Well, we have almost made it through another year here at Indiana Wesleyan University. In my estimation, it has been a year of changes. From dance-rule changes, to Chick-fil-A changes,  to world-changing, it was a year full of excitement or overkill … take your pick. It was also another great year of sports here on campus and beyond. It always seems like we say this year is so special then we look back five years later and realize it wasn’t, but I really think that this was a year to remember if you were a Wildcat.

It was a crucial transitional year for IWU athletics, as Athletic Director Mark DeMichael called it. After a year of researching, polling, surveying and toiling over the possible addition of football, the board decided that it was not in the best interest of the university at this time. You might think, all that for nothing? Not really. When the time and money come, we will know how and where to start. But hey, women’s golf is on its way and so is NCAA Division II, hopefully. But let’s live in the present for a while, shall we?

This year’s senior class was one of the strongest in recent memory. From men’s and women’s soccer to basketball and track, these four-year veterans have showed what it takes to succeed at this level. Soccer standouts Megan Marshall and Mitch Lobdell were both awarded the most outstanding student-athlete awards by the NCCAA. For the first time in the history of the Kyle Rote Jr. (men’s) and Michelle Akers (women’s) awards, both recipients were from the same institution.

On the volleyball court, the IWU women won their first ever NCCAA National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, by dominating the competition. The Lady Wildcats dropped only three sets at nationals in route to capping off a 33-11 campaign, while returning all but one player for next year.

Once again, the basketball teams did not disappoint, with two NAIA Elite Eight showings from the men and women, along with a pair of MCC regular season championships. Seven seniors from both the men’s and women’s teams paved the way for the future, proving that IWU is one of the best Christian basketball schools in the Midwest.

Oh, and I didn’t even mention the women’s tennis team, who hasn’t lost a conference match since President Clinton was in office or something like that. Just ask coach Terry Porter, the man practically built IWU athletics with his bare hands. To be precise, though, the women have won 192 straight matches in the fall season.

But beyond all the awards and recognition, the overall community and cohesiveness that the athletic department and individual teams and students have shown this year is what I will remember most. When you play a sport, especially in college, you are surrounded by fellow teammates and athletes 24-7, which might be a good or bad thing for some. But the way that each of these teams have come together to realize the big picture is encouraging to see.

Nothing could exemplify this more than the support given to Leah Whittaker by her team and the whole community here at IWU throughout this school year. It’s refreshing to see something like sports change a person’s life, as people have rallied around her. And how about our very own Brandon Beachy overcoming his own set of struggles to become one of the hottest young pitchers in the majors. Yea, there are a lot of things to be proud of this year if you are a Wildcat. Ultimately, there might be a lot of rules and changes that transpire in your time here at IWU, but know that this is a special place with special people. Even if we can’t dance, oh wait … or play football.

‘Tis the time of year when flowers bloom and warm weather reappears,
Where the basketball greats play out their fate.
As the world looks on … we watch, we wait,
But the wait is over, the games all played.
Some dreams were crushed, while others made.
Another year full of cheers, jeers and even tears,
A story only fit to be told in verse, so listen here.

The scene is set in Houston this weekend for the biggest spectacle in college basketball: the men’s Final Four. Whittled down from 68 teams, the largest field in tournament history, the lone four teams remain. And I bet you didn’t guess them correctly.

For only the second time since 1985, no number one seeds are in the national semifinals. Shocking? Yes. But we should have saw this coming. Well, maybe not to the extent of Virginia Commonwealth, but yes to some extent. Heck, out of 5.9 million brackets on ESPN.com only 192 people picked Butler and VCU in the semifinals and only two picked all Final Four teams correct. Yeah two, and I wonder if they were sober.

So why should we not be surprised?  Well, for one the talent pool was simply down this season in college basketball, which made it a more competitive field. Sure, there were several dominant teams throughout the regular season, such as Ohio State, Duke, and Kansas, but since its institution in 2004, the overall number one seed has only won the tournament once with Florida in 2007. Nowadays, most of the premier talent coming in leaves for the NBA before they can make any kind of long term impact.

The game would be at a much higher level if the John Wall’s and Evan Turner’s of the world would stay in college all four years. Not that it’s hurting the tournament or aura of March Madness, but the overall competition would separate the top teams if they decided to stay.

