Binghamton University’s athletic department doesn’t boast many All-Americans. To say that the Bearcats play in a powerhouse conference would be a stretch. When a Binghamton player misses a free throw or fires a shot wide of the goal, they don’t let down an entire state.
But Binghamton athletes are faced with some of the same challenges as athletes from Texas, North Carolina or Arizona. It is a task unique to college athletes who attend schools with some academic and athletic integrity, which Binghamton certainly has.
To put it simply, how on earth is a Binghamton athlete expected to do what they are asked to do? This question pertains to being productive on the field, maintaining good grades and enjoying the college experience.
I cannot and will not speak for other athletes: They may have a much better handle on their athletic commitment than I’ve ever had, and might be too modest to admit it. But I can tell you about my experience with Binghamton’s baseball program and let you decide for yourself whether it’s a life you’d enjoy.
After particularly bad team and personal performances against the University of New Mexico in 2009, I had this conversation with my mother:
Mom: How was your day?
Jeff: We got off the plane late last night and got up early this morning. Spent the whole day getting pummeled and just got back to the hotel.
Mom: How’s that paper you were talking about doing?
Jeff: The one due Monday? Haven’t started.
I’m quite certain there is nothing unique about this conversation among Binghamton athletes. Perhaps the greatest challenge for us is managing our time effectively. Balancing an athletic commitment and a course load at a Division I school can be more difficult than one might think.
The baseball team at Binghamton plays a developmental season in the fall before its true season in the spring. This fall season consists of 20 hours of practice per week, plus two one-hour lifting sessions, plus time spent receiving treatment for any injuries. All told, this fall season costs us about the same amount of time as a part-time job.
In the spring, an extensive travel season means that most athletes miss a significant number of classes. Practices continue every day except Mondays, and lifting continues to take place twice each week. The major difference is the time spent competing. Baseball competitions usually come in the form of a pair of doubleheaders on a weekend. This means the players will arrive at the field at 9 a.m. and play the first game at noon. The second game will be played at 3 p.m., and the bus will pull into the hotel parking lot around 7 p.m. That equates to 10 full hours on the field ‘ both days. The Bearcats then pile back onto the bus and get ready to head back to campus. Oh, and the trips can be long: Virginia, Tennessee and Maryland were three bus destinations the Bearcats chose last year. Some athletes open their books and try to study between potholes in the road, seeking out opportunities to achieve something more productive than sleep. Others can’t bring themselves to care. Most student athletes expect to lose .5 GPA points during their season.
Many have come a long way, and have come to a school they normally wouldn’t go to in pursuit of their sport. Athletes are conscious of the fact that a scholarship is a one-year contract, which can be taken from them at the end of the year. This would often make school unaffordable for an out-of-stater and would force them to rearrange their college career midway through. Student-athletes work in an environment where their coaches and teammates’ jobs are on the line, so poor performance is usually followed by poor morale.
But hey, pressure is inherent to competition. People who cannot handle adversity don’t last long in any sphere of the athletic universe. Sports are about winning and losing and overcoming challenges. You’ve had your jersey pulled over your eyes if you’re an athlete who thought representing your school wouldn’t require some hard work. I’m just attempting to dispel any notion that the world of college sports lacks any element of the cutthroat, business-like nature of pro sports. Players who don’t perform or who represent their school poorly pack their bags. Athletes who score below a 2.0 GPA are academically ineligible for their season, and are often erased from the roster shortly thereafter.
So enjoy the game folks, and while you’re enjoying it, please remember: For every hour you witness on the field or court, many more are spent on practice fields, in hotel rooms and on Covered Wagon Tours buses. Every player is haunted by the thought of letting down his or her teammates, coaches and school. Maybe that’s why tears soak the playing field when a career at Binghamton comes to a close. Why else would they write their papers on a bus? That sport they lived for meant more to them than they ever let on.