CEDAR FALLS - Chris Kowalski is a University of Northern Iowa athletics fan.

Kowalski, an assistant professor in leisure, youth and human services, has met players from several sports in his classroom. But recently he got to meet some of them on their turf - in this case, the basketball court.

Kowalski was one of about 25 UNI instructors and professors to participate in the Honorary Sideline Coach program for the 2008-09 athletic season. The program is designed to "bridge the academic and athletic worlds," said Jennifer Sell, the academic advisor for athletics.

Student athletes can nominate a current or former professor for the honor. Those educators are then invited to an upcoming game and, in some cases, practices, team meals and into the locker room. During the game they get a seat on the sideline.

"This was a great way to support the students I teach in my classrooms, and it got me a little closer to the floor," Kowalski said.

He realizes the program is about more than just a good seat for a big game.

"I really appreciate the fact that the athletic program does this," he said. "It's great for faculty members to see that our student athletes … are, for the most part, great representatives of this university."

Men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson opens up team meals, shoot arounds, pregame warm-ups and the locker room. He said it is great the players get the opportunity to see professors outside the classroom, and professors can learn more about what students do when not in class.

He hopes the relationships cultivated in and out of the classroom also benefit his players sometime down the road.

"The real benefit comes when our guys are done and have their degree. This can be someone they can put on their resume as a reference. It's not just an instructor, but someone they worked with to form a real relationship and bond," he said. "Those relationship will go long past their playing days here."

Sell said she has heard positive feedback from the professors who participate. Most said they were honored to be chosen and enjoyed the opportunity to step into the student athlete's world, even if just for a day.

She stressed the program is not designed to elicit special treatment for student athletes. Often professors are not told who nominated them for the honor.

Volleyball Coach Bobbi Petersen has a hard time seeing the divide between academics and athletics, but understands it exists. She invites honorary coaches to practices and the locker room so they can get a real feel for what a student athlete does on a day-to-day basis.

"I think it just puts in perspective what these students do, what they go through. It requires a lot of their time and dedication," Petersen said. "A lot of the professors only see the excitement of game day, but they don't see the hours of blood, sweat and tears that get us to that point. It's really amazing what these kids do, yet they still manage to keep academics as a priority."

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.