Irma Bond, Athletic Director at Roanoke Chowan Community College, sat at the scorer’s table Friday afternoon and watched as her men’s basketball team fell to a squad that does not even have its own gymnasium to practice in. As the superior Brunswick Community College team finished off the inexperienced RCCC squad, Bond longed for the days when her college could field a team with the same talent level.

&uot;Yes…&uot; Bond chimed in &uot;We could really use some local sponsorship.&uot;

RCCC has fielded a men’s basketball team since Bond’s arrival in 1992. Since Johnnie Rascoe took over as Head Coach in 1999, the program has tried to upgrade its talent level by recruiting local and out of area players.

The local community college has one of the better facilities in the state of North Carolina, despite being the third smallest of fifty-nine community colleges across the state. Currently, there are four players who competed for the college’s basketball program, playing for four year colleges outside of the area, two in basketball and two in football.

&uot;I’d like to see that number come up significantly.&uot; Coach Rascoe added &uot;The talent level in this area is immense, but we need the community involvement to make the program a facilitator for these kids to get better opportunities&uot; Bond agrees. &uot;Scholarships and dormitories are not really an option for us with our limited resources, but we would not be opposed to one or more sponsors intervening to help these students get an opportunity to play and go to school at the next level.&uot;

If you’ve never been to the gymnasium at the local Community College for one of its basketball games, you are indeed missing a treat. RCCC does indeed have one of the better arenas in the state for its type of school, and the fans who attend the games to support the team sometimes border on rabid. Darius Robinson a six-foot-five inch prep star from Petersburg, VA visited the campus and was certain that he wanted to play for Coach Rascoe. Unfortunately, Coach Rascoe was not able to find adequate housing for Robinson and several other players who would like to suit up for RCCC. Robinson will indeed play in Ahoskie this season twice, for opposing South Side CC.

For a university to be able to offer scholarships to its players the school would be required to fall into compliance with the telephone book that is disguised as the NCAA Rules and Regulations Manual. Bond does not see that as being a realistic option for her college in the near future.

&uot;Although we’ve seen Chowan College make the leap from two year to four year institution, I don’t think that type of situation is on our horizon.&uot; she continued &uot;I’d even like to see us field a women’s team, but without the financial backing and community support, it’s a yeoman’s task to say the least.&uot;

Here’s hoping that for the sake of the endless number of talented athletes that play sports at local high schools, who need a place to hone their skills and get an opportunity to go on to bigger and better programs, the community comes to the rescue of their college.