INFORMATION FROM NCAA.ORG What is Title IX? Title IX of the Education Amendments Acts of 1972 is a federal law that states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Who does Title IX affect? It applies to all educational institutions, public and private, that receive federal funds. Almost all private colleges and universities must abide by Title IX regulations because they receive federal funding through federal financial aid programs used by their students. Schools comply in athletics by (1) providing equitable participation opportunities, (2) providing athletics financial aid equal to student-athlete participation, and (3) providing equitable benefits to participants. It affects all educational programs in schools. Since athletics programs are considered educational programs and activities, Title IX requires women and men be provided equal opportunities to participate in sports. What are the benefits? Title IX benefits everyone. Historically, females have faced more gender barriers to education, but Title IX was written to ensure the under-represented gender – male or female – has equal access and opportunity. In fact, male participation continues to increase.

At Angelo State, women's collegiate programs have been among the most successful at the NCAA Division II level with a combined two national championships and 18 Lone Star Conference titles since their inception in 1975. That year, one of the programs that helped set the path was the inaugural women's basketball team knows as the Battlin' Babes.

The Battlin' Babes were one of the first ever women's collegiate teams at Angelo State as they began competition on Nov. 7, 1975 in a contest versus West Texas State, now known as West Texas A&M. The Babes won that contest, 58-51, in San Angelo.
The Battlin' Babes finished their inaugural season with a 13-14 record overall. Highlights included victories over current LSC foe West Texas A&M and an 11-point win over Texas Tech.

Dr. Carole Smith was the head coach of the team and the first Women's Director of Athletics at ASU. Members of that team were Debbie Arant, Sallye Burke, Lillie Castellano, Perri Clark, Carla Dillard, Elma Gallegos, Sally Echols Itz, Trudie Jackson, Linda Kadlacek, Patsy McIntire, Tandy Medford, Lisa Hirt Miksch, Madolyn Nasworthy, Debbie Peiser and Karen Loeffler Verell.
The team was honored last season at halftime on Jan. 21 at the Belles basketball game versus Abilene Christian this with eight members showing up in attendance.

Current Angelo State women's basketball coach, Sally Walling Brooks, who arranged the festivities, talks about how important it was for them to be recognized for their accomplishments.

“I just loved (that they were honored),” Brooks said. “My only regret was not trying to get them together sooner. Alumni are a big deal to me, and I worked really hard to get the ones that I personally know to try to stay connected to the university and the current Belles.”

The name Battlin' Babes was a play off the men's nickname at the time, the Battlin' Bunch in the early 1970s. The team fought to keep the nickname, but was unsuccessful as women's programs that followed became known as the Rambelles in the early 1980s.

Still Brooks knows that the Battlin' Babes helped open the door for many young girls and women who prior to 1975 did not have the opportunity to compete in collegiate athletics at Angelo State.

“It was something that was just a special thing,” Brooks said. “For me, I'm a women's basketball coach, and was a girl basketball player. That's all I've known all my life, and I think that was so exciting that they got to be part of the very first team here.
“It's unfortunate how many women or young girls missed out on that opportunity, but it's better late than never and what a great group of women they were.”

There are now 12 active athletic programs at Angelo State, including seven teams on the women's side of the coin. Angelo State Director of Athletics and longtime Belles' volleyball coach Kathleen Brasfield recognizes the impact that the Battlin' Babes had in terms of competing at a high level.

“I think that their legacy is to be the first and set to the standard for what others try to do after them,” Brasfield said.  “They didn't want to just compete, they wanted to win so I think that's important to recognize as well.”