Second, with so many first round upsets, the remaining teams were going up against weaker opponents, giving Butler and Connecticut somewhat easier roads to the semifinals. With a lot of good but not outstanding teams, it was tough for the committee to seed teams, and as a result, teams like Florida and Notre Dame were given higher seeds than they probably deserved, while others like VCU and Penn State sneaked in by the skin of their teeth. Worked out pretty good for the Rams.

With two stacked brackets in the East and Southwest, the other two regions were wide open, even with the top seeds. Although Pittsburgh, Florida, and BYU were solid teams throughout they year, Butler was fortunate to be in a fairly mediocre bracket.

Say what you want, though, the Bulldogs reached their second consecutive Final Four. Only Florida and Michigan State have done that in the past ten years. At this rate, Butler may add another 5 or 10 years to coach Brad Steven’s 12 year contact he signed at the end of last season’s miraculous run. Or maybe he should just take over as the Pacers head coach? Nah, don’t ruin you career like that Brad, you’re much too young and trendy for that.

Another coach might not be so home-friendly though. In the last two weeks, VCU’s second-year coach, Shaka Smart became the hottest commodity on the college coaching market. And why shouldn’t he? He has rattled off five huge wins on arguably the biggest stage in sports.

The Rams did not even gather as a team on Selection Sunday because they simply thought there was not way they were getting into the tournament. With a 23-11 overall record and a 12-6 slate in the rustic Colonial Athletic Association, the Rams were fortunate to make the field. From the newly established first round, the Commonwealth showed more poise than George Washington himself. While other teams had a full week to prepare for one team, then make a quick turnaround two days later, VCU cranked out five straight wins with nothing to lose. They just showed up to play and play they did.

It’s already been a crazy tournament and the final three games have yet to played. All I know is, I’m not betting against any of them. Coming into the tournament, Pregame.com gave VCU a 1,371-1 chance to make the Final Four and if I did my math right, they have a 4-1 chance now. Genuis, right? One thing is for sure, an unlikely champion will be crowned next Monday, but hey we should have saw this coming.

The Sports Chase

As the month of March comes to a close, we can draw several conclusions. College basketball and March Madness are bigger than ever, professional sports are becoming too fancy for their own pants and well, my NCAA bracket is a train wreck.

I am sure that most of you can relate to these sentiments in this first month of spring. The weather is finally warming up here in Indiana … the overfed squirrels and crazy bikers are once again taking over the sidewalks and the Ginkgo trees have spread their presence across campus. But not on the sidewalks… thanks SGA!
Much like the outdoors, things have been warming up on the hardwood in the past few weeks. If you’re like much of the country, your eyes have been glued to the TV or Internet religiously. Once again, the upsets have been as unpredictable as Charles Barkley’s analysis of college basketball. Let’s face it, though the Chuckster needs to stick to NBA commentating. When you start saying Ohio State is overrated or that the Big East is one of the worst conferences, then you know that he has whiffed on something more than his golf swing.

Speaking of professional sports, what is happening to the NBA and NFL? Both leagues have almost taken a back seat to all the college basketball mayhem in the past weeks. Inevitably, the NFL will be locked out for next season, but the details are still being decided.

One thing is for sure: The athletes want to play, but money is money. Owners and players still can’t figure out who the bad guy is. It’s almost more confusing than the movie “Inception,” but I might be dreaming.

Players like Chad Ochocinco are taking a proactive approach to the situation: Play a sport that is not locked out. In number 85’s case, it is Major League Soccer. He has been kicking himself to play for years, and even made a field goal in an NFL game, but the Kansas City Wizards are giving him a real shot. Could this be another one of his reality shows in the making?

Peyton Manning might as well go into full-time sales. The commercial god is a very marketable guy. But what is he going to be listed as… ex-NFL player? Also, the NFL Draft will go on as scheduled, but if the football is not being snapped this fall, then the checks are not being cashed. Last time I checked, the owners were handing out the checks and their agreement has been anything but collective in the past weeks. The NBA is in much of the same situation after this “heatwave” of a season is over.

In all this madness, college sports have seen their popularity rise. People don’t want to watch spoiled and greedy athletes, but rather hard-working, blue-collar young adults who have nothing to play for but school pride and maybe a scholarship. In a fast-paced, hard- nosed world, sometimes it’s refreshing to get back to the basics and the month of March has offered just that.