Ty Schadt, Managing Editor
In 2017, I wrote a story for the Collegian that detailed the relationship between student-athletes and other students on Asbury’s campus. Through lots of interviews, it became clear that many student-athletes felt stereotyped and judged by other students and, in some cases, faculty. There was an undeniable gap between the athletic department and the rest of campus, which was reflected by empty stands at many sporting events. It wasn’t a healthy trend, and my article proposed several potential solutions.
A year and a half later, things are finally starting to come together.
Last semester, Mark Whitworth, the vice president of Intercollegiate Athletics, sent the Collegian a letter to the editor expressing the athletic department’s desire to build a stronger relationship with the campus community.
“We want to build AU school pride and provide an enjoyable outlet for people to come be a fan and support the Eagles,” wrote Whitworth.
That sounded nice, but it wasn’t anything that hadn’t been said before. In Whitworth’s first few months on the job, he had to do something that few, if any, before him had accomplished: get folks to buy in.
There is no doubt Whitworth has delivered. Senior basketball player Trent Thompson went as far as to say this year has “changed the culture of [Asbury’s] programs.”
So, what has been Whitworth’s process?
Perhaps the first step was to make the student-athletes themselves feel more appreciated. The Luce Center has undergone several renovations to improve the environment, such as the installation of the Athlete Lounge. Speaking from an outside perspective, signs on the building’s exterior and interior have helped add a sense of legitimacy and professionalism to the department and its teams.
Next, Whitworth created opportunities for athletes to become more accessible on campus. The athletic department hosted a movie night on Reasoner Green last fall, where representatives from all 18 athletic programs volunteered. Weeks later, the athletic department was featured in a chapel service.
“I think that was a positive step,” said Whitworth. “We really wanted to add value to that opportunity [to get to know the athletes].”
Whitworth also wanted to spread Asbury’s brand beyond campus. He inked a deal with local radio station JessFM, which led to basketball games being broadcast to the surrounding area and the Asbury Sports Minute, a daily radio spot that runs several times a day on JessFM and details athletic happenings.
Familiarity goes a long way, and based on the eyeball test, attendance started to increase at athletic events. During soccer season, the athletic department hosted cookouts and tailgates before soccer games. The Screamin’ Eagles, Asbury’s student section, created a fun environment for students during home games.
“I think students don’t realize how much fun it can be heckling the opposing team and cheering on the student-athletes until they come experience it for themselves,” said Ruffin Stanley, a member of the group. “These athletes put a lot of effort into their respective sports, and they should be recognized for that.”
The Screamin’ Eagles’ presence has not gone unnoticed by the athletes. “During the games this year at the Luce Center, the fan base has been amazing,” said Thompson. “It has made us closer to different [Asbury] sports teams and more students in general.”
Food has also been a common driver for student support. During basketball season, Whitworth got Chick-fil-A to sign on as a sponsor, which resulted in several theme nights. On Jan. 18 and Feb. 5, those who came out to the Luce Center with the Chick-fil-A app downloaded received a free chicken sandwich and got to watch competitive River States Conference (RSC) basketball.
“Having Chick-fil-A sponsored events makes it easier to bring more students to athletic events that would not regularly consider going,” said Jonathan Miller, a resident assistant in Johnson Hall. “I had 25 men on my hall attend a basketball game one night, and I have never had that many before.”
But perhaps what has been more of an incentive than anything is the overall success of Asbury’s teams. The women’s soccer team won the RSC tournament. The men’s basketball team won 20 games and hosted a conference tournament game for the first time in five years. Both tennis teams are ranked in the top 25 and are pre-season RSC favorites.
Fan support and successful teams go hand in hand. They feed off each other, and Whitworth knew how to work out all the kinks to allow such a relationship to blossom.
Yet despite how far the department might have come in his first eight months, Whitworth believes there is plenty more to come. “We’re definitely in a growth mode,” said Whitworth.
An event reflecting such a mindset is the TeamAU Golf Experience: a golf-scramble held on April 29 at Champion Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It will serve as a fundraiser for the athletic department in which members of the general public as well as potential sponsors can play 18 holes and interact with Asbury athletes scattered throughout the course.
A year and a half later, are we finally closing the gap? It’s one thing to believe in an idea yourself, but when others start backing you, like the student body and sponsors, gears really start turning. The Asbury athletic department is making some noise, and everybody hears it now.
