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Lake City cuts athletic programs
March 14th, 2008, 10:50 am · 1 Comment · posted by Brad Milner
Lake City will no longer have a baseball, softball or golf team after this season. The school recently announced that the three sports would be cut due to budget constraints.
The news is shocking to the juco community, but it may not be surprising in these tough economic times. Could this happen at Gulf Coast or Chipola? You would hope not, but you never really know.
The article by the Lake City Reporter reported the school spent nearly $600,000 on the teams. The figure would have been higher had Lake City not discontinued men’s and women’s basketball more than 10 years ago. Lake City President Charles Hall told the Gainesville Sun that the college had an obligation to prepare students for the work force.
Apparently, Mr. Hall doesn’t understand the importance of athletics as a boost for self esteem, teamwork, fair play and what hard work can accomplish. All of those are qualities needed to survive in the real world.
Anyhow, I believe GC and Chipola have a better grasp of the whole importance of being a good student-athlete. But, the harsh reality is that money is an issue everywhere. There have been minor budget cuts at GC over the last few years, and you wonder if it’s something to stave off major changes.
I can’t imagine GC not playing baseball, softball or basketball. I suppose those players who came to Lake City, and those who committed to playing next season, couldn’t imagine that possibility, either.
It’s uncertain what will happen to those Lake City players. Many will find new places. But those who stay should be compensated by the school (as in paying off their school as if they were still on scholarship), rather than being hung out to dry.
Lake City was in the process of rebuilding its once powerful softball program that even won one of the few national fastpitch championships by a Florida school. The baseball team also is one of the top programs in the state, but those days are soon to be gone.
It’s a shame. And it’s probably not the last you’ll see of this.
North Florida is on the short list for places where this will happen next. It’s a shame, but it happens, even at winning places.