Takedown Report

The Campbell Funding Situation

“I am committed to continuing our winning tradition both academically and athletically. I look forward to the work ahead with a focus on providing a championship caliber experience for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the entire Campbell family. The future is bright for Campbell Athletics.”
Those are the words for Campbell University’s Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore shortly after being named the school’s athletic director in November 2022. 
Those words rang hollow just a day after the school’s wrestling team learned that they would have a significant amount of funding cut from them. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the wrestling program will only be given three scholarships which is a sharp decrease from the nine they had been working with. In what seems to be an unusual move, wrestlers who wish to keep their scholarships would not be allowed to compete. 
InterMat reached out to AD Bazemore for comment on this story and/or more information about this situation and has yet to receive a response as of Tuesday morning.  Men’s and women’s soccer, golf, tennis, and volleyball are also said to be impacted. 
This change comes on the heels of the school’s move from the Big South Conference to the Coastal Athletic Association (formerly the Colonial Athletic Association). The move put Campbell in a conference that stretches from Charleston, South Carolina to Boston, Massachusetts. It was likely supposed to boost the school’s profile in football and basketball but generally has added more in travel expenses for everyone else – a common thread in conference realignment. 
Another “big-picture” change that’s in play here is the announcement that college athletics must share revenue with their athletes. Campbell has reportedly “opted in” to participate in revenue sharing in the future. Administrators can stomach sharing revenue with football and basketball teams, but everyone else, not so much. That plays a part in this decision. 
The main theme here is that the school and the athletic department have grossly mismanaged their … more at … https://intermatwrestle.com/articles.html/college/socon/the-campbell-funding-situation-r99624/?utm_source=Wrestling+News&utm_campaign=62306f9b2b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_09_28_09_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_44607e8210-62306f9b2b-245314521&mc_cid=62306f9b2b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Budget cuts coming for Campbell athletics, school says
… story at … https://www.wralsportsfan.com/budget-cuts-coming-for-campbell-athletics-school-says/21675210/?utm_source=Wrestling+News&utm_campaign=c7bbfabb03-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_09_28_09_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_44607e8210-c7bbfabb03-245314521&mc_cid=c7bbfabb03&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And Facing funding challenges some universities make difficult choices on academic, athletic programs
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (WTVD) — Korbin Meink recalls his time wrestling for Campbell University fondly. “I enjoyed my time there. I got two degrees from that school, and everything about it was awesome while I was there. I felt like we were one of the best programs on campus, and it was great to be part of that,” said Meink, who graduated in 2022.
Meinik’s experience influenced his younger brother to take a recruiting trip to Campbell himself. However, what the brothers learned on that trip was difficult to accept. “They were talking about how they wanted to give (him) a scholarship, and they just said we don’t have it anymore because we have the guys on the team we need to look after, and right now our recruiting has kind of gone to a halt because we have no more funds to give to anyone,” said Meink.
Meink, who won multiple conference championships at the school, learned the news a couple days before word trickled out on social media, … more at … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkZQe9AqYjA

And … So uh, what’s going on with Campbell?
Is the latest athletic department budget cut a sign of the times, or more about a local campus situation?
Good morning, and thanks for spending part of your day with Extra Points.
I’m not used to writing a lot about the Campbell University Camels on this newsletter. I know they have an excellent baseball program, they’re in Buies Creek, North Carolina, they’re a small, private college in the CAA, and their fans apparently say Roll Humps, which is maybe my new favorite fan slogan.
I also knew that Campbell had a real wrestling tradition. Remember when we wrote about how the University of Wyoming scheduled a wrestling match in a barn? They put it on UFC Fight Pass and everything. That was against Campbell. Also, the Camels won.
But earlier this week, I stared to hear some different stories about Campbell wrestling. Namely, that the school was slashing the budget. … more and audio at … https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/so-uh-what-s-going-on-with-campbell

October 27, 2024 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | news, sports, wrestling