Being a long time resident and active-participant in the local athletic community in Prince George I am disappointed with the announcement that UNBC was denied in its application to join the CIS.
UNBC has demonstrated its potential with the success of its men's and women's basketball program over the years in the CCAA. However, the people of Prince George and UNBC should be far from surprised with the denial of its CIS application. I am surprised that UNBC and local media would assume that the application was a "slam dunk.". How could you expect an organization such as the CIS with a long history of excellence, high standards, and stability to accept an application from a school with only one active sport in the CCAA, no athletic administrator currently in place, a school that ended the tenure of its last athletic director under controversial circumstances, and most of all geographically isolated.
UNBC needs to hire an athletic director with a clear vision for the program, establish an athletic vision, support the new athletic director with the financial tools to achieve these goals, add other athletic CIS suitable programs like volleyball, and then apply for the CIS with a realistic shot of getting in. If you look closely at the application of UBCO in Kelowna that was accepted into the CIS you will see a far different set of qualifications and circumstances that enabled the school to gain entry into the CIS. We need to learn from this process so both UNBC and Prince George can someday gain entry into the CIS and display its awesome athletes, coaches, fans, facilities, and hopefully vision.
Just one opinion.
Mark LaFleur
Prince George
