuition, room, books and board.

They could probably go Division 1 in Dungeons and Dragons.

Wonder what Chick Austin or Ivan Grove think?

Well:

Ah, that's speculative math. Maybe Hendrix should be a little more creative and forward thinking in trying to increase enrollment. Maybe develop some far-reaching, novel academic program in one cutting edge but in-demand area that can utilize or build upon programs and faculty already in place. A program and curriculum that breaks the mold and attracts a diverse group of students.

But no, it seems that football is the way to go. That's just what the South needs. Another college football team.

Maybe, what it needs is the development of an "forward thinking entrepreneurial studies program" that weaves in the best of their liberal arts curriculum with a bold innovative business or science oriented foundational degree program focused on creating careers for the global, increasingly borderless economy of the 21 century.

There's your 150 students right there. Even in Conway if you incorporate some innovative travel and semester "internship" opportunities with companies in larger markets as part of it.

But instead let's start a football program because, heck, yeah, we gotta have one of those.

What kind of school do they want to be? You can only play it so many ways.

I would have considered Hendrix more seriously if they'd fielded a football team back when I was a student-athlete. I believe I'd have had more fun had I not been playing for a scholarship each year as I did at a couple of AIC schools. This is good for the school and will attract more students. Freedom County is correct in his assessment; just like sports teams in the old AIC and the ACT scholarships and Pell grants which helped bolster the lack of actual athletic scholarships when I played. I had some D-III schools recruiting me then but they were in towns in Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma I absolutely hated. Conway's not so bad, except for Faulkner County's dry status (important for most college students I knew). Our coaches every year spent as much time helping kids fill out those grant papers and scholarship papers as they did coaching techniques and plays. And what's wrong with attracting as many Federal and state dollars for one's school? Those are dollars they wouldn't have had a chance to procure otherwise.

I would have considered Hendrix more seriously if they'd fielded a football team back when I was a student-athlete. I believe I'd have had more fun had I not been playing for a scholarship each year as I did at a couple of AIC schools. This is good for the school and will attract more students. Freedom County is correct in his assessment; just like sports teams in the old AIC and the ACT scholarships and Pell grants which helped bolster the lack of actual athletic scholarships when I played. I had some D-III schools recruiting me then but they were in towns in Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma I absolutely hated. Conway's not so bad, except for Faulkner County's dry status (important for most college students I knew). Our coaches every year spent as much time helping kids fill out those grant papers and scholarship papers as they did coaching techniques and plays. And what's wrong with attracting as many Federal and state dollars for one's school? Those are dollars they wouldn't have had a chance to procure otherwise.

there are many students out there who think it is cool to go to a school where sports are not a factor. They wear their disinterest about it on their sleeves as a badge of honor. Hendrix is in the hunt for many f these types I would think.

Conway is not so bad? C'mon now. For college? Man, if you are a heads-up student with a fairly broad range of interests, I would think that type of student wants to be in a larger fish bowl, with more going on. We have to be honest about that.

They'll always be some kids who want the small town feel but I think Hendrix gets written off by applicants who are accepted simply because it is in Conway, especially by those and who are paying for it themselves and not relying on any cash from Hendrix to tilt the scales,

I'm not bashing Conway. It's lovely. I even has a friend of a friend who knew someone from there once. Just not a good place to plunk down a College in todays day and age. But at least they have cable.

Wait a goddamn minute!

What about all those insufferable pricks and prick-esses who strutted around in the 1970s and '80s braying about how "MY school doesn't believe in football teams."

The Razorbacks would find it difficult to keep the score under a hundred against Hendrix, true. But if you limited the squads to (1) actual students (2) students not indicted, convicted or on probation for (3) shop-lifting, drunk driving, armed robbery or (4) beating up whatever young woman is dumb enough to put her life and limbs at risk, then (5) Hendrix would be no worse than an even bet against the Hogs. Maybe Hendrix is not out to be a farm club of the NFL, or to contend for a BCS bowl, and just wants to give the kids who want to play the opportunity to gin up a little school spirit. Believe it or not, the Razorbacks were once a student team before they became first a Top Ten team and then a team contending for spots on the 10 Most Wanted.

I'm for the Warriors.

According to my records Hendrix first played Arkansas in 1911, dropping a 45-0 game to the Razorbacks. Though Hendrix never defeated Arkansas they twice played Arkansas to a scoreless tie, most recently in 1932. The last time they played was November 18, 1933 when Arkansas won 63-0 in Fayetteville.

