Longhorn Women's Sports History 1950-1977

Foundation laid for Women Longhorn Sports 1921-1949

1949

Top of the Charts 1949

The high school physical education association decided to get involved with women's basketball by supervising the competitive activity. Rules were established for women's basketball, and a playoff system was organized and sponsored for Class A and Class B high schools.  

1950-1960

1950

Anna Hiss's description of women's sports as a "Play Day" is challenged. Paraphrasing Tessa Nichols, the issue of whether to sanction intercollegiate activities peaks in the 1950s. "Ideologies of women's sports and physical activity were changing." Female student-athletes, not the coaches, led this campaign for more competitive opportunities. Women start to rebel against the stereotypical broiler plate description of a woman's role in society as "domestic."

Women excelled at school and work, and the public's fear of a powerful woman started to wane. A significant catalyst for the change in the perception of women's sports in the USA is triggered by Russian's successful women's Olympic program. The USA is embarrassed by USA women athletes' performance against Russian women, and the USA responds by opening a number "of fronts to broaden female participation in the international competition." 

By 1954 21,000 girls were participating in League basketball and 8,700 in tennis. (data from the "History of Physical Education in Texas: an analysis of the Role of D.K. Brace." Ph.D. dissertation, USC 1967)

The Balloon fundraiser

After Intercollegiate women’s sports are sanctioned, there is a struggle to fund the competition. Dollars are are "minimal to non-existent." Capitalism solves that problem. A fundraising event is formed to sell balloons for 25 cents each at the U.T. home football games. The intent is for the purchased balloons to be released after Texas makes its first touchdown. That causes a dilemma. In the first game, the balloons never gain their freedom because Texas does not make a touchdown. Regardless, the balloon fundraisers are a success, and the fund increases the "limited travel budget" for Longhorn women. 

1957 another key year in the history of women's sports 

Professor Hiss resigns from her Directorship at Texas. Under the leadership of Anna Hiss, Intramural sports thrive with "23 tournaments in 18 activities."

Collegiate women seeking more significant athletic opportunities moved closer to their goals in 1957 when the Division for Girls and Women in Sport (DGWS) amended the official position to state that intercollegiate programs "may" exist.

I

Top of the Charts 1957

The real trendsetters for the women's sports movement are colleges and high school coaches who challenged the assumption that women should not compete in "stressful" team sports.  Only after the Texas UIL decides to reinstate competitive women's team sports followed by the success of colleges that promoted competitive team sports for women. The AMA's endorsement of women competing in "aggressive" team sports did the University of Texas finally concede that "stressful" competitive team sports are not detrimental to the "weaker" sex.  

1961 at the top of the charts

In the early 1960s, the membership in the "club" format declines. "Clubs" wanted more competitive opportunities. It took a petition from two sets of students to set up intercollegiate volleyball and basketball teams in 1966 to start the process toward more and better competition. Eventually, the UTSA club format is declared defunct, and intercollegiate competition begins. However, The UTSA did not die abruptly. As late as 1972, the UTSA was still competing on a state level. 

1957- 1966  

Jo Chapman takes over as interim Director of Intramurals, followed by Shiela O'Gara and Carolyn Hewatt. More content on these individuals is pending. 

1963- An Important year in Longhorn women's sports

The Division of Girls and Women's Sports officials changes the "statement of competition" to encourage intercollegiate sports competition. The new direction by the DGWS supports an organizational setup equal to but separate from the men's intercollegiate athletic department.  

By 1967 the women's movement in sport rapidly moved toward a status more in line with men's athletics. In 1969, a national championship schedule for women's sports was announced that included gymnastics and track and field. Swimming, badminton, and volleyball followed in 1970, and in 1972, basketball was added. Women wanted an institutional membership organization similar to the NCAA. The CIAW was replaced by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1971. This set the stage for the struggle to control women's athletics in the 1970s between the AIAW and the NCAA (Gerber, et al., 1974).

