Just how could an institution, filled with over-achievers and motivated students, lag so far behind the large state universities in college athletics? Why is it a major accomplishment when the only Ivy participant in the NCAA basketball tournament actually reaches the second round, let alone the Sweet Sixteen?

The answer is simple. The playing field is definitely not level. In fact it is decidedly lopsided. The wide chasms in athletic prowess rival the persistent academic gaps between the Ivy League and everyone else. A major reason for this is the Ivy's more stringent recruiting guidelines.

Basically, the difference comes down to money. According to the Ivy Group Agreement of 1954, financial aid must be solely provided on the basis of need. Other schools, however, can offer financial aid for merit as well.

With the exorbitant costs to attend colleges, the lure of financial assistance becomes a potent weapon in the recruiting game. The Ivy schools, constrained by the group agreement, rely upon the name recognition of the university and unparalleled academics to attract athletes.

Despite the gaping difference in financial aid policy, the general recruitment period is similar for all colleges.

During a prospect's junior year in high school, the process begins with form letters. All interested schools send generalized and rather impersonal letters to the homes of potential recruits, ranging from simple letters to elaborate messages and colorful pamphlets.

By the time summer rolls around, the schools escalate their efforts with phone calls. Each program is permitted to make one phone call per week, and coaches tend to fill that quota each week during this portion of the recruiting period.