Graham's Word: WNC Making Huge Mistake by Letting Athletics Walk

It will be a HUGE mistake by Western Nevada College if they allow the athletic programs to walk. Period. I have kept a low profile in this just mainly to sit back and observe what is going to happen. Now, I’m coming off the sidelines to express my opinion.

The college is doing this to save money and I do sympathize with them in that regard but, they are not looking at what the college AND the city will lose if the programs are gone. The loss of money to the city and college far outweighs the money that would be saved.

According to past press releases, the college administration has stated that it will save roughly about $400,000 per year by cutting the athletics. Since this decision has been announced the community has responded by creating a privately funded foundation: The Athletic Foundation of Western Nevada. This foundation could not have better leaders and members if you ask me. I know a lot of them personally and they know their (you know what). The foundation’s President Helaine Jesse-Morres, and its members have done extensive research as to what the city and college stand to lose if the programs leave.

According to the research, the estimated revenue generated by visiting teams coming to Carson City for a season (both baseball and softball) is $222,600.00 and the estimated revenue of having the athletes live in Carson City for the school year is $405,000.00. That is a grand total of $627,600.00 per year. Research was also done on potential revenue if the teams bring conference tournaments into the city which the baseball program has done on a pretty regular basis during its existence.

When a conference tournament is brought to the city it adds an additional $187,500.00 in revenue. If both teams are able to bring them into town that adds an additional $375,000.00 bringing the potential revenue over one million dollars ($1,002,600.00) Just in case you needed it pointed out, $1,002,600.00 is greater than $400,000.00. And if you needed to be sold even more the guaranteed revenue of $627,600.00 is still greater than $400,000.00.

The college also stands to lose around 50 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) students for the college and the tuition money they bring in per year. In most years there are even more than 50 students for the athletics due to the red-shirts that are not on the roster and also the players that don’t make the teams but stay at the college to complete the semester OR even stay to get a degree. For a small college like WNC that is a pretty hefty sum to lose.

Overall, in my opinion, this decision is a poor one by the college. I know they are facing budget issues and again, I sympathize with that. That is why I approached the administration on multiple occasions with well researched and thought out plans that were also worked on by experienced professionals inside the Reno Aces’ front office and endorsed by them.

These plans were brought forth with ideas on how to save money, and give boost to attendance at the same time while generating a little extra revenue as well. To me, they should work with what they have to keep the college alive. Athletics in some cases make colleges thrive, and I believe that could be the case at WNC if they worked towards that.
Each time I approached them I was basically ignored and that infuriated me. I felt they insulted my intelligence. Again, these plans were not just “slapped” together without thought or research, they were very seriously put together. I did not want to “cut corners” I wanted to go through the proper channels with the college on this.

I also came up with an idea on having an Athletic Advisory Board by partnering up with the University of Nevada Athletic Department and maybe even other junior colleges around the nation. I was hoping this would come about because I know that the U of N has a very successful athletic department and their advice would be invaluable on how to keep one running and make it better as well. Also the advice from other junior colleges would have been great because they most likely have had budget issues before and have survived them.

One avenue that I believe has been way overlooked is the broadcasts....Now hear me out on this...Broadcasts bring exposure to not only the programs and the college but it would bring great amounts of exposure to the local businesses as well with advertising. NJCAA TV allows the game to be seen as well as have commercial spots for businesses. And the streaming is FREE for the broadcasts. $100 a game for multiple spots per game (30 and 60 seconds), I believe would be an unbeatable value. Again, I believe this has been way overlooked in my opinion. And if you are wondering how many people tune in to WNC Baseball....my last full time season was 30,000 unique viewers and a lot of those people travel to Carson as well to see the games.

I believe the fact that WNC has had an unorthodox athletic department has hurt the department and the programs in the long run. I understand why they did it in the beginning but it was never worked towards to have a more traditional athletic department and I believe it created a sense of resentment on campus with the staff members who were given extra duties on top of the jobs they have already.

The college administration needs to work with the athletic foundation on hiring someone even if it’s just ONE person to solely work inside the athletic department to start streamlining the process, and alleviate the pressure from the staff members at the college who are meant to do other jobs. It would be a start.

I hope it is not over for athletics at WNC. WNC needs them. I still have faith, and believe it will get done. I hope the college and the athletic foundation will come together and really look at what it will mean if the athletics do leave.