The Silo

"We had a unique chance at UMBC. We had good times and built a respectable program. I feel really fortunate."        - Linda Sowers, UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame When I came to UMBC in 1966 there were three buildings and lots of construction and mud, but no sidewalks, no dorms -- and no women's sports. We did have a very close-knit and enthusiastic community of 650 new students and a very supportive athletic department. By the time I graduated in 1970, we had built a strong, winning tradition in women's sports. It was an exciting time, and new ideas were welcome. I had played volleyball in high school and wanted to play sports at UMBC, but we didn't have any programs yet. I went to see Dick Watts, the athletic director. We recruited 66 girls to play volleyball my freshman year and got a coach from off-campus. We didn't have uniforms that first year, just our gym uniforms. During my sophomore year, Joan Chenoweth was the AD, and coached our three sports -- field hockey, volleyball, and basketball. We got uniforms that year and wore the same uniforms for all three sports for the next three years. There was a core of girls who played all three sports. We didn't have athletic scholarships then, and many were also working and carrying a heavy course load. Remember, this was in the days before Title IX and legislative funding for women's sports. We were doing something new and we became very close friends. There was a lot of camaraderie and fun. We didn't have large crowds, but they were loyal -- mostly friends and family. We had wonderful cheerleaders, and the men who played sports would come and support us. Our basketball team became very competitive and respectable. One of my best memories is playing Towson State, at the UMCP field house our second year. We were seeded second in the State, which was fun because no one had really yet heard of UMBC. We enjoyed all the fun and challenges of starting something new. We had to alternate practice time with the men in order to share the one gym. When the women's athletic association started an awards program, we held bake sales and car washes to raise money. Since we all commuted, there was a scramble for a ride home after practice was finished at 8 p.m. I also worked in the nurse's office and was treasurer of the junior class. It was not unusual for everyone to be this involved. Sometimes, I look back and wonder how we did it all. I probably would not have had an opportunity to play college sports at that time if I had gone instead to a school like Towson or Frostburg with an established program. We had a unique chance at UMBC. We had good times and built a respectable program. I feel really fortunate. I made lots of good friends who I have to this day. We bought charm bracelets that first year for each of the girls, and added a charm each year for each sport. I still have mine -- it is a nice remembrance.

Linda Lyall Sowers, '70 (American Studies) was in the first UMBC graduating class and was one of UMBC's first women athletes. With dedication and enthusiasm, she worked with the athletic directors and her fellow students to start a successful women's sports program. She played volleyball, basketball, and field hockey. And, just as important, she helped recruit players, get uniforms, establish award programs, and focus attention on women's sports. Linda has fond memories of her time at UMBC. "I think that when you really enjoy something, it makes it easier to attain your goals." In recognition of her achievements, Linda was inducted last year into the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame. Linda is still an athlete -- she runs 25 miles a week and she and her husband Greg enjoy playing volleyball on the sand court in their backyard. Linda has been a librarian for many years, first with Friends School in Baltimore and now with Mercy High School. She is an active alumna and credits UMBC with providing her both an education and an opportunity to be a pioneer. Denise Lee Harrison '83

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