National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Mar 11, 2010 8:45:31 AM

As the Division II men's and women's basketball tournaments begin their trek toward nationally televised championship games March 26 (women's) and 27 (men's), the division is celebrating the television exposure it already has received in regular-season coverage from CBS College Sports Network.

The fourth year of the agreement between the network and Division II featured two Saturdays of women's action followed by four men's games in consecutive weeks and then two more women's contests in late February.

Over the length of the partnership, which also includes a football game-of-the-week package, 89 schools in all 22 Division II conferences have enjoyed the national exposure, and broadcasts have originated from 45 different campuses.

"The value is difficult to measure," said Caldwell College Athletics Director Mark Corino, whose women's basketball team downed rival Bloomfield in the 2010 TV finale February 27. "The exposure for those two hours is something an institution like ours can't get otherwise. The life that it brings to the campus and the community, and the involvement it generates from our student-athletes and students in all our various programs is tremendous.

"Not all NCAA institutions get that opportunity to showcase themselves in this manner."

Like Caldwell, almost all hosts go all out to take advantage of the TV opportunity with on-campus activities, game-day promotions and initiatives that engage their communities. Much like when ESPN's Game Day alights upon Division I towns, Division II schools get all dolled up when CBS College Sports comes calling.

"That's the intent of the package," said Division II Vice President Mike Racy. "The division has strategically sought this arrangement and has purposefully picked compelling matchups from all conferences to spread the exposure. We think this is a major benefit to Division II membership."

Racy won't get an argument from participants on that point.

When Augusta State's men's team hosted Montevallo in a Peach Belt Conference clash February 13, school officials combined the institution's annual military appreciation activities with game day. As a result, nearby Fort Gordon bused in 850 soldiers to help fill the stands already strained with a homecoming crowd.

Athletics Director Clint Bryant loved it. While his staff was worried about fitting everyone in Augusta State's arena, Bryant said, "All I want to know is that when people tune in to CBS College Sports for the Augusta State-Montevallo game, they're going to see a Division II student body and fans rockin' just like a Division I place."

They did not disappoint, despite a rare six-inch snowfall before the game.

Corino and his Caldwell staff didn't take their opportunity lightly, either. When they found out they were one of the eight basketball broadcasts in 2010, Corino convened the college president and vice presidents from every campus unit to determine how an institution nine years into active Division II status could show its colors.

The whole school was on board in a hurry. Admissions agreed to stage on-campus activities for prospective students who had been either accepted or admitted for next year. Development invited donors, alumni and board members for meetings and receptions. Student life planned a pep rally and age-group activities for community members. The music department even arranged for a pep band, something the school had not consistently enjoyed before. Caldwell also accommodated about 150 Bloomfield officials for meetings and a reception that day.

As with Bryant's Augusta State staff, Corino's crew also had to battle the elements. Nearly two feet of snow closed the school Thursday and Friday, but the game went on as planned on Saturday.

The strategic beat went on at Humboldt State's February 6 men's game against Cal State Monterey Bay, too, with family fun and a musical bent, including live halftime entertainment from a local ensemble. Athletics Director Dan Collen said the planning targeted two Division II initiatives: community engagement and game environment. "This was a great day for our university and all of the fans who came out to enjoy the game," he said.

NCAA personnel who help coordinate the TV events say they encounter similar scenes wherever they go. Frank Rhodes and Chris Fitzpatrick, associate directors of broadcasting at the national office, say Division II schools typically welcome them with open arms.

"What draws our production crew and the announcers to this whole package is how accommodating all the schools are to our being there," Rhodes said. "They understand what the coverage means to their campuses and they are willing to work with us to make it the best event possible."

That could mean building a space for the announcers if there isn't one already, flipping the home and visiting team benches if necessary, or creating new camera bays for better viewing angles. Even allowing for the coaches to wear microphones during the games so the television audience can listen in on their strategies is something the division has embraced. Whatever it takes, Division II does.

"They also understand the importance of how this package conveys the product of Division II, which is extremely competitive basketball in these wonderful atmospheres we showcase week in and week out," Fitzpatrick said.

He cited the Caldwell-Bloomfield game as an example. Neither team was ranked nor competing for a spot in the national tournament, yet they packed the house.

"It indeed was a great illustration of what Division II is all about," Corino conferred.

Caldwell officials emphasized that fact by airing a PSA from the school's communications department (more campus collaboration) that played off the "I Chose" campaign by having student-athletes describe the choices they made at Caldwell.

While there's no immediate financial gain (there's no payout to host schools), participants make the effort as an investment in good will.

"It wasn't about the financial perspective for that particular day," Corino said. "Yes, we could have charged everyone full ticket price and made some money, but the value for our future and to showcase what Caldwell College is all about and what the Division II model is all about was far more valuable. That's how we approached all of this."

Bryant sings from the same hymnal.

"People ask me whether these TV games mean anything financially," he said. "Well, no, Division II is not about that. It's about the opportunity to expose not only our institution but our home city in a positive manner."

There was no better way to do that, Bryant said, than through the school's community engagement piece with the military, which became visually moving when 18 busloads of soldiers pulled up.

"That was pretty impressive in itself to see them unload," Bryant said. "They don't just get up and walk off the bus and into the building, either. Their discipline was impressive."

Augusta State honored the soldiers at halftime, including a stirring rendition of "The Soldier's Creed."

"I was at a game two weeks later and still had people coming up to me and talking about the Augusta State game," said Peach Belt Commissioner Dave Brunk. "That includes people who didn't attend the game in person and had the chance to watch it on TV and note what a great production it was, and those who were actually at the game and said how inspired they were during the soldier tribute.

"The impact on the participating schools and the conferences they represent is immeasurable."

And lasting. In a debrief of Caldwell's efforts, school President Nancy Blattner said she wants the pep band – created essentially because of this game – to be a permanent fixture.

That's music to DII VP Racy's ears.

"This is why Division II is pointing the television cameras their way," he said. "We want all of our schools to show how they've taken the Division II attributes and applied them locally to make for a great college experience for their student-athletes and fans. There's no better lens through which to view that than a TV camera."