Bradley’s soccer team takes part in a game. Photo courtesy of Bradley University/Twitter
Throughout Bradley’s history, sports came and sports went. A sport you saw on campus 20 years ago may no longer exist, but that doesn’t mean it can’t come back. In an ever-changing college sports landscape, we asked some of our writers what sport they would like to see on the Hilltop.
Lacrosse craze: Why Bradley should embrace the trend
By Gabriel Holowka
Bradley has a unique opportunity to benefit from the introduction of a sport that would strengthen its athletic program, reputation and financial position.
There are no signs that lacrosse will lose popularity any time soon. The sport’s combination of athleticism, teamwork and talent has taken the world by storm. If Bradley can capitalize on lacrosse’s growing appeal by bringing it to campus, it will be able to recruit a revitalized era of student-athletes ready to represent the Braves on the field.
By bringing lacrosse to Bradley, there is an opportunity to improve the school’s financial situation. Since lacrosse is a high-profile sport in America, there are many opportunities for the school to attract sponsors and donations from the community.
The university can also use the sport’s popularity to recruit talented athletes to the school, which would result in large crowds at the games. This could not only improve Bradley’s financial situation through ticket sales, but also increase student pride and school spirit. Additionally, Bradley could host and/or sponsor several lacrosse competitions and activities to develop the game and get its name out there.
If Bradley were to bring lacrosse to campus, it would demonstrate that it is an innovative university that is willing to embrace trends and meet the changing interests of student-athletes.
Bring football back!
By Mark Wagner
Most Bradley students and alumni probably know that there used to be a Braves football team. But should there be a comeback?
First, let’s think about the past.
The university began playing football in 1897. This was back when William McKinley was president, and a dollar had much more purchasing power than it does today.
Overall, the team was a decent success. The Braves, known as the “Indians” until the 1930s, had a record of 308 wins, 240 losses and 32 ties. This corresponds to a win rate of around 55.9%. In 74 years of play, they won just six conference titles.
In 1949 the Braves joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Not much is known about the team after that, but they left the conference in 1951 and eventually disbanded in 1970.
Bradley’s football organization has a long history. Fifteen graduates from 1939 to 1965 went on to play in the National Football League (NFL). In fact, former Indianapolis Colt Marcus Pollard attended Bradley and went to the NFL in 1995. The Braves’ football legacy still lives on, but the question is once again: Should it come back?
Bradley currently offers club flag football, which could be a starting point for something bigger if the sport were revived. Football is a big sport in America and having it on campus could be of great benefit not only to the university but also to the city of Peoria.
While a return is unlikely, it would be cool to see football on Bradley’s campus again.
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