The Triple Crown has come to College Park.
Maryland’s women’s basketball team joined field hockey and men’s soccer squads at the White House on Thursday.
National champions all.
President Bush joked of “fearing the turtle.” Kind of a nice break from fearing terrorists.
Maryland became the first Division I program to win three national crowns in one school year. Men’s and women’s lacrosse teams this spring give the Terrapins two more chances.
It is an embarrassment of riches amid the embarrassment of the school’s two major programs — football and men’s basketball — missing the postseason for the second straight year. (Sorry, NIT doesn’t really count.)
It’s so easy for the downfall of the two major programs that gain nearly all of the attention to overshadow the Terps overall success. More than 1,500 students crammed a hillside to welcome home the women’s basketball team following its overtime victory on Tuesday over dreaded Duke for the title, though.
Suddenly, it’s sexy to be a mid-major program on campus.
Maryland has won 12 national titles in athletic director Debbie Yow’s 12 years. She is undoubtedly one of the finer administrators in college sports. From building Comcast Center to coming plans for Byrd Stadium expansion to increasing to 27 sports, Maryland’s overall program has never been stronger.
And Yow’s not finished. Many of the “Olympic” sports — the new buzzword for non-revenue teams — are getting improved facilities in an expanded Atlantic Coast Conference that requires each sport to bump up or sit in the cellar. The women’s basketball team also gains a bigger role inside Comcast where its crystal trophy will reside near the men’s 2002 hardware.
“There is [a way for the two basketball programs to co-exist] just the same way as there’s a great football program and a great men’s basketball program,” Yow said. “We have 27 sports and we want the best in each of the 27. There’s no reason why it can’t be that way.”
The dramatic rise and fall of the men’s basketball and football programs has Yow uneasy, but not panicking.
“It is very clear that it’s disappointing that we didn’t go to a bowl and the NCAA in men’s basketball,” she said. “What matters though is trending, multiple years strung together not doing that. Then it becomes a huge issue for either sport, but we’re not there.”
Yow believes women’s basketball will finally become a big draw next season. Attendance has increased annually during coach Brenda Frese’s four seasons to more than 4,800 this year. However, the student section was rarely filled.
“I’ve been asked what will it take for the attendance to explode at Maryland?” Yow said. “It will have to become the cool place to be because we’re in a metropolitan area that prides itself on being sophisticated. When it becomes cool, it will explode. I’m speaking more about students. It is now cool.”
Makes you wonder how the water polo and softball teams will fare next around Maryland. It seems success has filled every corner.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
