mykevermin
04-01-2009, 10:32 AM
The Ohio State University's athletic department just got a little bigger, and a little rowdier. OSU, which already has the largest athletic department in the nation with 39 varsity sports, announced today the addition of Women's Roller Derby as the school's 40th varsity sport.
Roller derby, which has been gaining popularity across the nation, particularly in the Midwest, was an obvious choice for a new field of competition for the Bucks.
"Not only will we have the opportunity to showcase some of the finest roller athletes in the nation, their presence will also help raise our other varsity athletes to a new level," said OSU director of athletics Gene Smith.
The team plans on training with the football team's offensive line. "We know these girls are going to be tough, and fast. We need that to prepare for our opponents in the fall," said head football coach Jim Tressel.
Roller derby is played with two teams of five players each. Teams score points by maneuvering the jammers through the pack of skaters known as blockers. The matches consist of two 30-minutes halves.
There currently is not a banked roller track facility on campus. Construction will begin on a new state-of-the-art facility on the sight of recently demolished Lord Hall. This will be the first athletics facility constructed on central campus since Ohio Stadium.
OSU is currently the only school in the nation that recognizes roller derby as a collegiate sport. The bold step forward provides opportunities for elite roller athletes to attend college and continue competing at an elite level.
The first women awarded a scholarship, incoming freshman Molly McBouff, would not have been able to attend college if OSU had not given her the opportunity.
"I am very grateful for this opportunity," she said. "Growing up my parents had to sacrifice any money they would have had to send me to college on things associated with roller derby, like intensive summer training, and high premium health insurance."
The university hopes that other schools will follow in the form of OSU and add roller derby themselves.
At the Big Ten conference summer meetings the addition of roller derby will be a topic of much debate.
Much like football being criticized in the early 20th century for its gratuitous violence, roller derby has faced similar trails. The Ladies Against Mean Engagements (LAME) plans on petitioning Gordon Gee to block the addition of the sport.
The club, whose season will run from late November to late April, will begin competition this upcoming fall, against other club teams in the area. Roller legend Wilma "Knee Pads" McGaven has been hired by the university as the team's first coach.
McGaven will have to make some adjustments from her days on the professional circuit.
"In the old days when things weren't going our way we could take things into our own hands, sometimes even after competition was finished." Apparently the college game doesn't work that way," said the coach.
While the team has awarded some scholarships, the majority of the team will be composed of walk-ons. Tryouts for the team will be held later this spring. No other details have been announced.
http://uweekly.com/newsmag/04-01-2009/10725
Roller derby, which has been gaining popularity across the nation, particularly in the Midwest, was an obvious choice for a new field of competition for the Bucks.
"Not only will we have the opportunity to showcase some of the finest roller athletes in the nation, their presence will also help raise our other varsity athletes to a new level," said OSU director of athletics Gene Smith.
The team plans on training with the football team's offensive line. "We know these girls are going to be tough, and fast. We need that to prepare for our opponents in the fall," said head football coach Jim Tressel.
Roller derby is played with two teams of five players each. Teams score points by maneuvering the jammers through the pack of skaters known as blockers. The matches consist of two 30-minutes halves.
There currently is not a banked roller track facility on campus. Construction will begin on a new state-of-the-art facility on the sight of recently demolished Lord Hall. This will be the first athletics facility constructed on central campus since Ohio Stadium.
OSU is currently the only school in the nation that recognizes roller derby as a collegiate sport. The bold step forward provides opportunities for elite roller athletes to attend college and continue competing at an elite level.
The first women awarded a scholarship, incoming freshman Molly McBouff, would not have been able to attend college if OSU had not given her the opportunity.
"I am very grateful for this opportunity," she said. "Growing up my parents had to sacrifice any money they would have had to send me to college on things associated with roller derby, like intensive summer training, and high premium health insurance."
The university hopes that other schools will follow in the form of OSU and add roller derby themselves.
At the Big Ten conference summer meetings the addition of roller derby will be a topic of much debate.
Much like football being criticized in the early 20th century for its gratuitous violence, roller derby has faced similar trails. The Ladies Against Mean Engagements (LAME) plans on petitioning Gordon Gee to block the addition of the sport.
The club, whose season will run from late November to late April, will begin competition this upcoming fall, against other club teams in the area. Roller legend Wilma "Knee Pads" McGaven has been hired by the university as the team's first coach.
McGaven will have to make some adjustments from her days on the professional circuit.
"In the old days when things weren't going our way we could take things into our own hands, sometimes even after competition was finished." Apparently the college game doesn't work that way," said the coach.
While the team has awarded some scholarships, the majority of the team will be composed of walk-ons. Tryouts for the team will be held later this spring. No other details have been announced.
http://uweekly.com/newsmag/04-01-2009/10725