October 30, 2008 - 7:50am
New university will put its best foot forward to try and gain CIS acceptance
By Craig Slater, The Daily News
Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Company's coming to town.
This isn't just any old friend or long lost acquaintance, either.
It's family. Well, in Bruce Hunter's eyes, he'd like to be considered family one day soon.
For two days at the end of next week, the Vancouver Island University athletic director and his staff will roll out the red carpet and play host to four members of the Canada West bid committee, a group that has the power to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to the Mariners' bid to join one of the conferences within the Canadian Interuniversity Sport body.
"It's a very nerve-wracking time for me," Hunter explained. "It's a huge step for the school. . . but I think it would be a very positive step for the institution and a great step for Nanaimo."
The committee includes Dick White, the president of the CIS, and Clint Hamilton, the president of Canada West, among other athletic directors from Canada West schools.
They are expected to arrive next Thursday and will spend the majority of Friday in meetings with Hunter, his support staff, Mariners coaches and select Mariners athletes before they attend the Mariners men's and women's basketball games in the VIU gymnasium later that evening.
Following their tour through VIU, the bid committee will compile a report which they will then present at the Canada West winter meetings in February. A final vote on the bid will take place in early June.
The University of Northern B.C. in Prince George (in basketball only) and UBC-Okanagan in Kelowna (basketball and volleyball only) have also submitted bids.
VIU basketball and volleyball teams would compete in Canada West should they be accepted.
Mariners soccer, badminton and golf would remain a part of the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association. In order to pass inspection from the bid committee, Hunter knows he'll have to impress the respected on-lookers. Not only will the university be under the microscope, including the sports facilities, but the community as well.
The VIU gym is an issue, considering a handful of Canada West institutions, including UNBC and University of Lethbridge, two cities roughly the same size as Nanaimo, recently opened brand new multi-purpose sports facilities.
"Do you look at (VIU gym) as an issue or an obstacle?" Hunter asked. "Our facility is adequate, but it's not above adequate. In fact, we're probably lacking in some areas where we don't have enough team rooms and enough adequate space for physical therapy.
"Our playing surface is fine and the actual gym is in good shape and our seating is fine, too," he continued. "For the most part, we're missing some of the other stuff and we're prepared to address that if it's an issue with Canada West.
"The plan for the hopefully-near future is for a new facility up here."
Hunter added the school is well positioned to host tournament-type events for swimming and track and field given the facilities at Rotary Bowl and 50-metre swimming pool close by.
Financial support is also a major issue. While Hunter said it would be exciting for sports fans in Nanaimo to see the Mariners compete with the UBCs, Albertas and Calgarys of the conference, he's also aware of the scholarship money it would require to satisfy top recruits. Playing with the big boys on the court is one thing. Competing with them in terms of finances is another given the obvious contrast in student bodies, alumni support and host city sizes.
"It all goes up," Hunter said in regards to cost. "There's no question that it's expensive to run a quality sports program in Canada West. But our application includes a detailed financial plan that lays out the process for us to do that and I believe we have the resources in place to succeed at that level.
"It's a big jump in financial requirements, competitive requirements. It's definitely a level above where we're at right now. It's a little intimidating."
He said the school does have money set aside for recruiting needs so coaches can travel across the country, if need be, to scout and recuit athletes, as well as bring athletes to the city on recruiting visits.
"If I didn't think we could be competitive I wouldn't have done it," Hunter said. "It wouldn't be a good move for the institution in the long run if I didn't think we could be competitive. No one wants to come and watch a team lose all the time."
Next Friday's games will mark the beginning of the regular season for the Mariners basketball programs. UNBC will serve as the opponent. The women's game is slated for 6 p.m., with the men to tip at 8 p.m.
Originally published October 30, 2008 by the Nanaimo Daily News
Tags: In the Community
