May 5, 2011
Five months have passed since my last writing (December 2010), and no one could argue that these past five months have been very, very busy for the Leathernecks.
I know most people around campus are probably looking forward commencement exercises on May 13-14th, and we will have several very impressive student-athletes graduating as well. I could list all the names, but suffice to say we have some truly special student-athletes leaving our sports programs. They have impressed us in their chosen sport and have made us very proud with the academic successes and community service activities. In fact, my daughter, Abby will graduate next week as well, (Leah is on track for a December graduation) so there is some additional excitement in the Van Alstine family.
Looking back over the past few months, another basketball season has come to an end. Once again, March Madness proved to be one of the most exciting events across the nation. The mid-major programs (institutions like us) continue to impress and advance deep into the NCAA Tournament. Quite frankly, that’s our goal as well. There is no reason why we can’t be the next Cinderella Team.
As most already know, we are pleased and very excited to have JD Gravina leading our Women’s Basketball team. Obviously, we never like to go through a coaching change, and quite frankly it’s very emotionally taxing. The search/screening process is very, very time consuming - reading resumes, contacting references, interviewing candidates, on-campus interviews, etc. Nobody likes the process, but in the end most would agree we have the right person leading our program. I have said many, many times that our decision-making is based on three things: graduating student-athletes, winning conference championships and advancing to the NCAA’s, and creating the very best possible student-athlete experience.
Some have questioned the fact that we require a Master’s Degree for our coaches and staff. First, this is not a University requirement; this is strictly a requirement of the Athletics Department. Academic Excellence is one of the University’s Core Values, and as we expect our student-athletes to aspire to succeed at the highest levels. A Master’s Degree is not unreasonable for our coaches and senior administration, in fact it speaks volumes about our commitment to academics and is consistent with our efforts to create an academic behavioral shift.
Spring football practice is completed as well, and by most accounts, it was a success but we did suffer a few injuries. To be perfectly honest, I am becoming more and more concerned about full-contact during spring practice, especially at the FCS level. My rationale is two-fold: student-athlete safety (their bodies take a lot of pounding during the season), along with a small roster size. FCS schools only have 63 scholarships for a roster of approximately 100 student-athletes, so in spring practice, the roster is essentially reduced by 20-25 due to departing seniors. On any given day this spring, there were 10-12 student-athletes not participating due to injuries, and all the attention on head injuries and concussions really have me concerned. But, let me also say that Mark Hendrickson and his staff (along with Chad Cerullo and our ATC’s) are very, very conscious of the welfare of our players, and they strategically structure practices to meet team preparation needs but also limit the impact on players. All in all, a very successful spring practice, a necessary evil but in the end successful.
Academically, the Missouri Valley Football Conference honored its best “students” with the Academic Honor Roll, and 32 Leathernecks earned this prestigious recognition. Also, Kyle Glazier was selected as one of two recipients of the FCS Athletic Director’s Association Post-Graduate Scholarship. A few years ago, I served on this committee which selects the recipients and it is truly a very competitive process with so many deserving football student-athletes from across the country. Kudos to Kyle and our football program.
Still on the topic of football, as most should know by now, Hanson Field will receive another face-lift this summer with the installation of an artificial surface. Once again, the Student Government Association set a standard of support that is immeasurable with the allocation of necessary funds. I know our coaches and student-athletes deeply appreciate the support of SGA, both with the 2007 east-side renovation and with this summer’s turf installation project. An artificial surface will truly enhance the entire campus, both visually and in terms of the students’ experience. Obviously football will use the turf (practice and competition) along with several other outdoor sports (men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, and softball). In addition intramurals, recreation, and club sports will also have access to the field. Hanson Field is the only lighted outdoor facility on campus, and an artificial surface will provide 12 month outdoor athletics and recreational use. The expenditure of these monies is truly an investment in improving the quality of life for all students, including student-athletes. There were also discussions about a new scoreboard, but I’m not 100% confident that will happen this year. The SGA allocated $1.3, and it has become apparent that will be exhausted with the turf. Still, a new scoreboard is in the works, and will probably be funded with external funding.
Some of our spring sports have concluded their seasons, while others are still competing. Congratulations to Lia Lukkarinen and the Women’s Golf team as they finished second at the Summit League Championships. A second place finish is the highest ever for our women golfers. The baseball team is still competing for a spot in the Summit League Tournament. Considering the tragedies of last year (death of Stan Hyman and Devin Van Brooker), Mike Villano has our program headed in the right direction with eyes on a championship. Some other individual successes include Nikki Klier and Chelsea Lynes competing in a select invitational track meet in California. Many other track/field student-athletes have enjoyed personal best performances, and they are peaking at the right time as the Summit League Outdoor Track/Field Championships are coming up soon. Western will host the 2011 Summit League Softball Championship on May 11-14th.
You may recall from previous writings my comments about conference/schools affiliations, well, the Summit League has changed again, adding the University of Nebraska-Omaha. We (Western and the Summit League) are very excited to have the Mavericks join in July 2012. Centenary will depart with the conclusion of the 2011 spring sport season and Southern Utah will depart following next year while the University of South Dakota begins its membership in July. Our geographical footprint and our institutional profiles are well suited for Western Illinois University.
Looking back on the 2010-11 academic/athletic year, the Leathernecks enjoyed some wonderful successes, academically, athletically, and in community service. Those of you who are reading this from far distances should be proud of your Leathernecks as our coaches, staff, and student-athletes really do represent Western Illinois University in a very positive way.
We all know the past 18-24 months have been very challenging, especially with funding and budgets, and our programs have suffered as well. Our coaches and staff have unfortunately become accustomed to doing more with less. Yet our responsibility and duty will always remain with the student-athletes: what is best for them, to help them graduate, win championships, and have great experiences as a student-athlete. Hopefully, things will change and we can begin to do more with more.
Some important dates for your calendar:
Leatherneck Golf Classic: Friday, July 15th
Purple and Gold Gala and Auction: Saturday, August 27th
Leatherneck Football Home Opener: Saturday, September 10th vs. Jacksonville
Season Football Tickets are on sale now: 309-298-1190 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 309-298-1190 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (www.GoLeathernecks.com)
It’s always a great day to be a Leatherneck… if you want to help us do more with more, join the Leatherneck Club. Until next time, Go Leathernecks!