 1966-1970

In 1966 Coach June Walker has tryouts for the basketball team. The games are played in the Women's Gym. There are three basketball coaches between 1966 and 1975- Dalton, Hansen, and Page.

In 1966 the women Longhorns also started intercollegiate competition under the Division of Recreational Sports in volleyball.

The total budget for the two sports for the first year was a laughable $700. It was not enough to cover all of the costs. Hence, faculty members volunteered as coaches on a non-pay basis. The team members shared a set of handmade uniforms, paid for their own transportation expenses, played on the small courts at the Women's Gym, and used second-hand equipment from the physical education department. Regardless of the obstacles, 1966 and 1967 represent defining points in the History of U.T. women's sports.  

1967
Tennis

By 1967 the myths about women and sports were dispelled, and UT Austin Women's sports programs begin to flourish. 

No other women’s sports transformed as dramatically as Tennis in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the early years of the 1900s, tennis was considered white, snobby, masculine, and elitist. Women tennis players were considered a sideshow, the opening act for men’s tennis leading a second-class existence and making no money. But by the middle of the 20th century, women’s tennis, helped by the feminist movement, made great strides. Ironically it took a partnership between a cancer-causing cigarette company and a cigarette brand with the dubious title of “Virginia Slims” to finally get a payday playing their sport. The Virginia Slims Invitation in Houston was a resounding success.

Betty Sue Hagerman Welch was ranked No. 1 in Texas in women’s and mixed doubles in both the open and 35 and over divisions. She was also ranked No. 1 in Women’s 35 singles. Welch’s coaching accolades include starting the Division 1-A women’s tennis team at the University of Texas. Her many awards as educator and coach include being named 1993 USPTA National High School Tennis Coach of the Year.

Golf

 1968-1982 - The National organization AIAW takes the lead in women's sports

In 1969 the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) was formed, and national championships for women's sports were announced for gymnastics and track and field. Swimming, badminton, and volleyball followed in 1970, and in 1972, basketball was added.

In the 1971-1972 academic season, the AIAW boasted that the organization had 278 charter institutions. By 1981 there were 800 institutions. The organization had lofty goals not grounded in reality. The AIAW's prohibiting athletic scholarships for women was a serious mistake that resulted in the organization’s downfall. The AIAW leaders felt scholarships would result in athlete-students instead of student-athletes. The physical educators agreed with the AIAW's "no scholarship" rule because they knew offering scholarships would require recruiting and recruiting resulted in less time teaching for the coaches.

The AIWA focused on female student-athletes education, not on athletic performance, and thus rejected the NCAA's 'win or die' attitude. Instead, the AIAW emphasized participation in sport as the most crucial aspect and de-emphasized winning (Sperber, 1990).

 The Evolution of Women's track to its present form starts in the early 1960s

 The  1970's 

Page Elizabeth Bauerkemper in her 2013  report titled “Beyond Sports: A Guidebook for Potential Collegiate Female Student-Athletes” states that In 1972 there were 32,000 women on college teams receiving 2% of the athletic budget.  Title IX was about to change that percentage. 

Coach Marilyn Ramenofsky shares her memories of the 1971 swim team.

Hello I just saw the photo described above and was so delighted. That was the team that took the State Title away from TT, much to all of our joy. The women were great to work with, such dedicated swimmers and a diver, and so appreciative of the coaching. I loved it. Would you have a copy of the photo with names that I could have for my scrapbook of memories of those days in Austin? I'd love to have one, and thanks for finding the photo and posting it; means so much. Marilyn Ramenofsky

Hi Billy, it's great to read over the names and remember everyone. This time period was just before the women started training with the men in the big pool. All we had available was the old (very old women's gym). But it served our purposes well.  I was a graduate student in Zoology and just starting my scientific career, but still had my hand in the swimming world, and the Women's team was looking for a coach. So, I jumped at the chance.      Thanks so much for adding my name to the newsletter; it’ll be fun to read all that is happening on campus.  I'm sure so much has changed on campus and in Austin.

