Sports program expansion years away
Jennifer Zimmerman
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Sports
When speaking of milestones, expanding the college to include Baccalaureate studies is atop DBC's list of achievements.
While DBC currently offers just one Bachelor's of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, the State Board of Education has just granted DBC to offer a Bachelors of Education degree starting in 2009.
The prestige of offering bachelor degrees will contribute to higher student enrollment and longer student attendance, but will it put DBC above the level of an ordinary community college. The question is, will this expansion of academics lead to an expansion of athletics?
The current athletic program at DBC consists of five major sports: baseball, softball, men's basketball, women's basketball and women's golf. While all of these teams have award-winning stature, there is a downfall to overcome - the loss of graduating players. In an interview with Falcon Baseball head coach Tim Touma, he confirmed the stresses that appear after successfully breaking in players and getting them to work together as a team. The time comes for sophomores to graduate and freshman to come in, leaving him with a new team to re-work.
Thanks to baccalaureate programs, DBC now has the potential to expand on its athletics and perhaps add new sports such as football, soccer and volleyball to the roster at the same time, but when asked about the expansion of team sports and the loss of players, DBC Athletic Director Will Dunne commented on the idea saying, "None of the academic program changes resulting in the college becoming DBC instead of DBCC such as the addition of new baccalaureate programs will bear any changes on the athletics program."
It may be unfortunate news to sports fans, players and coaches who would benefit from the development of such programs, but there are obvious concerns that must be carefully examined from every angle before such a transition can be made.
There may be financial obligations to meet in order to switch to a larger athletic association and an undoubtedly long approval process.
Fact is, switching to a four-year program is still a long ways off.
While there may be no four year program in the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean it won't happen. As the college continues to grow so will the sports program.
Although sports like soccer are not a part of the intercollegiate program here at DBC, the intramural program offers a wide variety of sports that have become highly competitive.
The intramural program has become as competitive as ever and competes against teams from various prestigious schools along the Southeast, including the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. Several sports are also offered year around.
While DBC currently offers just one Bachelor's of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, the State Board of Education has just granted DBC to offer a Bachelors of Education degree starting in 2009.
The prestige of offering bachelor degrees will contribute to higher student enrollment and longer student attendance, but will it put DBC above the level of an ordinary community college. The question is, will this expansion of academics lead to an expansion of athletics?
The current athletic program at DBC consists of five major sports: baseball, softball, men's basketball, women's basketball and women's golf. While all of these teams have award-winning stature, there is a downfall to overcome - the loss of graduating players. In an interview with Falcon Baseball head coach Tim Touma, he confirmed the stresses that appear after successfully breaking in players and getting them to work together as a team. The time comes for sophomores to graduate and freshman to come in, leaving him with a new team to re-work.
Thanks to baccalaureate programs, DBC now has the potential to expand on its athletics and perhaps add new sports such as football, soccer and volleyball to the roster at the same time, but when asked about the expansion of team sports and the loss of players, DBC Athletic Director Will Dunne commented on the idea saying, "None of the academic program changes resulting in the college becoming DBC instead of DBCC such as the addition of new baccalaureate programs will bear any changes on the athletics program."
It may be unfortunate news to sports fans, players and coaches who would benefit from the development of such programs, but there are obvious concerns that must be carefully examined from every angle before such a transition can be made.
There may be financial obligations to meet in order to switch to a larger athletic association and an undoubtedly long approval process.
Fact is, switching to a four-year program is still a long ways off.
While there may be no four year program in the foreseeable future, that doesn't mean it won't happen. As the college continues to grow so will the sports program.
Although sports like soccer are not a part of the intercollegiate program here at DBC, the intramural program offers a wide variety of sports that have become highly competitive.
The intramural program has become as competitive as ever and competes against teams from various prestigious schools along the Southeast, including the University of Florida and the University of South Florida. Several sports are also offered year around.
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