Dear editor:
The column by Tom Lubnau gave a factual account of the changing, or consolidation of collegiate sports conferences.
While accurate in facts, the comments were akin to a wake for the spirit of athletic competition.
References such as dangling carrot, rivalries drying up, even paid performances, paint a veneer of negativity across the different levels of school conference categories that were referenced.
In reality what is happening is American supply and demand capitalism. If you wants fannies in the stands then an attractive product must be available.
Sparsely stocked shelves are not attractive to retail shoppers, so it follows that better athletic facilities, newer energized rivalries, and Saturday afternoon energy, keeps sports and other activities energized and relevant.
To not adjust to viable business practices, to not have an attractive business model, are both paths to failure.
Water seeks its own level, and the mentioned schools and many others are adjusting their business practices to avoid red ink, or even collapse.
Along with that the athletes are taking advantage of opportunities that could, enhance their own marketability in an activity that they would participate in anyway.
As slots open up as smaller programs move to larger conferences, those holes will fill in with even smaller schools themselves taking the opportunity to move up relatively.
And if there are instances where the open slots don't fill, then conference consolidation will create new and more robust small markets.
Traditions do not disappear, they reconfigure with stronger capital resources, and different jerseys.
Sincerely,
Pete Critelli
Red Lodge, Montana