When I was a Hendrix student, I liked the fact we didn't have football. When the school went from NAIA to Division III after I left, I thought that was a great move. I feel strongly that we can't de-emphasize sports enough in our society and schools today. If anyone had asked me (I hide from the alumni association and fundraisers), I'd have told them to spend the money on sending more students overseas, or handing out more scholarships, instead of football. And I won't be coming down to see any games if they do carry through with this. But I'll reserve judgment on this decision until it's clear whether adding football has a tangible benefits outside the football program -- like a real increase in attendance or additional revenues to fund academic pursuits.

What's with the sword and the menacing, take no prisoners, hide-all-the-women-folk look of the Warrior Mascot? And the hair. Looks a little fluffed up, with product even, in that metro-sexual warrior kind of way

very odd the way this mascot thing has evolved.

It appears that the public relations firm entrusted with coming up with the new Warriors logo to replace the politically incorrect former Warrior must have stolen the Mel Gibson/William Wallace image from "Braveheart" and turned it into the Hendrix Warrior. My opinion is they should have gone with the former Arkansan Michael Beck's image as the leader of the New York gang Warriors in the 1979 movie "The Warriors.

Really, for a supposedly left-leaning., academically oriented "liberal Arts" school you'd think the student body would've more carefully considered that Mascot as the graphic representation for their school. It's so out of touch with the times. It seems to me anyway. are these kids thinking about these things. It's what college students do! It's just so over the top and in your face and generally off-putting. And I have to say it, the hair is embarrassing. Really, let's do a redo on the hair OK. Can we get the hair guy to take another pass at it. Thanks.

It's like they cut the hair off some other school's Wolf Mascot and plastered it down on this home-ecectus manly warrior, killer dude.

I'll guess that this is in big part a facet of the commercial expansion into the pine groves. Guarantees at least some consumers a few times a year. But being one of those insufferable pricks myself I find a nostalgic disappointment. Capitalism can motivate many activities within a college. Hendrix has a fine athletic reputation without a stadium et al. "et al" How's that for snotty?
Go Berserkers!!

iabl1969, what rock you been living under? Or are you just a snob? Yep, Conway is still a good family town but last time I visited some friends up there, I found myself in a bar, then walking around downtown looking at art, then a resturant for wine and dinner. While not little rock or fayetteville, it was sure different than when I last had been up there. And I've always heard it was the wettest dry county in Arkansas. I give them thumbs up for now on how it's progressed. Now if they could only handle their traffic better.

I"ll miss the shirts I saw that read, "Hendrix football, Unbeaten since 1960"

Inside

I'm not a snob. At least i don't think so. But for the record I think Fayetteville is worse than going to Conway for school. Dixon Street? C'mon what is up with that? I mean how many times can you"Do Dixon Street" in four years of College before you want to go off yourself. You pretty much have to get drunk every night if your doing college in Fayetteville. So it has that brewery pub going for it at least.

Oh man, I better state right now that I'm just messing around, having a little fun. That last one might about the beloved Dixon Street might get me hung. Yeah, I know, they have your names etched in the the hallowed Cobblestones up there. Wow, that makes it fun when you bring the kids back for the big game weekends. Hey little Johnny, let's see if we can find mommy' and daddy's brick again.

Hey, I'm kidding. Really. No fooling. I Swear.

Dickson Street

hugh mann

My bad.

A 2007 Hendrix grad and last year's Student Senate president copied me on an e-mail he's sent to college staff. He predicts reaction to the football decision will be "huge" and says it was opposed by most staff, students and alums. His note:

I am utterly heartbroken that the Board of Trustees approved the addition of football to our athletics program today. Since graduating last May and reflecting on my 4 years at Hendrix, I realized that my time at the school fundamentally shaped who I have become as a professional and adult. The ideals instilled in me through intensive class discussions, student organizations, and volunteerism led me to alter my path from corporate law to public service. I will begin a masters in health policy at Johns Hopkins this fall, something I never could have predicted just a few years ago.

Now with the College so doggedly focusing its attention on athletics, I fear that the Hendrix experience I so cherish is slipping away. I feel that I know and understand the student body at Hendrix quite well and, mark my words, the post-football Hendrix student body will be cliquish, confrontational, and generally less-interested in academics and intellectual pursuits. Hendrix will no longer be a haven for kids that wanted a College where their artistic ability, deep convictions and beliefs, and unique passions would be incubated.

