Why Stampede Membership Matters

SHAWNEE –  It is an incredibly exciting time to be involved with the athletics program at Oklahoma Baptist University. This spring marks the end of Year Three of the NCAA Division II candidacy process, and we are eager and optimistic about attaining full membership in the fall.
 
Our coaches and teams have risen to the occasion of competing at the DII level, earning numerous Great American Conference titles and individual accolades, while also collecting seven national titles competing in the National Christian College Athletic Association.
 
With a rich tradition of athletics achievement and a vision for the future as an NCAA institution, Bison athletics holds an important place in the fabric of the OBU experience.
 
Did you know that at OBU, student-athletes make up over one quarter (27 percent) of the total student population?  With over 560 students participating in 22 varsity athletics programs, OBU's athletics department rivals many large Division I institutions in terms of size.

And the results of the NCAA's 2015 GOALS study of the student-athlete experience shows that athletics continues to play a prominent role in college choice.  According to data, an astounding 87 percent of Division II student-athletes reported that the athletics program contributed significantly to their college choice, and 80 percent of student-athletes stated that they would not be at their institution if not for their sport being offered.

---

---

Our athletics programs may be what gets them to campus, but it's what happens once they arrive on Bison Hill that can have a lasting impact.
 
When we say that Stampede members are making a difference, it doesn't just mean new uniforms, or traveling on charter buses instead of cramped vans. Those things matter to our student-athletes, sure. But what our donors are supporting goes far beyond the nuts and bolts of running the daily operations of a successful athletics program.
 
We say it a lot, but it is absolutely true, and bears repeating. When you give to the Stampede, you are investing in the lives of these young people as they spend their formative years on Bison Hill. And what better investment than in these future leaders?
 
These are young men and women who are disciplined and dedicated enough to rise at 5 a.m. for early morning workouts.  Who are invested in OBU's rigorous academic programs and rich campus experiences.  Who spend hours honing their crafts at practice before ending their days diving into homework and other campus and community activities.
 
As just one of many examples, while not yet an official member of NCAA Division II, OBU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was responsible for raising the sixth-highest sum for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of any school in the country!
 
When you give to the Stampede, you're supporting coaches who speak openly about their faith with their teams, and team chaplains that are pouring themselves into the lives of student-athletes and coaches alike.
 
The transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II is not an easy one. Everything we do has to be taken up a notch.  From our university administration, to our coaches and staff, to our student-athletes, we have embraced that challenge and met it head on with determination and a vision for the future.

As a department, our standard is very simple. Excellence. Excellence in everything we do. That's the bar that has been set on Bison Hill since OBU's first national title-winning team in 1966 and the 26 (and counting) since. But it's also the standard given to us by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:23-24:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

As of this writing, there are approximately 150 active Stampede members.  We're thankful for each and every one who has contributed to the ongoing legacy of Bison athletics. The simple truth, however, is that sustaining and enhancing that championship heritage at the Division II level is going to take more.
 
Now, more than ever, we need OBU supporters to generously invest in the future of our program.  Alumni, fans, friends, family members – we don't care what your connection to OBU may be – just that you share our commitment to making Bison athletics a model of excellence at the Division II level.
 
It's not the size of the gift that makes a difference, but the demonstration of faithfulness in the vision and purpose of the athletics program here on Bison Hill.
 
If you're already a Stampede member, we hope you'll renew your gift for 2017 by April 28.
 
For those interested in increasing their level of support this year, we are offering an incentive program called the NEXTLEVEL Campaign.  Stampede donors who increase their giving to the next-highest giving level for 2017 will receive their choice of a team-autographed OBU football or basketball, and be entered into a drawing for great prizes like complimentary Touchdown Club or Champions Club passes, upgraded game day parking, sideline passes, or even a private suite for an OBU basketball game!
 
If you're interested in finding out more about joining the Stampede, information can be found at OBUBison.com/Stampede.

Additionally, I welcome anyone considering Stampede membership to contact me personally at 405.585.5411.  I'd love to send you a copy of our 2017 Membership Guide and share with you the great things happening in our program and how you can partner with us as we #CHARGEAHEAD.