Amy Potter: Standing up for athletics

I understand that many students on Penn's campus are not as fanatical about sports as I am.

But that's why I am a sports editor.

Over the summer though, a few things changed in Ivy League athletics. The Council of Ivy Presidents convened, discussed and decided to make three major changes to Ancient Eight athletics.

This is where you should concern yourself.

The first two changes are targeted at the downsizing of football recruiting, and the third change is aimed at reducing the amount of time student-athletes spend practicing, instead of studying.

Ivy athletics can live with these changes. At first, the new regulations will be inconvenient. The number of football coaches and recruits will drop, and squads will have to find seven weeks out of each academic year away from the playing field.

However, these changes may be only the first in a long series that could seriously alter the way that Ivy League athletics exist.

As fans and aficionados of Penn athletics, it is important now to support the teams. Because whether you're a jock or not, or whether you paint your face red and blue at home games, athletics are a major component of Penn's campus.

However, the point of this column is not to argue the virtues of sports. It is to reiterate to all of those Penn fans -- to whatever varying degrees -- that this is the time to show your support for athletics on this campus.

If the student body demonstrates just how important it is to head to Saturday afternoon football games, throw toast and indulge in a little school spirit, then perhaps the Ivy League administrators will listen.

Make an impression this fall, and go cheer on Penn's fall sports. Show Ivy administrators that athletics are crucial too.

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