I also feel compelled to report my sincere belief that the polling of alumni conducted a few months ago amounted to a so-called "push poll." The questions were prefaced with biased "facts" about a football team that were intended to elicit a positive response. Jay Barth taught me much about about the political process and a lot about push polling. I know one when I hear one.

After I heard the news, I had to leave work early because I was so bent out of shape. I'm tempted to take rush my President's Medal to the nearest pawn shop, although I wish I had done so yesterday; the value of it has certainly decreased in the past 24 hours.

Regretfully yours,

Russ Montgomery
2007 President's Medal Recipient
Student Senate President 2006-07
Social Committee Chair 2005-06

I agree with Russ Montgomery so I will not belabor his point. Academics NOT football is what made Hendrix College great.

Daniel R. Feild
Student Senate President 2005-06

Since this has skewed into a Conway pro/con discussion, here is my take on it.

Drive Hwy 65 South into Conway to hit I-40 and you crest a hill and see sprawl at it's worst. 60 foot tall signs and a half empty shopping center on the left has its own traffic light with priority over a state highway!

If that isn't hick enough, then you get to a traffic light to turn left onto I-40 and, get this, when you have the red light you have the right-of-way, on the green light you have to yield to oncoming traffic!

What ASU or Hendrix alum helped design that traffic light?

Mayor Tab Townsell needs to get his head out of his heiny and get that embarrassment corrected. I am embarrassed simply by having that traffic light in Arkansas.

No offense to the Hendrix folks, but the presence of football should in no way affect the excellent academics as Hendrix. There are many D3 schools with football teams, who just happen to have academic programs that are equal to or better than Hendrix. Max, didn't you attend a school that proves my point?

Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth all have football teams.

They seem to be doing OK...

Academics were never hurt by our crappy basketball and soccer teams. Why would a crappy football team spell doom?

That letter reminds me of what I miss least about my Hendrix days: whiny, self-righteous brats. Sad to say I used to be one.

The more interesting question is the possible split of Division III.
The rumor has been that if the NCAA splits D-III into two divisions, with the the new one being for club sports, that Hendrix would join the new division and drop all intercollegiate athletics.

Hendrix alums are just pissed they aren't in the same group as Rhodes or Sewanee, all football playing D-III schools that have better academic and athletic reputations.
The old alums because they don't play football and the new alums because they think that the school is diving too deep and too fast into sports.

Re: Moxiemorong,
While I will not going to respond after this I have to at least respond to your ad hominem attacks on Russ and myself but moreover I think it is unfair and small of you to bash existent sports teams. Some of us gave a lot of time and energy while we were at Hendrix because of what kind of place we believed it to be. (Clearly you are more apathetic on the matter than some.) Hendrix is a community founded open discussion and self-development (remember the motto). The ability to express opinions in an open forum is what I liked BEST about Hendrix. This being said your comment reminds me of what I liked least about people in general: those willing to so readily dismiss educated and meaningful opinions simply because they don't agree. That is not what I learned at Hendrix. And by your comments it is clear that you did not learn much during your time there.

"it is clear that you did not learn much during your time there"

Truer words have never been spoken.

Man this is going light up the boards tonight. I guess I better hold off on making the down payment on that skybox. Seems like there may be a student uprising a brewing. Now that's the college spirit.

Could be a few trustees got to thinking of the ole glory days of Hendrix Football and let their testosterone get the better of them. If i know Hendrix students, and I don't at all, I'd say they are a great bunch of smart, nerdy (in the good way) kids who don't really give a rats ass about football being there.

But what about the imposing Homo Erectus Wolf Mane Man Masco?. What say ye on tha? I"m hearing surprisingly little about him. Surely that can't be a done deal either.

Moxiemoron:

Actually, Hendrix turned me FROM a whiny, self-righteous brat who cared more about money than anything else TO someone who wants to make this world a little bit better of a place, because doing so will make my life more fulfilling than would a nice paycheck. A lot of us came to Hendrix because we went to high schools were football was paramount and frankly wanted a place where resources would be put where it really matters.

Russ Montgomery

Russ,

Good for you. I had a great time there as well.

Just when I didn't think I could be any more disillusioned with the college from which I graduated (class of 93), they bring out football. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE football as a sport. BUT I went to Hendrix to get away from the full frontal assault of sports and to get an education. I seem to recall that one of the key factors for me going to Hendrix was the small class size and the cap of 1000 students. Why do they need football to "expand" the student population?

