The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

January 6, 2007

Fun, benefits mark Cougar Club

By Dan Stillwell

College athletics are expensive.

Facilities must be maintained. Athletes need scholarships, housing and transportation to games. Coaches and support staff must be paid.

Most schools have boosters organizations which help offset those expenses.

West Virginia University has the Mountaineer Athletic Club. Marshall University has the Big Green Foundation.

But Mountain State University fans have not had an organization in place to support the teams.

Until now.

“The Cougar Athletic Club is an opportunity for all of us to join together and support MSU athletics,” said club chairman Charlie Houck, who announced the club’s formation during halftime of Saturday’s basketball game with Lindsey Wilson.

There will be many benefits from joining the Cougar Athletic Club, from season tickets to food and fellowship.

“The bottom line is supporting the student athletes, but I want people to join not just to write a check,” Houck said. “I’m expecting us to have fun.”

A hospitality room will be provided at the Raleigh County Armory for club members. There will also be a newsletter and gifts.

Best of all will be club luncheons with the MSU coaches.

“I’m really looking forward to getting together with the coaches and hearing them talk about their programs,” Houck said.

There are many levels of participation in the Cougar Athletic Club, from $100 to $10,000 and beyond.

The $100 base level entitles members to the luncheons, newsletter, an auto decal and a season pass to all events.

On the $200 level members will be rewarded with four season passes and a T-shirt; $500 level or beyond members get 10 season passes and a license plate.

Mountain State is a private school and does not get state or federal funding. But while its athletic budget has been small, the school has fielded quality teams over the years.

Tim Berry’s volleyball and softball programs are well established, recruiting many of the finest local players as well as athletes from across the country and Canada.

Soccer is rapidly expanding at the university. John Birkelbach led the Cougar men’s squad to five victories in its inaugural season, including a tournament victory.

Next fall, the women’s team will debut under coach Kelly Borck.

And, of course, the men’s basketball team is a nationally recognized powerhouse and won the NAIA championship in 2004.

Coach Bob Bolen’s teams have been ranked No. 1 at one time or another the past four seasons.

“No one in (NCAA) Division I can say that,” Houck said.

“I’m really proud of the basketball program. To me, that’s one more credit to the ‘City of Champions.’”

A successful Cougar Athletic Club will enable MSU to better support its teams and offer more scholarships.

For more information, call the school at 929-1580 or Houck at 255-7295.

— E-mail:

dstillwell@

register-herald.com

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