She always knew she would have her baby. But former LSU women’s basketball guard Scholanda Robinson – known as Scholanda Hoston during her LSU career – did not know her basketball future after missing her sophomore season to give birth to her daughter Aishida. “Losing my scholarship did cross my mind whenever I found out I was pregnant,” Robinson said. “I just felt unprepared from being young and in school, and thinking about [the scholarship] was added pressure.” Now, student athletes in situations similar to Robinson have additional security if faced with pregnancy during their scholarship term. The NCAA Division I Board of Directors passed new legislation in January ensuring institutions cannot pull scholarships from female athletes during the pregnancy year. The ruling also protects athletes afflicted with eating disorders, mental conditions or addictions. The ruling came after much concern about a spring 2007 ESPN report that seven Clemson athletes had abortions in fear of losing scholarships. Robinson said she never considered abortion, although she knew a collegiate basketball player who chose to have one. Then-LSU coach Sue Gunter reassured Robinson she would be welcomed back after giving birth. “She felt that if I could come back and prove to her that I could be the person she recruited, she had no problem with allowing me to keep my scholarship,” Robinson said. Associate head coach Bob Starkey said Gunter, now deceased, never considered revoking Robinson’s scholarship. “There was not a rule in place at the time,” Starkey said. “Coach Gunter, through common sense and because she cared about Scholanda, made sure she had assistance. It’s not like she was ever going to just jerk her scholarship.” LSU coach Van Chancellor also said he supports the ruling. He coached WNBA players Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, who both returned to play for Chancellor after giving birth. “I think that’s a great rule,” he said. “If a young lady is pregnant, she should get a year of eligibility back.” With eight graduating seniors, Lady Tiger freshmen guards Katherine Graham and Latear Eason are two of the four current team members who will play under the new legislation. Graham said she had a high school teammate who became pregnant and feared she would lose her college scholarship. “It’s very good that the NCAA is looking out for female athletes,” she said. Returning to full strength after a pregnancy may seem far-fetched to some critics of the legislation, but Starkey said Robinson returned to 100 percent by the next season. “Scholanda was amazing,” he said. “In terms of when she came back, it was like she had never been gone.” Robinson said rigorous training, including shuttle runs and resistance training, soon had her in better shape than before the pregnancy. She attributes her success to strong support from her husband Frederick Robinson, an LSU graduate student at the time. “I actually came back stronger,” she said. “I was in the best shape in my life.” Junior forward Kristen Morris said Robinson’s speedy return may have been an “exception” to the majority of pregnant athletes. “For anyone else, it probably would have been really hard to come back,” she said. “I can only imagine what that would be like. I’m sure you would have a lot more support knowing you can keep your scholarship.” Robinson, now with the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs, said she supports the recent NCAA ruling and hopes it will reassure athletes faced with similar situations. “I’m really happy that it has changed,” she said. “It’s something that is needed. There was no talk when we came in to LSU, like, ‘If this happens, these are the repercussions.’ I would say all girls should get informed.”
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]