When I was there, they still had scholarships for athletes, who probably didn't have to keep a decent GPA, while the ONE full ride scholarship per class winner was dying to keep a 3.5. I was happy when they moved to a conference that didn't allow scholarships.

I was not happy when they convinced Conway's mayor to put a stranglehold on the primary north/south artery and told them to no longer consider me an alumni. I've watched as my "environmentally conscious" school clear cut their land so they could move a baseball stadium (baseball...something else of questionable value at a liberal arts school). I guess that like GWB, Hendrix will keep amazing me with it's stupidity.

Hell yes, it was a good time. Best party I ever went to. And the finest aspect that I recall from that cesspool of double standards and hypocrisy is that dialogue was so very important in our daily lives. Apart from having grandparents as alums of Henderson Brown and Galloway Womens' a blown ACL is what got out of footbal and in to Hendrix. What hasn't been mentioned is that HC has maintained about a thousand students for decades graduating a little over a hundred every year. What is having the 60 students, (male) who also play football, going to do to the, for lack of a better word, ambiance? What will recruiting these students do to the demographics of the studentry?
Now realize, I don't give a shit. HC these days is a place for kids much richer than I was or ever will be. They'll never see another dime of mine and I bet they aren't waiting on it either.
Just a little nostalgia. wtf

zarathustra:

Points well taken. If nothing changes, why put all these resources and time into it? Why not try to improve that lackluster graduation rate you mention? Not to play into stereotypes too much, but I doubt football players will assist in that.

yeah, bugger it. I'd missed the scholarship change. Classmates and neighbors of mine, swimmers, and bballers, on a scholarship made damn sure they made the grades. I would never suppose that HC can't recruit the people to play ball. But as you say, why?
Well, the answer is pretty clearly cause its a bidness. Somebody is putting serious duckets on the line and if you ask some old stoners like Murphy and Peregrin they'll tell you duckets talk.
Fuck abuncha football. What ever happend to that great frisbee golf course?

When will they re-brand as "Hendrix University"?

Russ, as I stated early on, I suffered through that dreadful poll. I think they hired it out for this one unlike, unlike getting the poor students to shame the alums into coughing up some more dough. The "interviewer" seemed suprised that I was opposed to football at my alma mater. This was after listening to 30 minutes of inane questions about my "college experience".

If the students and professors are curious about this, they should look into the poll results. I assure you that this was a push poll, so the results should be skewed highly towards putting in a football program. However, if the poll is mixed then it is obvious that most alums don't favor it.

While we're on the Hendrix subject, here's a question to ponder. If Hendrix graduates are bright and wealthy, why oh why would anyone want to invest in a campus condo within a stone's throw of I-40? Oh, I forgot. There will be a berm between the freeway and your bedroom window. That will surely deaden the sound of tractor-trailers 24/7. Oh yeah, there's going to be a roundabout at the hideous intersection by the school. How long will it take the city to figure that one out?

The things that make Hendrix an excellent education environment are the students and the professors. Much of this education continues outside of the classroom. The administration and trustees can pat themselves on their backs as much as they want. Over the years it has become obvious that Hendrix has moved from a liberal arts college to a money making enterprise. Does an enormous endowment compensate for not being well endowed?

When I was young and had potential, I fancied myself as a serious-minded sort of young man. I can hear myself in Russ and Daniel at a certain point in my life. I am a Hendrix alum and I have more than a nodding acquaintance w/the movers and shakers that made this decision. I drew hyperthyroid lines in the dirt at their age over issues that I now shrug my shoulders about.

There is no doubt that intercollegiate athletics can be a viral disease. There is no doubt that football-or any other sport for that matter-can matter more in the culture than the higher academic mission of the college that they are allegedly attached to.

But, boys, do you really think that football is the beginning of the end? Russ-do you really believe that a degree from Hendrix is so easily devalued? Princeton plays football. West Point plays football. Vanderbilt plays big time football. Those are colleges that sold their soul? A degree from these places means less b/c they play football?

When I was a young man I wrote some stupid shit. I wrote an essay once that amazingly got published. I hung it up and I cringe whenever I walk by it. I was so veddy veddy serious. A buddy of mine at the paper charitabily has said " That was actually not so bad."

