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MARY JO FESTLE:

Have you seen a lot of changes in how the women's programs are treated?

ANSON DORRANCE:

Yes, obviously, because of longevity, all women's programs are treated very well and because of our success our budgets have become larger and larger, our facilities better and better and the media attention greater and greater. So these are certainly very positive steps for women in athletics. I think, obviously, one factor in all this is the fact that we've been successful. But also, I think women's athletics is becoming more and more accepted and it's becoming more and more attended, the events are. I think in the old days, Title Nine was one of the motivating forces in establishing women's athletics in college and maybe that's had a top down effect on girls in high school athletics. Because what's happening now is in the old days, it was so rare to find a woman that really wanted to be a successful athlete and now you find them in each sport. And the opportunities are available for them and they are encouraged by everyone. There's not as much of a negative stigma and if there is a stigma, it's a very, very understated undercurrent. And frankly, the negative stigmas really have to do with sexual orientation now and not the athletic participation itself. And I think after women's athletics clears that stigma, it will be just like the men.