Buff State sports teams bring excitement

Last year was one of the most successful ever for the Buffalo State Athletics Department.

The men's basketball team won their conference championship before making a run in the NCAA Division III Tournament, finally losing in the Sweet 16.

Sprinter Justin Allen was named Atlantic Region Runner of the Year after winning the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Division III National Championships.

Men's hockey, women's basketball, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball and volleyball all made the playoffs in their respective leagues.

At the Division III level, athletics are often an afterthought. Unless you know an athlete or are a sports fanatic, it's not easy to get excited about our school's teams.

Our teams don't enjoy the national spotlight that Division I schools do; they don't get scholarships, don't have to sort through illegal boosters and usually aren't banking on a future as a professional athlete. They're student-athletes at their purest.

But the lack of a high profile doesn't eliminate the excitement that collegiate athletics can bring. Anyone who's attended on-campus athletic events will likely speak highly of their entertainment value as well as of their potential for more.

There's no reason for the casual fan not to give Buffalo State athletics a shot. Our athletics program should be a source of pride for students and faculty alike.