Russ- melt down your medal? That's pretty narcissistic and the world is full of them.

Remember this post son.

Chill.

I always get Hendrix and Harding confused. Now which one is the Church of Christ school and which one belongs to the Methodists?

Harding is the one that would never have this conversation.

bopbamboom:

You are probably right. I probably will look back on this and say, what the hell was I so pissed about? But I'm a 23-year-old, idealistic, forward-looking "boy." I invested hundreds of hours and a considerable amount of brain cells (when they weren't compromised) working to make Hendrix a better place. I loved my time there and will always thank Hendrix for its positive influence on me. So, perhaps my comments about pawning my medal were over the top. My anger is due to an administration that doesn't care what students think and that thinks it knows what is best for the College wihtout understanding what makes the student body tic. I think its a pretty good place now without trying to change it. A football team will fundamentally change Hendrix. No question.

Thanks for your realistic perspective. Give yourself a cheers in 5 years when I realize you were right.

Russ Montgomery

Russ-

Don't beat yourself up. One of the things that you don't realize at 23 is that things change. Even places and people that you think will never change. 10-12 years ago the big brouhaha was over going Division III. 4 years ago it was the non-controversy about the mascot. Things change. When you are my age many of the professors you loved will have retired. Your children adn your friends' children will be at Hendrix. One of the weirder out-of-body moments I experienced as an adult was when I visited a girl in Galloway a few years ago.

I once had to escape through the 3rd floor window after being caught up there after hours while on a considerably less honorable mission during my senior year.

One of my favorite professors during my day was the late M. Francis Christie who said "The mark of an educated person is the ability to discern whether or not a particular proposition is nonsense."

Nothing wrong w/being idealistic. Don't ever lose that. Just run Dr. Christie's maxim through your head before you draw a line in the dirt. Sometimes you will hit the mark and sometimes you won't. That's OK too.

And remember this conversation 25 years from now when some young person in your life pops off.

Max knows how to get in touch w/me. Give him your e-mail address. I'll buy you a beer.

Hey Bop, I'm a bit older than 23 and when I look at some of the changes going on at Hendrix, I find them to all be nonsense: an allegedly "environmentally aware" educational institution clear cutting land for commercial purposes, a strangle hold on a major artery through the city, football.

I applaud Russ, although I hate to inform him, this isn't the first time, nor the last that the adminstration will have given a big "F You" to the students and faculty. See, you're not paying the bills anymore. Neither am I. Our opinion doesn't matter to Cloyd. We're not what's going to get monuments built to him on campus. Murphy and whoever else on the Board didn't make it for their high school football team (and is still pissed about it) probably whispered "bring back football and we'll put YOUR name on the stadium" too many times for Glory Boy Tim to ignore it.

Hey Bop, I'm a bit older than 23 and when I look at some of the changes going on at Hendrix, I find them to all be nonsense: an allegedly "environmentally aware" educational institution clear cutting land for commercial purposes, a strangle hold on a major artery through the city, football.

I applaud Russ, although I hate to inform him, this isn't the first time, nor the last that the adminstration will have given a big "F You" to the students and faculty. See, you're not paying the bills anymore. Neither am I. Our opinion doesn't matter to Cloyd. We're not what's going to get monuments built to him on campus. Murphy and whoever else on the Board didn't make it for their high school football team (and is still pissed about it) probably whispered "bring back football and we'll put YOUR name on the stadium" too many times for Glory Boy Tim to ignore it.

I am proud to know both Russ and Daniel. As an alum rom 30 years ago, I find the re-introduction of football an expensive sop to Pres Cloyd's vanity. 30 years from now, I wager Russ and Daniel will be better remembered than Cloyd.

PS- It WAS a push poll.

OH MY GOD, WHO CARES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Jeez, people! This doesn't matter. Why get so worked up?
Hendrix can still be the best school in the state AND have the worst football team.

Russ, stop taking yourself so seriously, man. You're gonna have a heart attack before you're 30.

Normally, I would never read anything Hendrix sent me, but in light of this post I decided to check out this letter I got yesterday -

Dear Moxie,

At last Friday's Board of Trustees meeting, the Board heard a series of reports from the Football Study Committee and the consultants engaged by the committee to study if the addition of football as a non-scholarship NCAA Division III sport would benefit Hendrix College . The report was discussed at length by the board and in an executive session. After the executive session, the board chair, Madison Murphy '80, issued the following statement:

The information presented to us today indicates that the addition of football would support the efforts of Hendrix to increase the size, quality, and diversity of its student body. Adding football will protect recent enrollment gains, and faculty additions made possible by these enrollment gains in a time when the number of college-bound students is projected to decrease in Arkansas and across the nation.

