ULM has a well-rounded athletic department, offering lots of choices for men and women. They have four men’s sports teams, including football, baseball, basketball and golf. There are seven women’s sports teams, including volleyball, sand volleyball, soccer, tennis, softball, basketball and golf, and there are two combined teams, that include cross country and track.
Its facilities include a well-equipped football stadium, baseball and softball fields, a track and field facility, a basketball coliseum, tennis courts and a soccer field.
The athletic department brings a lot of recognition to our school. Especially here in the south. Sports; football in particular, plays a big part in the school experience for a lot of people. Last year, our football team went to their first Bowl game since joining the FBS. Also, when the Warhawks upset the University of Arkansas last year, they brought a lot of attention through the national broadcast on ESPN and made news across the country. These two things were a big source of pride for ULM students, faculty and our community.
It is always a struggle, especially for a small school, to get the recognition they need to fill the stands every week. I think if they were able to recruit more locally talented players for their sports teams, that they would be able to accomplish this.
Local players would bring more family and friends to the stands on a weekly basis. I believe that this would help to make our community feel more involved in the ULM experience.
More exposure through the press would also help to get the word out, and bring fans to our school.
During a nationally broadcast football game against Baylor last year, we had a ton of press coverage, and in response, had a record-breaking attendance of 31,175 fans. It has been shown that whenever ESPN is in town to cover a game, the attendance numbers go up.
The alumni are always a source of support, both financially and with school spirit. They are always present in the Grove, tailgating before the football games. If there were more events planned for the community during tailgating and if these events were advertised better, this may bring more people from the community into the stands.
I believe that we should give more recognition to the other sports teams also and not just focus everything on football. Baseball and softball could also benefit by recruiting more local talent. More press coverage for the smaller teams and sports would help bring more recognition from the community and more fan attendance.
I believe they could put more effort into marketing these sports to the local high schools and junior high schools, through community outreach programs and sports camps. More involvement from the college players is always appreciated by the younger kids, and this would possibly get these kids more excited about playing for ULM.
Overall, ULM has a great athletic department that is growing in recognition and improving in community involvement and support.
