1. Miles Robbins Criterion
Print Media
10-17-11
Prime to Perform
Athletic trainers are usually readily available to treat high-level athletes with state-of-the-
art equipment and exercises. Doctors and surgeons stay on-call to perform any operation that
requires special or urgent attention. For example, The University of Idaho, where I was recruited
to play football, has: three certified athletic trainers, five assistant athletic trainers, and three
team physicians; and not to mention an underwater treadmill and million dollar facilities. On the
other hand, La Sierra University, although a smaller and less athletically geared institution, has
only one athletic trainer; oh, and a whirlpool not much larger than a toilet. "It's the smallest
training room I have ever seen at any college or university!" said Kenny Penn, starting center for
LSU Men's Basketball.
But since a recent change of division, the Golden Eagles are on the verge of becoming a
dominant sports program.
Most, if not all, successful, college sports programs share one thing in common: excellent
athletic training services. Top quality physical therapy allows for teams to remain healthy, and
players to perform at their physical peak. Failure to provide such services, or the inability to do
so, places athletes in danger of injury; and losing players due to injury is always bad news for
any college program.
LSU's sports program began its first year in the National Association of Intercollegiate
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2. Miles Robbins
Print Media
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Athletics, Division 2 Independent Conference. Previously in the National Collegiate Athletic
Association Division 3 Independent Conference, the 11 sports teams: men's and women's
basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis,
women's volleyball, baseball, and softball, struggled collectively as a program. Since the switch,
LSU has cut back to only six sports teams in hopes of strengthening each team, as well as the
program: men's and women's basketball, men's soccer, women's volleyball, softball, and
baseball.
In the two months that La Sierra has been competing in the NAIA, the men's soccer team
has moved to first place in their conference and received a national ranking, the men's basketball
team won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championship, and the women's volleyball team
is currently on a twelve game winning streak and ranked No. 2 Independent in the NAIA
Conference Rankings.
The switch to the NAIA, as well as the cutback of teams, seems to be propelling La
Sierra sports in the rights direction. But there is still one thing lacking.
Over 100 athletes all have to report their injuries to only one, full-time, athletic trainer,
Brian Murphy. If there were five Brian Murphy's in the training, there would be no need for this
story. From firsthand experience, Brian Murphy does excellent work and could easily use his
knowledge of physical therapy to treat any injury successfully. But he isn't the issue. With more
teams now competing at a much higher level than in the past, La Sierra athletes are in great need
of service. The one ice machine is always empty, lines form everyday in the training room for
treatment, and all athletes are forced to share the little amount equipment inside of the training
room. "On the end of the year evaluations, please ask for more athletic trainers," Brian Murphy
humorously stated.
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3. Miles Robbins
Print Media
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Head Men's Basketball Coach, Derek Robbins, said, "Sports brings in revenue. The
better our sports teams do, the more money they bring in. Making sure each player stays healthy
is going to be very important goal going into these next few critical, transitional years."
Athletes spend countless hours every season training to become better in the sport they a
play. Like any other program or group on campus, La Sierra athletics should be provided with
the services they need to excel in their field of expertise, sports. The university has high
standards on academics, and believes in their students very much; it should be no different for
the athletes. Captain of the Men's Basketball Team, Miles Robbins, stated, "We work hard each
day to represent God and La Sierra University the best we can. All we want in return is loyalty
and respect."
The Golden Eagles have gotten off to a great start for the 2011-2012 season. Men's
soccer and Women's volleyball are currently underway, and Men's and Women's basketball open
up with games toward the end of October 2011.
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