NCAA Division III to Division II, the banter and dialogue can continue seemingly forever without a consensus.
Yes, there are increased notoriety, better athletic competition and more marketing and revenue opportunities. Those are irrefutable, but the retort is that the cost and time are not worth the undertaking.
Lost in the shuffle of turning dollars into sense is the value of Division II's focus on the community service initiative, and for a case study, look no further than the Lincoln University women's basketball team, which participated in the Philadelphia Breast Cancer 3-day Oct. 18.
These young women got up – on their day off, mind you – braved the flu that had been making its round through the team, endured the necessary travel and then had a life-altering experience when they arrived at South Philadelphia High School.
The opportunity to volunteer existed as a Division III institution. Anybody can sacrifice the time can do so. The thousands of supporters on hand in Philadelphia are proof of that. But as a Division II school, Lincoln and its students are made more aware of opportunities to serve the community and have greater resources to do so. These days require more than time. They need money. Vans and drivers need to be paid for. The team needs food.
"Division II really wants us to get out in the community," said assistant women's basketball coach Kisha Middleton. "They really stress that. When we heard about this, we knew it was a no-brainer."
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Enter Linda Peterson, who forwarded head coach Andy Haman an e-mail with the opportunity in August.
"Without her, we never would have known about it," he said.
Peterson is a 20-year member of the Lincoln staff. Her tenure is second only to track and field coach Cyrus Jones. Her position makes her the face of the department.
She is also the face of breast cancer, now a 13-year survivor.
The illness has wreaked havoc on her family. Her mom is a 25-year survivor, and "Ms. P." estimates that 20 family members have been afflicted with the cancer. Luckily — if you can call a family that has had so many instances of the disease '"lucky" — there have not been any fatalities.
Every day, Peterson adorns herself in pink, the official color for breast cancer awareness. Bracelets, ribbons, wristbands, earrings, she wears it all. She's more than a supporter. Her always-smiling expression turns seriousness when discussing the topic. Her attitude transforms to militant.
Doctors are starting to understand the risk factors and lifestyle choices that may result in higher incidence rates in some people than others, but the overriding factor is genetics. Inside some people is a time bomb. Without greater research, the disease incubates. And then it waits for some switch to flip.
"My daughter will not have to go through it," she said. "My daughter and my granddaughter will not have to know what we went through."
The treatments, the trauma and the fear that began with something few wanted to take seriously at first.
Peterson can describe her ordeal vividly. It was the mid 1990s when she felt a lump by the arm pit. Doctors dismissed it as nothing major because of the location, but knowing her family history, her husband convinced her to undergo an MRI, still in the testing phase. It revealed two additional tumors, one cancerous, the other benign.
No, her daughter won't have to go through that and everything that followed.
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On that Sunday morning, the Lincoln women boarded the van and headed to Philly, some of them admittedly groggy and reluctant to participate because of the early hour and a rare weekend off before the start of the season.
"When the girls got on the bus, you could see the expression on their faces said, "We've got to work today," Haman said. "It was like a kid asking if they had to take their vitamins."
For Chanelle Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) (Philadelphia, PA, Penn Wood), though, participating in the event brought on a series of emotions because of the proximity of the event to her heart.
The senior has lost two aunts to cancer, one to heart and the other to breast.
"It was a very emotional for me," the captain point guard said. Her tone wavers just even discussing it over the phone. "I wish they could've participated in the event as survivors."
Harris was one of eight Lady Lions to participate as others had to miss the event because of the flu. But when they arrived at the South Philadelphia High School, the day's staging area, they were amazed by what they saw.
Harris said she was surprised by the number of people – men and women alike – that braved the Nor'easter that barraged the East Coast that weekend. The storm forced the cancellation of the events Friday and Saturday, but still, there was a remarkable turnout for Sunday.
They also received a surprising welcome, which included a round of applause once the team got off the van and another when the girls were introduced to the auditorium. They were there to do the cheering not receive it. They had not even done anything yet.
Organizers told Haman that a lot of volunteers bowed out because of the weather.
Some were unable to attend because travel rendered it impossible (snow hammered parts of Pennsylvania) while others fell sick. So, when the Lincoln women's basketball team stood en masse before a group of runners and walkers, their efforts were that much more appreciated and their presence that much more obvious.
The girls disseminated meals to runners and walkers, provided encouragement and did whatever else was needed. At the end of the day, they transported tables, coolers and chairs to the appropriate trucks at the day's end. A carnival-like atmosphere permeated the area despite the severity of the cause and the dreariness of the day.
By the end of the event, though the girls had been rejuvenated, and the reluctance of the early morning gave way to exuberance as the team returned to campus at 7:30 that evening.
In February, Lincoln will participate in the annual Think Pink Day as part of the NCAA's women's basketball function that promotes breast cancer awareness, but the team hopes to stretch it out in the week, while Haman plans on making the annual walk in Philly a staple of his program.
"Everybody walked out with smiles, he said. "We're already thinking about next year." — LU —