The Board does not intend for the addition of football to take away funding or attention from the academic program or from existing varsity sports.

Therefore, the Board directs the President and the administration to add varsity football at the NCAA Division III non-scholarship level. Further, the Board directs the administration to develop a more refined set of projected costs, including capital requirements, and to examine the feasibility of raising external funds to cover the start-up expenses. The reinstatement of football at Hendrix College is contingent on finding private funds for the start-up capital costs. In addition, the Board directs the President to establish other sports as necessary to remain in compliance with Title IX regulations. The Board directs the President to report back to the Trustees on the start-up costs and the fund-raising feasibility prior to the moving forward with the reinstatement of football. The Board is committed to the College in maintaining the academic profile of our students and the highest standards of a liberal arts community. The Board does not indicate a specific timeline to achieve these objectives.

The College's fund-raising efforts will continue to be focused on raising support for the academic program, the Odyssey Program, and construction of the Student Life and Technology Center .

Important points the Board considered in reaching this decision:

· New student enrollment could increase by approximately 60 new students and increase net tuition revenue.

· The addition of football would create new social activities for all campus constituents.

· The addition of a minimum of 60 men to the Hendrix campus will be a bonus for the campus and community. The current gender balance is 55% female and 45% male and nationwide there is a current trend of a decline in the number of male college students.

· There is evidence that football could create a desirable diversity of students.

· Growth in enrollment will provide additional tuition revenue which will add additional faculty to assist in maintaining Hendrix's 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio which could in turn enrich and expand the curriculum.

· In researching the top 50 liberal arts institutions that participate in non-scholarship Division III football, there is no evidence of negative repercussions regarding the quality student profile or erosion of the values and culture of academic excellence.

Right now, President Cloyd is addressing the faculty, staff, and students and has asked that we share the following statements with the alumni as quickly as possible.

We believe non-scholarship Division III athletics enhances the whole person academically by providing opportunities to compete athletically against our peer institutions and increases the value of a liberal arts education. Adding sports only increases the opportunity for our students to compete on the playing field.

Football existed at Hendrix in the past. Hendrix ended the football program in 1960 primarily because other Arkansas colleges began offering athletic scholarships. Schools competing with Hendrix were subsidizing students - paying football players' room, board, tuition and often spending money - in exchange for those students' participation in athletics, according to the James E. Lester, Jr.'s 1984 book Hendrix College: A Centennial History. In the fall of 1955, the Hendrix football team included only 22 players and over a three-year span, the Warriors won only one football game. These factors forced the discontinuance of football at Hendrix in 1956. Football returned briefly, but was discontinued altogether following the 1960 season.

For more details on non-scholarship Division III football, click here. To read the press release about Hendrix's decision, click here.

Hendrix will be the first college in the state of Arkansas to have football at the NCAA Division III non-scholarship level. As a member of the Alumni Association Board of Governors, we are asking you to please support Hendrix in this decision.

Pamela Owen '82

Associate Vice President for Alumni and Constituent Relations

Apologies for the multiple postings....I got an error message and figured it didn't post.

The Only Good--I care because 19 years ago, I chose to go to Hendrix for very specific reasons. My time there caused me to believe certain things about the institution. Since then, they appear to have abandoned everything that was my basis for choosing to spend over $40K there. So yeah, I'm a tad irritated.
If they really need 60 more students, how about offering more than ONE full ride scholarship per class and lowering the requirements to a little more reasonable? If you look at the ROI of adding a football program (and stadium, which they may not have the land for), I cannot fathom that it will ultimately bring in THAT much extra money. Granted, I went to college with guys who never made their high school team and a few of them would probably donate money to "relive the glory they never had", but most of the people I went to college with didn't care about sports one iota.

As a Hendrix Alum, I am disappointed and embarrassed by this decision. This decision was widely opposed by the college's core: students, faculty, and alumni. Yet a few - most of whom are of considerable wealth - wanted football, so it was done.