End of Coach Ramenofsky Comments

The mid 70 also represents some crucial defining moments for U.T. women’s sports. With the implementation of Title IX and Donna Lopiano's strong leadership skills, the U.T. women's athletic department finally had a clear vision for success. Unfortunately, there were budgetary restraints, lawsuits, U.T. bureaucracy, U.T. fiefdoms, and the stereotype definition of a "women's place" that Donna Lopiano had to overcome before she could implement her clear vision.

The Longhorns did not take a national leadership role for women's sports, but there was still progress made from 1971 through 1976. The UTSCA (University of Texas Sports Club Association) allowed women to compete with other "minor" sports teams. Clubs included badminton, basketball, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

Gymnastics was the most successful team in 1976, winning second in the state. Kathy Moore was the standout performer. The funds came from the Intercollegiate Athletics for Men said UTSA spokeswoman June Burke.  The funding was small, which sometimes caused problems.  The comment in the 1974 "Cactus" makes the point very clearly.

 In 1973 the Athletic Director said, "Where are we going to get all the money we need " for all the new sports?  The Cactus says all the women's sports teams only received $2400 a year, so the 100 - plus women athletes paid for their own equipment, training, travel, and the coaches were unpaid for their service. A study approved to consider expanding programs under intercollegiate athletics for women, but the Athletics Council refused to act on the suggestions. Under pressure to eliminate sex discrimination in 1974, the Athletic Council created the Intercollegiate athletics for women's department with a budget of $50,000. Sports under the AIAW were basketball, swimming, tennis, golf, and volleyball.  As a result of the meager funds, women athletes had to pay for their own equipment, training, travel, and other expenses. The women coaches were unpaid.

1973- 1974

The Cactus states that In 1974 Coach Page basketball team moves to Gregory Gym and plays Southwest Texas State University.

The 1974 UTSA women’s Tennis team was good, but they were forced to practice and play at the inadequate intramural facilities. Women can only use the men’s Tennis courts when men are not practicing or playing a match. Betty Hagerman is the Tennis Coach and says Everyone is confident we will keep moving forward in women’s tennis.

Golf Coach Pat Weis built a powerhouse for the Longhorns with Nancy Hager, Jan Rapp, Debbie Norton, and Carla Spenkock.

1975 - 1976 

 Even though there were cutbacks in expenses in 1975 for the College of Humanities and Longhorn sports attendance was trending down, UT allocated 37 million dollars to build a new basketball arena, a new swimming complex, and a new baseball stadium. This allocation of so much money to sports upset many in Academia. Some coaches lost their jobs, and other coaches had to double up their coaching responsibilities with little increase in pay. At the same time, UT reduced the number of athletic scholarships

Intramural sports expanded at UT, including Co-Ed sports, canoe trips, tennis, softball, football, volleyball, and swimming. Sports were no longer just for a select talented few. Competition became the fabric held together with the UT student base, and women showed up in record numbers to participate.  

You have come a Long Way- Women start their climb to the top in collegiate sports. 

1976-1977 Jody Conradt became the first full-time women's coach in basketball and volleyball. Mack Brice was the first Sports Information Director for the UT women. Texas budget $9000 to sponsor the AIAW National championships in volleyball at Gregory Gym.

Nancy Hale is the first woman to be awarded an athletic scholarship at UT, and she is the Texas AIAW individual champion.

1976- The UTSCA ( University of Texas Women’s Sports Clubs were thriving ) - Judo, Aerial Tennis, Aikido, Lacrosse had a lot of interest, but women’s soccer led the way with 50 members. Under Betty Thompson’s direction, the UTSCA and the intramurals were combined under the Division of Recreational Sports.

Soccer continued to press for NCAA recognition. Betty Thompson plays fortune teller and is right when she says that “In philosophy, I believe we have moved from an intramural stance to a recreational sports stance.”