Against great odds, Athletic Director Greg Harshaw and those who assist him, people like Sean Bastian and Bradley Cooper, are forging ahead to make COB one of the more "sports" comprehensive institution at the higher tertiary level in the Caribbean.
An association with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the first profound step made towards the ultimate objective of a total sports programme, inclusive of all of the first-rate facilities. When that goal is attained, COB will be granted full membership in the NAIA.
This past season, COB participated in the men's basketball schedule of the Florida Sun Conference. Now the focus is on track and field. In an article published on Thursday morning, the Journal informed the nation that COB has scheduled its first major track and field competition for March 29 at the campus.
Thus, yet another significant step is being made by Harshaw and company en route to becoming a NAIA fixture. Competiting will be athletes from some of the other teams (from Florida) that take part in the NAIA. This is really a huge step.
There are going to be lean times for COB as it continues this ambitious journey. For instance, the basketball season in the Sun Conference was kind of brutal. The victory circle was rather foreign to COB, just one win the entire season.
But there is much encouragement on the COB campus with a Sun Conference season under its belt.
In track and field, volleyball, soccer, and tennis etc., COB will continue to have major challenges in maturing to the point whereby its athletes can be competitive in all of the disciplines.
But, the zeal and fire in the sports leaders of COB will likely in the not too distance future enable the desired goal to be reached.
Certainly, as I have expressed in this space before that the optimism that radiated from Harshaw three years ago, now seems legitimate.
Folks believed then, it was "mere talk" by Harshaw.
Now it is quite clear.
The COB sports programme has a real positive future.
But, the continued general support of the public and the sports federations is important.
We must all continue to boost COB.
The further COB elevates within the NAIA, the stronger the sports landscape in this country will become.
Keep going for it Greg, Sean, Bradley!