To be clear, I don't think a football team will diminish my degree. Hendrix has a strong faculty and alumni base, and a decision to add football won't change that overnight. But football will change Hendrix at its core - it will bring in a different type of student. When I was visiting colleges, it was readily apparent that Hendrix, unlike Rhodes, the U of A, or SMU, was an open community that accepted students of all backgrounds. Intellectual debate - albeit over beers or other substances - was the norm. Sure, other schools have students that do the same thing, but those students are not widely accepted like they are at Hendrix. At the other schools I visited, everything revolved around "going out;" that just was not my scene.

Looking back, the debates I used to have don't matter now, but that's not the point. I enjoyed sitting around debating tax and economic policy, health care issues, and other topics of the day as opposed to talking about how drunk I got the night before or the fight me and me boys got into or how many girls I hooked up with. Hendrix students are idealistic to a fault, and that is what is (was?) great about the place.

Russ and Daniel, I applaud your activism. Many will tell you to argue for a real cause, or make comments telling you to grow up. One day you may have the reflection described above, but so what. If you don't stand up for your ideals now, then you will not know how to stand up for them when you "grow up." Hendrix is producing individuals who will take a stand as opposed to those who keep their seat. Hopefully, that will never change.

Ok. I sent the news to a Hendrix alum living in Houston. A very successful atty. Here is her response:

"I did better than that. I sent them a nasty gram telling them they are cut out of my will! Money talks, bullshit walks."

Russ Montgomery, for all his academic achievements, sure is lacking in common sense. Football isn't being brought back to the Hendrix campus to make Hendrix "great." It's an additional extra-curricular activity that will appeal to some, appeal to others as something to actually participate in, appeal to many as a weekend diversion, perhaps attract some additional students for those aforementioned reasons, and that's it. Will Hendrix' administrators, coaches and football alumni want the Warriors to strive to win in the SACA? Of course. Will they? Depends on the quality of the participants. But there will not be a gun put to students' heads to be there every Saturday to root the Warriors to victory, just as very likely 7,000 or more of the UA-Fayetteville student population DOES NOT attend football games or likely does not care week in and week out whether the beloved school's team wins or loses, or whether Darren McFadden won the Heisman or not lat year, or whether Bobby Petrino speaks to the media or not next season.
It is beyond stupid to believe that the addition of a football team will scar the Hendrix campus, or damage the Hendrix way in some fashion. Does Davidson's student body fret that, while the school participates in Division I basketball and reaches the NCAA Elite Eight, the college has a non-scholarship football team and that the Wildcats are a blight to the wonderful campus? Hell no. Why would Hendrix be any different? If you want to care about it, care about it. If you don't, don't. But don't get all up in arms about it because somebody else will care about it. Go about your own business and enjoy your college experience, don't show up at alumni weekend for the big game with Rhodes, and content yourself with a good Ian McEwen book, or whatever it is you non-football-liking Hendrix grads do.
Go Warriors.

"I sent them a nasty gram telling them they are cut out of my will!"
Me too. They wil be crushed!

Sorry, I just don't get it. What type of student will football bring? Hordes of marauding date-rapers who'd rather talk about getting drunk and hooking up than economic policy? For a school that prides itself on open-mindedness, isn't that a pretty narrow view of athletes and athletics? Someone much smarter than I am already brought up the fact that schools like Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, MIT, and even Oxford (yes, Oxford!) somehow manage to maintain their academic reputations despite having lame football teams (in Oxford's case they call it American Football, go Cavaliers!) So Hendrix's lame football team will make it less diverse how?

jimmyboy:

I actually have some common sense, but am lacking in the ability to filter myself sometimes.

In response to your points: I wish this kind of passion from President Cloyd and the Board were going to reinforce our arts programs or science programs or community service programs instead of athletics. Those programs, especially in Arkansas and the South in general, are what set Hendrix apart and give it its current identity.

Very few wanted this except the President of the College, so he hired a push polling firm to get positive data he could take to his Board of Trustees.

Russ Montgomery

PS It's getting hot up in here.

jimmyboy:

I actually have some common sense, but am lacking in the ability to filter myself sometimes.

In response to your points: I wish this kind of passion from President Cloyd and the Board were going to reinforce our arts programs or science programs or community service programs instead of athletics. Those programs, especially in Arkansas and the South in general, are what set Hendrix apart and give it its current identity.

Very few wanted this except the President of the College, so he hired a push polling firm to get positive data he could take to his Board of Trustees.

Russ Montgomery

PS. It's getting hot up in here.

