A New Day/A Word from the Midnight Rider

We're not yet 1/12th of the way through 2017 and we have a new president, a leader who promises economic improvement. Sure, we'll have to take his peccadilloes along with the improvements he makes, but the American people did that with Bill Clinton. Let's see how it works out...

*****

UNA and Division One

By: The Midnight Rider

This article is about the University of North Alabama and their move to Division 1. This has been going on for years. I remember reading about this back in 1995. It seemed that Steve Pierce wanted this move. Maybe it was his pet project. Flash forward to 2017 and the announcement has been made that the University of North Alabama will be moving to a Division 1 ranking.

Okay, let’s look at this. First and Foremost, that aspect that should be focused on the most is Education. Does the move to Division 1, help the Education of the Students? Education is what keeps the doors open at the University of North Alabama. Parents and Students alike pay Tuition to gain this Education. If this move helps with the Education, we should be for it.

However, the move to Division 1 is not about Education, it is about Sports, namely Football. My thought process is if the University of North Alabama had dominated their Football Division, say for years, maybe it is time for a change. However, the last time the University of North Alabama won that Division Title was in the mid-1990s, with Coach Bobby Wallace at the helm. Now, Coach Wallace almost did it this past year. But now he has retired.

We are a long way from the mid-1990s. There have been several Coaches that have tried to bring that Championship home to Florence. Hudspeth couldn’t do it. Terry Bowden couldn’t do it. Of course, that was a disaster in and upon itself. Why would the University of North Alabama move when they haven’t conquered that area yet?

With the move to Division 1, what about the facilities that the University of North Alabama have now? Are they going to have to build a new Stadium? Are they going to have to build another Baseball Field?  It seems like every time I go out to the mailbox, I am getting something from the University of North Alabama about sponsorships for the University.

I was a student at the University of North Alabama. I paid my Tuition. I did my time there.  I got my Education. If the University needs money for different things, maybe this move should have be postponed or not done at all.

I am and always will be, the Midnight Rider.

*****

Another extremely pertinent article from the MR. So how's the new roof for Collier Library coming along? Three who blog here attended UNA, so we're extremely interested in its continued well-being. We welcome both information and comments.