Hocking College JUCO?

[Raider6309]

Saw this on jjhuddle?
http://www.jjhuddle.com/forums/forum/oh ... llege-juco

Hopefully this is a joke, hocking is millions of dollars in debt and could possibly go under. I can see basketball but football

[C-Bolt]

OMG this is hilarious! I can picture this ending up like the Nelsonville Devil Dawgs

[Raider6309]

Ik, I guess they forget they are 4.5 million dollars in debt

[1987chieftains]

OMG this is hilarious! I can picture this ending up like the Nelsonville Devil Dawgs

[OICU812]

Unfortunately, this is not a joke, they plan on starting a girls basketball program.

[1987chieftains]

i think it would good for the area. all lot of kids dont get a chance to play post high school. alot of kids dont get recuited and there sports career ends with that.

[OICU812]

I agree with you. There is an upside and a downside to this. The upside is it gives the high school kids a chance to play two more years after high school and maybe even transfer to a 4-year institution, and could possible bring the college more money (which I think is what their goal is). The downside would be that it could be unsuccessful and the college would've put a decent amount of money into it that they could've used for something else.

[Raider6309]

I always thought they should partner with ou for junior college players but football is expensive when you are in huge financial trouble and having huge layoffs. Hopefully the state steps in and says this is dumb

[1987chieftains]

I always thought they should partner with ou for junior college players but football is expensive when you are in huge financial trouble and having huge layoffs. Hopefully the state steps in and says this is dumb

for once i agree with you raider. boys and girls bball i think would be a good thing. i think they already have the courts.
fb is rrrrrrrreeeeeeally $$$$. field, stands, equipment etc..... that would be too much too soon. just start with ball and see how it turns out.

[NYBuckeye96]

I heard that Hocking football will play its games at Boston Field.

[mister b]

This is just stupid in my opinion for them to do this.

[Spartan]

There is market research out there that supports introducing athletics to schools like Hocking has actually helped the college to prosper. Football doesn't seem to fit as an introductory sport because of its high cost. I will be a curious observer.

[NYBuckeye96]

Hocking College in Nelsonville has decided to add sports starting this fall. The Hocking College Hawks will be the first two year college in the state of Ohio to sponsor football. Football games will be played at Nelsonville-York's Boston Field.


2015-2016 sports to be added - football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and archery.

2016-2017 sports to be added - wrestling, golf.

2017-2018 sports to be added - soccer, baseball, softball, bowling.


http://woub.org/2015/05/03/athletics-co ... ng-college

Athletics Coming to Hocking College

By Sarah Hawley - Athens Messenger staff reporter
Sun, May 3, 2015 12:08 pm

When you hear those things, it is not common to think of Hocking College, but after Thursday’s unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees that may no longer be the case.

The Board approved a two-year pilot program to add athletics to the college beginning in the fall of 2015. The Hocking College Hawks will compete in archery, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, football and volleyball during the two-year program.

President Betty Young explained that the college has seen an “overwhelming response” from students and prospective students who are interested in participating in athletics at Hocking College. These are students that otherwise would not have come to Hocking College, according to Young.

For Hocking College Police Chief Al Matthew — who will also serve as the college’s athletic director and head football coach — the approval comes three years after he initially presented the idea to then-president Ron Erickson. Matthews said he spoke with Young about the idea and that led to where things are now.

“She wanted to know what ideas I had to bring students in,” said Matthews. “I let her know that since we are the only two year school in Ohio with residence halls that athletics seemed to be the perfect combination.”

Matthews said that currently there are 206 students interested in football, with 60 being true freshmen for the fall. Hoping to have a team of 120, Matthews will be trying out around 146 students this weekend.

“Being Ohio’s first junior college with football, first ever, would be a big selling point. That kind of reflects in the numbers,” Matthews added.

“It’s inspiring to see the excitement and interested,” stated Young.

Some of the trustees expressed concerns with bringing athletics to the college and the potential financial fallout, along with behavioral concerns.

Trustee Keith Taulbee noted the trouble and bad press that can come if athletes or coaches get into trouble. Young stated there are staff who work on a behavioral risk assessment and this could be utilized to help stop potential concerns.

Stating that he did not “like living in a bunker,” trustee Mike Budzik added that there was “nothing wrong with giving it a try.”

A budget proposal presented by Young laid out the proposed start up costs for archery, men’s and women’s basketball, cheerleading, football and volleyball, along with an operating budget for the first two years. The proposal also shows the potential to add wrestling and golf in the second year, along with the addition of baseball, softball, bowling and soccer possible in the third year.

Trustee Mike Budzik asked Young why those specific sports were selected for the pilot program. Young commented that these programs are of particular interest to the students at Hocking College, particularly archery which aligns with the programs Hocking College offers. Hocking College will also become the first junior college in Ohio to offer football.

First year expenses are budgeted at $260,200, while projected revenues are $1.1 million for the first year. This revenue includes tuition, fees and room and board for 100 student athletes, along with admission and concession receipts. The revenue is expected to increase in the second year as student-athletes return for a second year and new student-athletes enroll.

