Scalise says he actively recruits--but only to "replace and build at a rate that still accommodates those already involved in the program." He also points to the admissions office's insistence that coaches not "build up expectations for those who do not have a chance of acceptance" as a good policy.
"I don't want to flatter or cajole--people should want to come to Harvard," Scalise says.
Women's swim coach Stephanie Walsh says many women athletes "cannot believe they are Harvard material." Consequently, she adds, many women athletes are scared away.
Walsh says she sends a list of prospectives to the admissions office which is divided into "Blue Chip, Red, and White." The ten or so people under the "Blue" heading are those who can "singlehandedly turn the program around," Walsh says. She places about 20 people each in the "Red" and "White" categories, based almost exclusively on swimming ability, but often ranked with academic considerations in mind.
Walsh says there is "absolutely massive abuse" of the recruiting regulations governing women's sports. "People will find a way to cheat as long as there is the pressure to win. In the Ivy League, abuse occurs to a lesser extent," she adds.
"According to Ivy ideals, we're not supposed to aspire to national competition. But I need national level kids just to keep up with Princeton," Walsh says.
Men's swimming coach Joe Bernal has acquired a reputation as a recruiter extraordinaire. "I have to go and find swimmers who meet the academic standards of Harvard," Bernal says. "Stanford can offer full scholarships, and it has as good a reputation as Harvard for total education. But I think we do a better selling job, in terms of a consistent bombardment of literature and possible material selling the University and its programs," he adds.
One of the problems Bernal notes is persuading athletes to apply. "We have our January deadline, but other schools can wait, even until June. I know the Yale coach has had difficulty in this respect."
L. Fred Jewett '57, dean of admissions and financial aid, says there are relatively few substantive restrictions within the Ivy League which are binding on all schools. "We elicit information and opinions from the orchestra, the band and the Loeb," Jewett says, adding that coaches are "most eager" to give information.
To facilitate what Jewett describes as "a regular dialogue" between the two departments, admissions added a liaison to its staff to co-ordinate communications recently. James W. Stoeckel '74, a former varsity quarterback, now occupies the role.
"We just want to give proper weight in our overall assessment to the commitment and energy of an athlete. If we get a number of totally unrealistic candidates, we give coaches feedback as soon as possible," Jewett says.
Jewett also says that although the financial aid is often increased for athletes after admission, the committee provides additional funds solely on the basis of need. "Historically, many of our most outstanding athletes have had no aid at all. But there is no change of aid for athletic reasons, only because of a reevaluation of need."
Christopher Morris, now in the athletic department, preceded Stoeckel as admissions-athletics liaison. "Harvard was really the last school in the Ivies to send coaches on the road. We're still in a catch-up situation--we're not identifying a large number of viable candidates or getting to them early enough," Morris says.
The Ivy League is becoming tougher because of specialization. You don't find too many athletes involved in more than one sport," he says. Morris has compiled data to try to monitor Harvard's direction in recruiting. "We're still learning."
"Winners breed winners," Morris says, but it is still questionable whether Harvard can consistently produce winners with its present policy of restrictive recruiting.
Part two will examine the student athlete's perspective.