By
Chris Martin
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Smaller sports find it hard to get coverage, fans
It isn't easy being a lower-profile sport at the University of Arizona.
With the national media camped out at McKale Center covering the football as well as men's and women's basketball teams, the smaller sports such as volleyball, women's soccer and men's and women's cross country often find it tough to get noticed as they easily slip through the cracks of fan support and media coverage.
"(The local media) cover the so-called 'major sports' - the money making sports - and there is nothing wrong with that," UA cross country head coach Dave Murray said. "I would like obviously for my sport to receive more publicity, though."
The men's and women's cross country teams have a distinct disadvantage compared to women's soccer and volleyball, however - the two teams have no home meets this year.
Constant traveling and road meets make it hard for the team to acquire a strong and loyal fan base in Tucson.
"Track and field has a much bigger following then cross country," Murray said. "Cross country is a more obscure sport. We don't really have a big following except for those who like distance running."
Unlike the cross country team, both women's soccer and volleyball have steadily gained a strong fan base in the UA community. Both, however, are far behind football and basketball in terms of recognition.
According to UA associate athletic director Rocky LaRose, the school's smaller sports receive better coverage and fan support than their counterparts at other universities and colleges.
"In many cases, we have a better following than a lot of institutions across the country," LaRose said. "I think there is a lot of respect for our programs."
Though the teams have some ardent supporters, attendance figures are still low compared to football and basketball games.
The volleyball team averaged 969 people-per-game in 16 contests last season, while the soccer team averaged 595 in 10 games.
According to soccer head coach Cathy Klein, support will come alongside wins.
"I think there are so many successful programs here at the U of A," Klein said. "We in no way have earned our keep within this fine athletic department in terms of winning and losing."
"I would always love exposure for our team and our sport, but I think if we win, it will come anyway. I feel we get a proportionate amount of exposure based on our wins and losses in the past."
The volleyball team will most likely receive a boost in attendance and exposure this year due to the fact that the team is ranked in the top 10 for the first time in program history.
"If you're ranked, you've earned the limelight," Klein said.
For cross country, volleyball and soccer, the struggle continues as the teams try to earn exposure and recognition at a university with high profile football and basketball programs.
For the smaller programs, there is only one cure - success.
"My responsibility is to put a product on the field that people are proud of," Klein said. "When people are proud of something, there's interest."