The total first year budget of $260,200 includes 20 percent of new student-athlete revenue, with the second year to include 10 percent of student-athlete enrollment revenue.

Among the costs for the first year are an athletic trainer which will be contracted through OhioHealth at a cost of $30,000 per year. Other costs to be incurred are referees ($10,000), training for coaches ($7,000), travel ($10,000) and NJCAA membership ($1,800). There is a contingency built into the budget for each year for unforeseen expenses.

One cost notably absent in the first year is coaching costs. For the first year all coaches will be considered volunteer and will not be paid for their work. In the proposal for the second year, the head coach would receive $3,500 per sport, with the assistant coach receiving $2,500 per sport. Coaches are in place for the upcoming year, with the exception of volleyball.

Trustee Gary Edwards noted that the athletic programs can serve as a powerful recruiting tool to bring students to the college. The college needs money/revenue and the best way to get it is to add students, Edwards noted.

The athletics proposal presented by Young detailed goals for the program, a proposed mission for intercollegiate athletics at Hocking College,

Program goals include, attracting degree seeking high school graduates who will contribute positively to the overall enrollment goals and financial stability of the college while improving retention, completion and student life; promoting diversity and developing citizens who are engaged in their local and global communities; developing the whole student in academics and for life; lifting the spirits of the college community around the Hocking Hawks; and improving community outreach throughout Southeastern Ohio.

According to the proposal, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading will take place in the student center with football games to be played at Nelsonville-York’s Boston Field.

[NYBuckeye96]

Here is a video from 10TV on the new Hocking College Hawks football team...

http://www.10tv.com/content/mediaplayer ... mpid=share

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

good luck to the hawks. I had no idea there was a hocking college.

[NYBuckeye96]

good luck to the hawks. I had no idea there was a hocking college.

I think that is one of the main reasons Hocking College is adding sports. It's a way to brand the college so more people know it exists. That could lead to an increase in enrollment, which is the ultimate goal of starting team sports at HC.

[YOU'RE TIGER BAIT]

I wish them luck. it will be a great opportunity for local kids to play that don't get looked at after high school.

[NYBuckeye96]

http://www.athensmessenger.com/news/haw ... 081c1.html

Hawks to roost at Boston Field

BY SARAH GUINN MESSENGER STAFF JOURNALIST | Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 8:30 am

NELSONVILLE — Hocking College's newly formed football team will have a place to call home after the Nelsonville-York Board of Education agreed to allow the Hawks to claim stake to Boston Field.

The board voted unanimously to approve the motion, with the exception of Ernie Perkins, who was absent.

"The agreement calls for Hocking College to pay the same as the OHSAA pays for playoff games it also covers a custodian to maintain the restrooms during the games," Nelsonville-York Supt. Mick McClelland told The Messenger. "They will clean the stadium after each game and they are responsible for security services."

Hocking College President Betty Young formally proposed the idea at last month's board meeting and brought Legal Counsel Nikki Dioguardi, Police Chief Al Matthews and Trustee Gary Edwards with her.

Young recalled a particular snow day when she and Matthews drove to Nelsonville-York and chatted with McClelland and other school officials.

"That day we talked to the folks about what we were thinking about doing at Hocking College in terms of our athletics, I think probably nobody is more surprised than we are, but we got it done. We weren't sure we would get it done. It's a big undertaking to start an athletics program, but we have been able to do that, so as part of that, we would like to be able to use the field here at Nelsonville-York and play our football games."

Board President Micah Covert, at last month's meeting, said he was personally excited about the venture.

"I hope we do have a strong partnership with (Hocking College) because the people of this district built that college in the late '60s, so we should be proud of the college," he said.

Of the five home games, two will be played on Mondays and three on Saturdays.

Although Nelsonville-York has green-lighted Hocking College to use their facilities, Hocking College's Board of Trustees has yet to pass the motion to officially adopt the Buckeyes' field as their own, Dioguardi said to The Messenger Friday afternoon. The Board of Trustees is set to have its next meeting June 25, she said.

[NYBuckeye96]

http://www.athensnews.com/news/local/te ... 169f1.html

Teen convicted in Steubenville rape case to play for Hocking College's new football team

HC president says he has right to attend school and will not live on campus
David DeWitt

One of two teens convicted in a 2012 rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, that got national attention will attend Hocking College beginning this fall and play on the newly created Hocking Hawks football team, President Betty Young announced in an email Friday morning.

Trent Mays was the quarterback for Steubenville High School at the time of the incident in August 2012, where he and another player, Ma’Lik Richmond, were videotaped with the unconscious 16-year-old victim during an alcohol-fueled party, and later convicted of rape. Mays was 17 at the time.

Mays was released from juvenile detention in January after serving two years, and has been on probationary status since. Visiting Judge Thomas Lipps determined Mays to be a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to report his address to the county sheriff of his residence every six months for 20 years.

