A senior soccer game. Empty stands. A full bench of players. And a shutout game.
Scenes like this are not uncommon at small rural colleges, like ABAC, where tight budgets and shifting priorities keep many athletic programs sidelined and in the dark. While powerhouse conferences such as the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference garner national attention and media play, smaller institutions like ones under the NAIA division are left to struggle to pick up basic support. Across many rural campuses, athletic programs struggle to operate efficiently with minimal resources, limited visibility, and staff who aren’t compensated properly.
Yet the issue isn’t a lack of talent or commitment, its institutional investment. Student athletes within these colleges train just as hard, travel just as far, and balance just as many academic demands as those in larger conferences. Our athletic department, and many like ours, operate under a skeletal staffing. In some areas, positions go unfilled entirely. In others, athletic staff members take on multiple roles without compensation, according to several sources within the department. Our athletic trainer splits her time between multiple teams. What would normally require a fully supported and stacked department is instead carried by a handful of overworked and underpaid
professionals.
We have a limited recruiting budget and a facility that lags light years behind competitors. With institutions in the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference garnering major media revenue and sponsorships, their athletic programs serve as a financial pillar for the college– while rural colleges view athletics as an expense rather than a strategic investment. Many rural colleges, especially ABAC, rely significantly on tuition and state funding to stay operating. With ABAC serving as one of the most affordable options in the region, its accessibility
leaves little room for extra funding.
When athletics are consistently underfunded, the consequences extend beyond the field. After the senior soccer game this fall Coach
Earls spoke about recruiting girls for the team stating, “As far as talent goes, I’m just going to get on the road and try to find people that match that talent.” While this is the reality for many of our athletics, other divisions face a different reality with what is known as ‘The Transfer Portal’ – a database for students, coaches, and fans alike to see who is up for grabs. And this recruitment process for rural colleges becomes more difficult as athletes often compare facilities, travel accommodations, and campus
support systems.
Support suffers when student athletes feel overlooked and undervalued. Campus morale declines and game days that should energize
the student body often passes along unnoticed.
Many people I have asked to attend a basketball game with have no clue one is even happening or where to find that information. And over
time this lack of investment creates a cycle of limited resources leading to limited success, which leads to limited attention and therefore even less funding among the athletic programs.
The irony within all this is that athletics at rural colleges often serve as a driving factor for enrollment. Cutting support, or lessening it,
won’t save us money long-term– it’ll cost us prospective students, campus engagement, and community visibility.