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What do athletes get from DIII schools?

By Sam Monroe

On April 28, 2011

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Editor's note: This is part two in a three part series looking into the world of NCAA athletics. Look for part three next week.

Happy workers are productive workers. The same goes for athletes.

‘Perks' give student-athletes an incentive to play, and to continue playing.

Division I schools can often afford to purchase some equipment and warm-up suits for players; a bigger budget allows them to do so. This can make it so athletes never have to purchase their own equipment. DIII programs don't have that luxury.

At a DIII school the program relies on fundraising to give their players incentives. At LSC, teams are responsible for doing their own fundraising in order to purchase things for themselves.

Athletic Director Chris Ummer says having a big fundraising budget helps teams recruit players because it allows coaches to brag about the perks players get.

As part of the uniform, the men's basketball team purchases matching shoes.

"I consider that part of the uniform," said head coach Joe Krupinksi. "Fundraising allows us to do that."

The team is also allowed to keep their practice uniforms because they were purchased with fundraising. The team is also traveling to Utah next Thanksgiving for a tournament and has teams such as Brown, Yale, and Dartmouth on its schedule year after year.

"That allows credibility for us with recruits," said Krupinski. "I can tell players ‘hey look at all of the cool things are team is doing, you can be part of it.'''

Brown, Yale and Dartmouth can be considered fundraisers for the team because the DI schools pay the smaller schools to come and play them as part of the schedule.

During the summer, women's basketball coach Vinnie Maloney and the team put on a weeklong hoop camp for youth basketball players ages eight to 18. This is one of the bigger fundraisers the team does. Coaches and players participate in the camp as counselors for the week.

According to Maloney the fundraiser allows the team to purchase matching sweat pants, sweatshirts, and team bags.

"They like that stuff, and it helps advertise the school and the team," Maloney said of the gear. Maloney said the matching sweat suits help get people's attention while the team is traveling and it helps recruiting.

This year the volleyball team held a car wash as one of its fundraisers, the baseball team sold snacks during the basketball games and the softball team held 50/50 raffles during home basketball games.

The basketball teams also split the money raised from admission to the games.

The athletic department has also started a new program this year in an attempt to fundraise. The Hornet Club has made its debut on campus and is looking for people to start donating.

Different Memberships include:

The Green Level Donation between $25-$199

Benefits include: Hornet Club decal, e-mail updates, and your name listed on Hornet Club recognition.

Gold Level donation between $200-$499

Benefits include: Green club membership, Lyndon Athletic shirt, two tickets to all home basketball games.

All conference level: Donatoin between $500-$999

Benefits include: Green and Gold level, a Lyndon Athletic polo, and two tickets to the athletics awards banquet.

All-American Level: Donation $1,000 or more

Benefits include: First three levels, plus two tickets to the Hall of Fame Dinner.

Those who choose to become a Hornet Club member can choose where their donation goes. They can pick a specific team or donate to the department.