Crowley book a winner

If you're a sports fan, and you're looking for that perfect gift, then you need to make a trip to the University of Nevada bookstore to purchase a copy of "In the Arena."

The hardback book, written by Joseph H. Crowley, who is the current interim president at the University of Nevada, is nearly 250 pages, and covers the first century of the NCAA from an historical and pictorial viewpoint.

Crowley, the former UNR president who is filling in for the departed John Lilley until July 1, held a book signing earlier this week, and for the 90 minutes I was on hand, the book was doing a brisk business.

And, Crowley was patient, as several Nevada professors and current Nevada students stopped by to get their book signed. He was approachable and took a sincere interest in the various students, especially the ones that engaged him in conversation.

"I agreed to do the book in March of 2003," Crowley said. "In April I got a call from my friend in the California State University system telling me I had to go to San Jose State. It was supposed to be for six months, but turned into a year."

Crowley did work it out with his employers that he would take a few trips to Indianapolis to do research on his book. He physically started writing the book in July of 2004 and finally finished in early December of 2005. He insisted on - and received - editorial freedom.

"It had to be done in time for the January convention," Crowley said. "It was the kickoff to the centennial year. When we did the last of the blue lines, it was the second week of December. They turned it around in four weeks.

"It is a scholarly book commissioned by the NCAA. I wanted it to be clear that I was going to draw my own conclusions. That was not a problem. Myles Brand (current CEO of the NCAA) is an academic guy. He read every word and made some suggestions which were good."

And, it obviously took every minute of Crowley's free time. It meant less time with his kids and grandchildren, less free time with his wife, Joey. No working out in his garden. As expected the book consumed him.

One of the reasons Crowley wanted to do the book was that he believed the NCAA's story wasn't getting told. He blames the NCAA in part.

"The biggest misconception is that the NCAA is a bureaucratic organization that sits apart from everything else that dispenses thunderbolts," Crowley said. "So much else went into the organization. Historically, not many resources have been dedicated to public relations. The NCAA hasn't told its own story.

"That's what happened to sports journalism. They are looking for the seamy side. This was an opportunity for the association to educate the sports writing fraternity or sorority."

Crowley pointed out that the NCAA is run by its member schools. He pointed at the various councils, committees and sub-committees that are set up for various things that fall under the NCAA's vast umbrella.

"Fairly often there have been observations that the NCAA is controlled by the wealthy institutions and that it can't deal with change," Crowley said. "If you look at the past 25 years, a lot has happened."

Among the biggest, and most controversial changes have been with student and institution eligibility.

With Prop. 48 student-athletes need a certain grade point average and a set score to qualify for admission and play sports. In the old days, that student could get into school, but only play sports for three years.

Now, student-athletes can get that year back as long as they make academic progress. Originally, the amended rule was that they had to graduate, now it says that you have to have met 80 percent progress toward degree to get that first year of eligibility back.

Also, the NCAA is watching and mandating that schools force their student-athletes to make academic progress, and sanctions are in place to penalize the schools that fail to do so. That's everybody folks, not just the small schools. Even the football and basketball factory schools have to adhere to the regulations.

Crowley said it's not something that Brand came up with on his own. It was done through committee, which is made up of people from the member schools.

One of the things that Crowley hopes to see the NCAA tackle is diversity, especially when it comes to hiring head coaches and coordinators in football.

This is a must-read and worth every penny of the $24.95. It's chalk full of a lot of things the normal fan might not know about the inner-workings of the NCAA, and the photography is eye popping. It's a good addition to the coffee table or the bookcase.

Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281