I did not mean to imply that the athletes will hold a particular view or will behave in a particular manner. I simply meant that adding football - a sport that requires 60 students - will change the dynamics of the student body. Right now, you have a student body that does not want football. Adding 60 students that want football will change that dynamic. Maybe for better, maybe for worse; but it will change. And as a result of that change, the conversations and campus life in general will change. I don't believe football will diminish or tarnish the reputation of the school. I just think it will change the social dynamic that led to my personal development. To me, that's unfortunate.

SMU, Rhodes, U of A are all great schools with exceptionally bright students. From my observations, the students - who, again, were very bright - were looking to get something else out of their college social experience. I did not mean to imply that those individual are less intelligent, or that their school is inferior. I only meant to imply that those schools have a social dynamic that was not for me, and I imagine, probably not for most Hendrix students.

As for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc., those are and will always be top-notch schools that will be a step above Hendrix. That won't change - with or without a football team.

My nephew is a Junior up there at the Little Utopia. He was all bent out of shape about the prospects of Hendrix bringing football back. He said that the sport would attract an otherwise undesirable element to the Hendrix community.

"Worse than soccer players even?" I asked. "Those guys are notorious for being hellraisers."

He conceded that I had made a fair point.

What I do not understand is how many of the Hendrix community members who pride themselves on being open-minded and accepting of diversity are so opposed to another group. If we were to replace the term "football player" and instead put the term woman, african american, homosexual, or any other term and followed it with the stereotype that goes along with that term we would be outraged and would not accept this type of behavior. Shame on those of you for assuming that a football player is dumb, thuggish, and not worthy of the same respect we give to any and all other PEOPLE.

I think the fact that we will have another sport on the campus will bring some attention for those who care about it, and won't for those who don't. All of the student athletes are considered for admission based on grades, test scores, extracurricular activities and all the other high standards at the same level of non-athletes. When I was a student, I couldn't tell you who played sports in my classes and who didn't, I truly believe this standard will hold true regardless of sports available to the enrollment.

Why are we clinging so strongly to an identity based on an absence instead of focusing on what Hendrix is? Why can't we still be proud that we attended a school that is beginning to get national recognition not only because it is a "best buy," but because we have stellar students, alumni, faculty and professors? We should be proud of the opportunities we had as students to work side by side with a professor doing research or performning community service. We should be proud that we were taught by professors who actually light up when you ask them a question that stumps them and encourage you to question and find an answer. We should be proud that many of us have a core group of friends that we made at Hendrix College and still have strong connections to those friends and always will.

So there will be a football team on the Hendrix campus at some point in the future. Do you really think that the basic qualities that made our Hendrix experiences be that different? Are you really that self-centered to think that what you wanted in a college is the same thing that future generations will want?

Why can't we accept that change is an inevitable? Sure, this is an issue today, but 15 years from now, I promise there will be another change that will get us all fired up. I just hope you all remember then, and now, that you are fired up and are having such strong feelings because Hendrix is a place you love and feel strongly about. Just like our own children sometimes cause us disappointment and frustration because of decisions that seem so big at the time; we will get through this and we will still love our college.

I'm nearly old enough to be your grandfather, Russ, and I agree with you 100%. So don't let those "you'll grow out of it" comments deter you. I hope your common sense doesn't get "outgrown." This football fiasco is just the latest in a series of bad decisions lately.

An executive session to talk about football? Did I read that right? That should tell you something.

I agree wholeheartily both with Russ and will altering Houston lawyer. "Money talks" really fits the Hendrix situation lately, right up to who is appointed to the Board. Fellow alums, I urge you to remember that "money talks" but that maybe "lack" of money talks louder when it comes time to send that annual check to Conway. Even if it's only a one year protest. And I'm a football fan! That's why we have the UA - for football.

Is someone ACTUALLY comparing criticizing Hendrix getting a football team with homophobia, racism, and sexism?

"An executive session to talk about football?...That should tell you something."

Yeah. It tells me they went into executive session.

Boards do that you know.

Yes Hdxalum, I get that change happens. My ecologically friendly school decides that "slash and burn" is a lot more profitable than maintaining a green space. I'm not thrilled with that change. My education-centric school decides that shaking down donors for a non-academic program that most faculty, students and apparently, many alumni don't want is a good idea. I'm not thrilled with that change.

Here's a change for me: I'm sorry I went. I have only "liked" the school for a few years now and they've managed to erode that away too.