In an email Friday morning to the “campus community,” Hocking President Betty Young wrote to inform the college that Mays will be attending Hocking beginning this fall, and will play on the football team.

“Many of you may have heard this rumor on campus or in the community, and this message is intended to clarify the facts,” she wrote.

She said that Mays had successfully completed everything the juvenile judicial system required of him.

“After his release from juvenile detention, Trenton transferred to Indian Creek High School and graduated with honors in 2015; he has the opportunity to attend any open enrollment college in Ohio,” Young wrote. “Hocking College policy does not permit him to live on campus.” She did not elaborate on the specific policy.

Young said that Mays would not be treated any differently than any other Hocking College student, and that he will have the same rules and responsibilities that all students have. Additionally, she said, he will be held to the high expectations the college’s athletic director and coaches have set for all student athletes.

She also provided a bullet-pointed list of points to remember if members of the community are asked about Mays attending Hocking.

They reiterated the points that Young made in her letter, including that Mays completed judicial system requirements; he is eligible to attend any open enrollment college in Ohio; and that he will not be living on campus.

“Everyone deserves a second chance. Second chances do not excuse or defend previous behavior,” Young wrote. “There are a lot of ‘second chance’ stories at every community college, Trenton’s story is just one more. His path will be challenging, but many of our students face challenges, and they overcome them to reach success. It is up to him to determine what to do with this opportunity.”

[NYBuckeye96]

http://www.athensmessenger.com/news/fir ... b797c.html

First Hocking College football team arrives on campus

Posted: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 8:30 am

By SARAH HAWLEY Messenger Staff Journalist

Tradition starts now.

That is the message on the back of the shirts worn by the first ever Hocking College football team on Monday as they prepared for the first day of practice.

"It is a first for Hocking College. We're all excited about it. It's a great opportunity for Hocking College to be able to provide an opportunity for these young men, these student-athletes," said Hocking College President Betty Young.


Coach Al Matthews, who is also the college's police chief, said that as of Monday around 85 players had arrived on campus with an additional 10-12 expected in the coming days. Players began arriving on campus Sunday as the team prepares to open its season on Aug. 31 at Ohio Northern.


"We are blessed to have our coach. Coach Matthews is an amazing fellow that has believed in this from day one. He is the one that really brought the idea forward to do athletics on our campus," said Young.


There were a lot of naysayers, according to Matthews, who did not think the college could attract the numbers needed to field athletic teams. Some said the team would not have 40 players, Matthews noted.


"I think we surprised a few people and hopefully we'll continue to surprise them over the course of this year with the success of the team," said Young.


"We will shock the world," Matthews told the players at Monday's team meeting regarding the naysayers. "Actions will speak louder that words."


The journey toward football has been filled with those who said it would not work at Hocking College, but Matthews found his motivation to push on from an unlikely source.


"I was at a restaurant feeling bad and depressed, talked to this older gentleman about what was happening," said Matthews after the opportunity to coach a semi-pro team in the area did not work out.


"The guy all of a sudden had me motivated to keep going and doing it. It ended up being Frank Solich," said Matthews, adding that he did not recognize the Ohio University football coach. "Since then, I've had the drive to do it. He gave me the drive and I would not say no."


While the students may be coming for football or one of the other athletics teams, it is about teaching them much more than sports, said Matthews.


"The goal is to one get the students here, show them the opportunities, offer opportunities to those who are less fortunate, those who have made mistakes and need to reinvent themselves," said the coach. "They need a second chance. Our goal is to lead them to do things the right way, help them to develop character."


That is what is driving some of the student-athletes to the college.


"It was a chance that other people wouldn't offer," said player Drew Milbrooks from Indiana. "I'm looking forward to making myself a better student first and bettering myself as an athlete so I can go on to do bigger and better things."


"I feel like it would be a good opportunity for me," said Anthony Schuster of Marion, Ohio, of playing football for Hocking College. "It's a great place to be."


"I just was looking around for a college for football and this coach was willing to accept me and he's going to give us a shot and I'm not going to let him down," said Tyler Williams of Waverly.


The college has succeeded on the recruiting front, bringing in players from local schools and across the country. Matthews said there are a few students from Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. There are also several student-athletes from southeast Ohio as well.


"Each one of these young men has a story and we're now part of their story, as we are with all of our students. They're going to leave a legacy here," said Young.


Wins and losses are also important, said Matthews, without giving a goal as to what he hoped the team's record would ultimately be in their first season. "Wins and losses are important, but not as important as those other things."


With nearly 100 football players, the college is close to achieving one of the goals it had set when first laying out the plan for athletics.


"We built that (the budget) around 100 new athletes and so for us to have this many just in football is pretty amazing to us," said Young. "To get this many in just football alone helps us to have confidence that we are going to be able to at least meet the budget."


"The importance of the budget is that we wanted to take no money out of the college regular operating budget to do this program," said Young, noting that the college would not spend money from the regular operating fund for athletics.