Death penalty or life-sustaining change?
Tuesday's column by Jack McNeel surmised that NIC's best option for its athletics is to take the ball and go home. What a stunning miscalculation to think shutting down a program for any length of time is beneficial. The SMU Mustang football program is a perfect example of how a "death penalty" or multi-year hiatus affects a program - they've never recovered.
Mr. McNeel has somehow missed the best lessons that are derived from athletics - the striving and toil for greatness. The point of athletic programs is the enrichment of the academic setting and not an ego stroking exercise so fans can strut around town like barnyard roosters.
Furthermore, the idea that moving laterally to the NWAACC would be a step down is flat wrong and insulting to the thousands of athletes who chose to attend these member schools as an overall part of their academic and athletic coursework. The competition level may be less, same or more given individual sports and recruiting trends. Dan O'Brien, former Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Sasquatch and Idaho Vandal, can attest to the quality of coaching and competition as he got his start toward Olympic gold, a decathlon world record and becoming a world champion by being a champion first in the NWAACC.
Likewise, the economic argument presented by Mr. McNeel is contrary to the purpose and fiduciary responsibility of those who manage and lead NIC. McNeel wants them to stay in a major budget deficit just so a few hotels and restaurants can benefit from teams staying in Cd'A. Really? As a taxpayer I'm astounded that anyone would condone such a flagrant and wasteful form of corporate welfare. NIC's purpose and focus is to the student and the educational experience.
Therefore, the best course of action is the one presented by the athletic director and president to make a cost-saving lateral movement in all sports but wrestling. The potential for NIC's growth will be great because this move can and will spur the addition of students, classes and even athletic opportunities. NIC may eventually expand/restore past disciplines with the addition of cross country, baseball and more. We are blessed in Cd'A with a nationally ranked high school cross country team (Cd'A Viking girls-currently ranked 15th). Are we to send them away to Spokane, Boise or Missoula?
In closing, the lateral move for NIC athletics will stabilize the budget, increase opportunities for area athletes and eventually grow NIC as a whole for academics, as well as athletics. The late-great cross country and track coach from CCS Duane Hartman once said, "Champions do what champions do, those who don't aren't and won't be champions." The moral: Quitting is never an option - at least for champions.
Brendon Hill is a former CCS Sasquatch, Eastern Eagle and now a proud dad of three Viking runners. He is a former Lilac Bloomsday Run Committee member (15 Years), former Spokane Hoopfest Operating Committee Member (22 Years) and current Founding Board Volunteer-Hayden Lake Marathon.