2008 Woodie Awards
Truman Week yields no athletic contests
Blake Toppmeyer
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Sports
Two years ago, the stands at Truman Soccer Park filled to the point of overflowing. Hundreds of freshmen students got their first taste of Truman athletics at the men's soccer team's season-opening game against Rockhurst University.
The game was played on the Friday of Truman Week, and 527 fans attended - the largest crowd to attend a men's soccer game in the last five years.
"To date, it was definitely one of the funnest games I think I've ever played in," said Ben Green, a junior on the men's soccer team who was playing in his first college game that August 2006 day.
This year, freshmen students won't have the same Truman Week opportunity that the freshmen of 2006 experienced. For the second consecutive season, there are no home games for any sport to be played during Truman Week.
There is no scheduled game - road or away - until the football team opens the 2008-09 athletic year with an Aug. 28 home game.
This season's late fall sports schedule is not the work of the athletic department.
Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering said he would be interested in having games during Truman Week, if possible.
"That'd be great," he said.
The late start this year stems from NCAA by-laws. According to NCAA regulations, fall sports seasons can begin the Thursday preceeding Aug. 30.
For 2008, this means teams can begin play Aug. 28. The men's and women's soccer teams and volleyball team open their seasons Aug. 29.
Because of the calendar, last year fall sports teams could begin their seasons Aug. 23, the earliest date a season can start under current NCAA rules. In 2006, teams could begin playing games Aug. 24.
With the athletic scheduling strapped in by NCAA rules, the only way to ensure a home Truman Week game would be for the University to consider athletic schedules when deciding the dates for Truman Week.
Most non-conference athletic games, which are played at the beginning of the season, are scheduled about a year in advance.
The game was played on the Friday of Truman Week, and 527 fans attended - the largest crowd to attend a men's soccer game in the last five years.
"To date, it was definitely one of the funnest games I think I've ever played in," said Ben Green, a junior on the men's soccer team who was playing in his first college game that August 2006 day.
This year, freshmen students won't have the same Truman Week opportunity that the freshmen of 2006 experienced. For the second consecutive season, there are no home games for any sport to be played during Truman Week.
There is no scheduled game - road or away - until the football team opens the 2008-09 athletic year with an Aug. 28 home game.
This season's late fall sports schedule is not the work of the athletic department.
Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering said he would be interested in having games during Truman Week, if possible.
"That'd be great," he said.
The late start this year stems from NCAA by-laws. According to NCAA regulations, fall sports seasons can begin the Thursday preceeding Aug. 30.
For 2008, this means teams can begin play Aug. 28. The men's and women's soccer teams and volleyball team open their seasons Aug. 29.
Because of the calendar, last year fall sports teams could begin their seasons Aug. 23, the earliest date a season can start under current NCAA rules. In 2006, teams could begin playing games Aug. 24.
With the athletic scheduling strapped in by NCAA rules, the only way to ensure a home Truman Week game would be for the University to consider athletic schedules when deciding the dates for Truman Week.
Most non-conference athletic games, which are played at the beginning of the season, are scheduled about a year in advance.
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