Coaches Understand UCSD Motive

Members of the UC San Diego coaching staff were disappointed but hardly surprised by Monday’s decision to postpone a move to Division II and keep its 23-strong sports program an independent Division III affiliate.

Although a panel of graduate students, faculty and staff, including UCSD Athletic Director Judith Sweet, found through a two-year study that a divisional move would be beneficial, the Intercollegiate and Recreational Athletics Advisory Committee cited an unhealthy economic climate as the primary reason to table the issue.

Coaches were hard-pressed not to agree.

“I felt some disappointment that we weren’t able to make the move,” men’s basketball Coach Tom Marshall said. “But for myself, I’m aware of the economic climate at all the UC schools. When they’re laying off full-tenured professors, it’s hard to ask for more money for athletics.”

Women’s volleyball Coach Doug Dannevik said his team remains status quo, as he regularly schedules half its schedule against Division II opponents: “Right now, it doesn’t make sense to triple your athletic budget.”

Marshall said some see the divisional move as a philosophical change in the school. Any time the subject of athletic scholarships comes up, it scares people.

“Abuse (of scholarships) does come up,” he said, “but with an athletic director like Judy Sweet, you’re not going to see that happen here.”

Both were encouraged by the IRAAC’s findings and the potential for a similar move down the road.

“After the committee did its work, the school was ready to make the move. It’s just that the economic climate is not right,” Marshall said. “A lot of groundwork was laid out so it will be easier next time.”

Said Dannevik: “From the recommendations, the IRAAC found that UCSD should be a Division II school sometime . . . That paves the way for the future.”

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Carlsbad High graduate David Kozlowski, a true freshman wide receiver at Utah, played in his first college game at Oregon State last weekend. Kozlowski, whose brother, Glen, plays for the Chicago Bears, caught five passes for 101 yards and had one touchdown in his first start for the Utes.

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Linebacker David Park, formerly of Grossmont High, had a big day for Azusa Pacific in a 34-33 victory against Cal Lutheran Saturday.

The El Cajon native, a three-year starter for the Cougars, brought a career 73 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks for 58 yards lost going into his senior year at APU. After a disappointing first game, he has done well in the following three.

Against Cal Lutheran, Park blocked an extra-point attempt and a punt, and he recovered a fumble that led to the game-winning field goal. He also had a quarterback sack and two tackles for lost yardage on the day.

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Southwestern’s Jorge Munoz, a Hilltop High graduate and the Times’ All-County selection at quarterback, was 25 of 42 for 372 yards, two touchdowns and he threw one interception in a 42-35 loss to Orange Coast College in a Mission Conference game Saturday at Costa Mesa.

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Alumni of the University of San Diego are encouraged get to Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. homecoming football game against Cal Lutheran early. If the proposed presidential debate takes place at USD, students who park on campus and any spectators who plan to attend the game will have to move east to the Sports Center to park.

USD officials are expecting approximately 1,500 alums.

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Torero Tales: The USD’s men’s soccer team continued its climb in the national rankings. In the latest ISAA/Gatorade coaches poll, the Toreros (6-2-0) were ranked 16th, six spots higher than last week’s No. 22 ranking.

Guillermo Jara, a freshman forward, leads the West Coast Conference in goals, assists and scoring (seven goals, four assists, 18 points).

--USD’s women’s soccer team has held opponents to 13 goals in 123 shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Danielle Lopez, formerly of Castle Park High, has a WCC leading 43 saves.

--At the recent UCR Invitational, seven women and three men cross-country runners set personal bests.

--Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Wrightson, who transferred from SDSU, tied a school record and bettered another over the weekend. Trailing 5-0, Wrightson served five consecutive aces in the second game of Friday’s match against North Texas.

The next day, her seven aces against Cal State Northridge tied the mark established in 1985 and repeated in 1986 by Lisa Hagen.

Middle blockers Nikki Wallace and Amy McMahon are first and second in the WCC in blocks per game with 1.79 (Wallace) and 1.39 (McMahon).

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With 11 freshman on the roster and coming off a 2-12-2 season in 1991, Point Loma Nazarene’s men’s soccer team wasn’t considered a likely candidate for a successful 1992. But the Crusaders are off to a 3-1 start and have recorded shutouts over defending District 3 champion The Master’s College and Christian Heritage in its last two games.