Recent headlines in some of our local papers, including the Jackson County Times, as well as papers in Tallahassee have announced that the Chipola College faculty union has complained about the amount of money being spent on athletics at Chipola. First let me say that I am not privy to the details of just how much is spent here and there in the athletic program. And is suspect, as with any organization, there are times when what is spent might be better used elsewhere.
That said, I am generally all for funding athletic programs to the fullest extent possible. That I feel that way is probably not a shock to most folks, given that I am the Sports Editor at the Times and have been broadcasting Chipola athletics for almost 10 years now. But my opinion is based on my belief that college athletics is good for the student athletes, the school and the community.
It is good for the students athletes in that they are able to get an education while benefiting from the side effects of participating in sports. Character traits such as self discipline, self confidence, teamwork, maintaining physical fitness, setting goals and working towards those goals are just a few of the well known benefits of participating in athletics. All the while they are getting an education. And some of those athletes would not get an education if it were not for athletics. My father was one of those athletes in the 1950’s. He was the only one of seven children to go to college and the only reason he was able to go was because of an athletic scholarship.
College athletics is good for the school. The Indians recent success on the basketball courts, softball and baseball fields have garnered the school national recognition. I think there is a direct correlation between successful athletic programs and increase enrollment. And allegiances to athletic programs are often passed down the family tree and that means generations attending a college, often because of that allegiance to the athletic programs.
And athletics is good for the community and the economy. As a community it can give us a sense of pride and camaraderie, in a day and time when it is far too easy to retreat inside our air conditioned homes and stare at the one eyed monster (TV). When I see the Milton H. Johnson Health Center routinely filled to capacity with close to 3,000 folks to watch an athletic event, that suggest to me that the community is in favor of these athletic programs and the money they bring in to our area.
I suspect the academic folks of the world have some valid concerns at times and these are some difficult days as far as state budgets go. But in my book, Simply Put, money spent funding athletic programs is generally money well spent.
From the front porch: Uncle Bob said that when you’re up to your rear end in alligators, it’s hard to remember you were sent there to drain the swamp.
That said, I am generally all for funding athletic programs to the fullest extent possible. That I feel that way is probably not a shock to most folks, given that I am the Sports Editor at the Times and have been broadcasting Chipola athletics for almost 10 years now. But my opinion is based on my belief that college athletics is good for the student athletes, the school and the community.
It is good for the students athletes in that they are able to get an education while benefiting from the side effects of participating in sports. Character traits such as self discipline, self confidence, teamwork, maintaining physical fitness, setting goals and working towards those goals are just a few of the well known benefits of participating in athletics. All the while they are getting an education. And some of those athletes would not get an education if it were not for athletics. My father was one of those athletes in the 1950’s. He was the only one of seven children to go to college and the only reason he was able to go was because of an athletic scholarship.
College athletics is good for the school. The Indians recent success on the basketball courts, softball and baseball fields have garnered the school national recognition. I think there is a direct correlation between successful athletic programs and increase enrollment. And allegiances to athletic programs are often passed down the family tree and that means generations attending a college, often because of that allegiance to the athletic programs.
And athletics is good for the community and the economy. As a community it can give us a sense of pride and camaraderie, in a day and time when it is far too easy to retreat inside our air conditioned homes and stare at the one eyed monster (TV). When I see the Milton H. Johnson Health Center routinely filled to capacity with close to 3,000 folks to watch an athletic event, that suggest to me that the community is in favor of these athletic programs and the money they bring in to our area.
I suspect the academic folks of the world have some valid concerns at times and these are some difficult days as far as state budgets go. But in my book, Simply Put, money spent funding athletic programs is generally money well spent.
From the front porch: Uncle Bob said that when you’re up to your rear end in alligators, it’s hard to remember you were sent there to drain the swamp.
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