How else to explain the sports club devotion shared by some 350 or so University of Utah students, all of whom compete—under the Utes’ banner—for student teams as varied as fencing and snowboarding, wrestling and Ultimate Frisbee?

“It certainly is for the love of the game they play,” says Julian Gomez, coordinator of Intramural Sports and Sports Clubs at the U, “because they’re not getting scholarships, there is no administrative help, and they’re often ordering and paying for their own equipment.”

Love. What else could it be?

What else could drive all these students, representing 17 student sports clubs, to keep playing, and paying, when there are so many hurdles to clear? What else could drive a U student like Mark Numbers, vice president of the men’s rugby club, to keep playing his sport despite being a full-time student, having a full-time job, and being married (presumably also full time)?

“Luckily, my wife has been very supportive; she knows we’re trying to help the (rugby) program grow,” says Numbers, whose position also means he has heavy administrative responsibilities for the rugby Utes. “And yeah, we all know we’re playing for the love of the game. It all comes down to that.”

That love has driven club sports at the U for the better part of the past two decades, when high-profile team sports—like rugby, soccer, and hockey—first made the jump to the organized club level on campus. Though they’re one step short of being officially recognized as an NCAA team, such as the men’s basketball team or women’s gymnastics squad, the U of U’s student sports clubs compete against teams from other universities under a modified version of NCAA rules.

Students are the primary competitors on each team, which follow NCAA standards when it comes to eligibility and academic qualification. But staff and faculty members may also participate for the fun of it, and many often stay involved with a team to assist with administrative matters.

Indeed, as Numbers points out, many of the U’s clubs have something of a legacy of their own. For example, many of Salt Lake City’s Highland High rugby athletes end up at the U. As a result, they continue the proud tradition of the U’s rugby club with former high school classmates in the chain.

“We’ve really made huge strides in the past few years [based on that continuity],” Numbers says. “And as the program continues to grow, it continues to attract new recruits.” In addition to time, money is a key factor in maintaining club sports. While many of the clubs receive some stipend from U of U student fees, which are disbursed by a Sports Club Council (composed of representatives from each sports club), there is hardly enough money to cover it all. So U sports-club athletes often end up either raising money through sponsorships or paying for team-related expenses on their own, which can be challenging for students living hand-to-mouth.

For example, last spring the rugby club qualified as a national final four competitor. But the team assessed travel costs—as much as $5,000 for room, board, airfare, and related expenses—and decided to skip the national round.

“We saw that coming,” Numbers says. “But the good news is, we knew we were able to play on that sort of level.”

Hockey players pay the most—about $1,000 a year for their equipment, travel, and other expenses—
while soccer might be about $500 a year and lacrosse about $150, Gomez says. Whatever the cost, it
leaves U of U club sports relying on outside support, with varying degrees of effectiveness. “They get
sponsorships from area businesses,” Gomez says. “But some clubs work it a little harder than others.”

In addition to rugby, a number of sports club teams have competed on a national level in the past year or so. The hockey team lost only two games in the Mountain West Conference last year and beat UCLA and USC along the way. The pistol team finished fifth in the nation, and Christian DiFrancesco was the 2000 National Standard Pistol Champion. The soccer team went to nationals, and the volleyball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and rugby teams continue to be among the nation’s best.

Most of the U’s sports club teams answer to a national governing body and must adhere to U of U regulations and expectations as well. Gomez and the Sports Club Council carefully monitor each of the teams represented.

“Certainly, there are some [clubs] that have higher levels of dedication than others,” Gomez says.
“But overall, club sports are growing every year. There are a lot more students participating than there were a few years ago.”

There are also sports that move from one level to another through the intramural club sports process. Ultimate Frisbee is the most recent example on the U campus, according to Gomez. That sport established a following in IM competition, and a group of U of U students emerged as better than most. That led to an official club application—reviewed by Gomez and the Sports Club Council—and an official sanction as the Utes’ Ultimate Frisbee club team. (All of the U’s sports clubs are authorized to use the Utes’ name, logo, and mascot in their official capacity.)

Ultimate Frisbee, water polo, fencing—all you need is love.

“A lot of people put a lot of effort into these clubs,” Numbers says. “What makes it worthwhile is seeing the programs grow.”

Love is all you need.

—John Youngren BA’88 is a frequent contributor to Continuum.