THE FUTURE OF NCAA track & field is anything but assured, according to the CEO of the USTFCCCA, Sam Seemes.
“Let me be real blunt,” said Seemes, speaking at the coaching organization’s annual meeting in mid-December. “Our sports are under siege. Not in some distant future, but right now. The threats are real and they’re immediate.
“We’re seeing shrinking opportunities for student athletes, vanishing budgets, disappearing scholarships, reduced coaching positions, complete program elimination threats, and replacement by sports that are perceived by administrators as more valuable than ours. If you think I’m being an alarmist, wake up. Every headline, every report, every analysis, every interview of administrators of college athletics points to an uncertain future for programs beyond football and basketball.
”Through collective inaction is how we got here. While stakeholders buried their heads in the sand, our foundation eroded.”
“How’d we get here? What the hell happened? Through collective inaction is how we got here. While stakeholders buried their heads in the sand, our foundation eroded. University presidents tasked years ago with controlling athletic spending instead accelerated it beyond sustainability.”
Seemes added that at one time, collegiate athletics was about education and personal growth, but now it revolves around revenue generation and marketability.
“Nothing is guaranteed anymore. Our sport’s place in collegiate athletics is not a birthright. Yes, we have the highest participation numbers. Yes, we’re among the most diverse sports on campus. Yes, we produce exceptional graduation rates.
“But here’s the harsh reality. Participation numbers and diversity statistics may make for great public relations. But behind closed doors, they are not driving decisions that are being made today.” He noted that in the crucial areas: “media rights, revenue, donor engagement, social media impressions, attendance figures, corporate sponsorships… our sports don’t measure up.”
Seemes offered his vision of a way forward:
“The first step towards survival is revolutionizing how we present our sports to the public. We must package our competitions in an engaging, consumable format that excites audiences and attracts broadcasters…
“Let’s be honest. All-day meets with endless time trials don’t engage the public, and they never will, nor will cross-country meets with tempo runs. We need competitions with clear narratives, dynamic moments, and real stakes…”
He concluded: “The future of track & field and cross-country isn’t written yet, but the window of opportunity is starting to close… It’s time to get off our ass and act.”
Stay tuned: our February issue will contain more analysis on the future of collegiate track & field.
