By Bill Nestor
This past week was heartbreaking for Alderson-Broaddus University. The Battlers have been a mainstay in Philippi since 1932. Unfortunately, members of the higher education board voted unanimously to revoke Alderson Broaddus’s authorization to confer degrees in West Virginia effective the last day of December. In other words, if a student isn’t graduating this upcoming semester, they would need to find a new home because the university will be forced to close its doors.
Faculty, students, and staff have been thrown into scramble mode because the first day of class was set for August 21. Alderson Broaddus had initially been granted temporary approval from the higher education board to continue awarding degrees through next June. The changes in direction caught everyone off guard and changed the lives of nearly 900 students and nearly 80 staff. It will also adversely affect the town of Philippi that depended on the university in many different ways.
I’ve been blessed to have broadcast football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, and baseball for the last six years at Alderson-Broaddus. Athletic Director Carrie Bodkins had always done an excellent job of creating a family atmosphere at her alma mater. Bodkins was a standout during her playing days that led her into the Battler Hall of Fame. She took that “team first” attitude and it became infectious at the university. Coaches who were out of season would pitch in and help the programs that were in season. They would do this without hesitation because they knew that others would be quick to jump in to help them down the road.
Bodkins and her staff did the work of 10 times the people and they did it because of their unwavering love for this special institution. They were integral to my job and without them, I would have struggled. Each and every one of them went out of their way to provide everything that was needed for the next broadcast.
The coaches were gracious with their time when they didn’t need to be and that made me realize the type of people that I was working with. The conversations before and after interviews helped me to gain perspective into their lives. Each and ever one of them had a tremendous love for their players and the university. My time in Philippi was never looked at as a job, It was a privilege because of all of these special individuals.
No matter what it is, there is always an ending. We are fortunate when we know that it is coming. You can brace for it. When the ending is foreseen, it can bring about emotional closure.
A player or a coach that is preparing for that final contest knows that no matter what happens, win or lose, that is it. This feels like a tragedy and that is exactly what occurred. The empty feeling of loss, while knowing that things will never be the same again, stings in an indescribable way that you have to experience to understand. It is times like these when we need to look to God for guidance. Instead of asking “why” ask “what is next?”
I know there is a plan in place for everyone in the Alderson-Broaddus family. I’m looking forward to the great work that will be done by these individuals. I’ve been privileged to see some huge wins over my time in Philippi and I’m looking forward to seeing some even bigger ones in the future from the AB family.
Thank you for all of the memories!