Ripon College Days

The Midwest Athletic Conference (MWC) in partnership with the Charleston, S.C.-based Penn-Atlantic technology firm broadcast two Ripon College basketball games over the Internet Friday, Jan. 13.

The webcast was an experiment to measure the interest and the audience for such a service.

Grinnell College and Lawrence University basketball teams also competed in live webcast matches.

"This test is similar to ones that have been conducted with collegiate contests around the nation and we are pleased to have an opportunity to explore a fascinating new way to promote the extraordinary accomplishments of our student athletes," says Chris Graham, MWC commissioner.

"If it is successful... we would look at a long-term contract to do sports such as football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's soccer," Graham said in an interview during the broadcast.

The games, which were available free of charge via links off the MWC and Ripon College websites, featured full video, sound and commentary.

Graham says he seeks to reach people who have already graduated from college, students who cannot attend away games, parents not able to travel to games and even prospective student-athletes.

"We have alumni bases that are very interested in these contests," he says. "The concept is cutting edge, and quite possibly the future of small college athletics."

Although this recent webcast was available free of charge, events broadcast in the future would most likely be presented on a pay-per-view basis.

"We are very pleased with the response that we've gotten and the tests that we've run."

According to a MWC press release, preliminary results say at least 300 people tuned into the men's game, and 100 people tuned into the women's game, people from 25 states and six countries. The website that hosted the event recorded 3,000 hits during the broadcast.

This technology has other applications as well. "Our football coaches were also investigating online video tape exchange programs that would allow us to eliminate the 'Fed-exing' [of game film] that we are doing," Graham says.

"A football game on a Saturday ends at 4:30, and Ron Ernst here at Ripon, or any other football coach in the league could sit down in their office at 5... and pull games from around the league to watch them immediately," says Graham.

Graham also mentions the possibility of broadcasting other events as well. "There is a component to this service that would transcend athletics and go as far as allowing institutions to televise their graduations, musicals and one-act plays."

"This company, Penn-Atlantic, knew who their market was; they knew that the word wasn't getting out [about Division 3 NCAA]," Graham says.

He adds, "[Division 3] is the true heart and souls of the association [NCAA]. We have the most members."

The Red Hawk men failed to beat Lake Forest that night, losing 71 to 60. The women, however, managed a 90 to 75 triumph

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