No scholarships, no victories. That`s the formula for failure at Prairie View A&M.
The basketball team is 0-27, matching the most losses ever by a Division I team. The team figures to break the record Thursday when it plays co-champion Mississippi Valley State in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament at Baton Rouge, La. Prairie View`s women`s basketball squad is 0-25, and the football team went 0-11 in the SWAC last season.
The school`s debt-ridden sports program has been losing steadily since scholarship funds dried up two years ago.
Prairie View disbanded all sports but track and field in May 1990. Many athletes transferred before the school decided two months later to continue playing, but without scholarships.
Athletic Director Barbara Jacket has tried to mount an alumni drive to restart a scholarship program. There have been few offers of help.
”After 1993 if the alums don`t start helping, all of a sudden we won`t be competitive in Division I,” said Jacket, who will serve as head coach of the U.S. women`s Olympic track team. ”We won`t drop athletics, but we might have to go down a notch.
”We don`t need to complain after the fact. We need help right now.”
