Rams Relief: Medalist Club

In track and field, even cross country, each point counts.

While fans pay particularly close attention to who is winning events, coaches know the athletes who round out the scoring. The unsung heroes that help our team win championships. All of the podium spots contribute greatly to the team totals which have led Brian Bedard's programs to be among the elite in the Mountain West, while piling up conference championship trophies.

Donations, he said, work the same way.

"All of it matters," Bedard said, speaking of the alumni and donors. "Sometimes I think our boosters are concerned, 'well, I can only give a small amount to help out.' If you get enough of those gifts, it adds up. It only takes a few small gifts to move the needle for our program. When it comes down to three points, to win a championship, every giving amount makes a difference with our program, and it can move the needle toward us winning a championship or not.

"It can be a hundredth of a second, or a few centimeters that makes a difference in the final results. It should be exciting for our donors to know that even a small gift can make a difference.

In a very unprecedented time in all of our lives, Colorado State Athletics and the Rams Club are asking all of our valued supporters to donate or make a gift which will have a life-altering impact on our student-athletes. The financial crisis is real for everyone, yet our primary goal remains to create the greatest experience for our student-athletes. Your gifts will help lessen the impact they feel as they pursue their athletic and educational goals.

The track and field programs, as well as the cross country teams, are among the most successful programs on campus. The giving of our donors and letter winners has helped Bedard and his staff build a program which attracts highly competitive student-athletes.

Upon arrival, they can see the difference the alumni and donors make in their lives.

"It's just really important knowing there's a network of people out there who recognize the value college sports plays both in the community of CSU and also in our individual lives," Eric Hamer said. "Just knowing there are people out there who value what I'm trying to do with my passion, and I feel it creates a better sense of what we're doing this for.

"We build through character, and we build through people who want to be here. We may not be the flashiest program around, we don't always have the nicest things, but when we find those athletes who are really committed to do this for the long haul, it's great to actually show we do have top-class facilities and equipment and reward the student-athletes who want to be here and give them the equipment they need."

Previous donations have upgraded training equipment and technology, as well as help provide some cold-weather gear the student-athletes need while training and competing in the West. Gifts have helped provide travel opportunities to Junior and Senior national meets, as well as continue professional development for Bedard and his staff.

Hamer, entering his sixth season, has seen the difference it all makes. The longer he's been here, the greater bond he feels with those outside of the program who have done what they can to help the student-athletes successful inside and outside of competition.
"It's an appreciation that I'm starting to come to terms with, and certainly when I'm out of college and want and in a place where I want to donate, I'll realize how much it really means," he said. "It's a constant reflection of I wasn't supposed to be here. Boosters, nobody said, 'hey, do you want to give money, and oh, by the way, there may be a pandemic.' It means the world to me. It's my love of track and they're willing to support that. It was almost taken away, and that makes me so much more grateful."

For Bedard, he knows the banners they hang in the fieldhouse are in large part due to past giving. Future giving will be paramount to keep the Rams on track as conference champions.

His goal is to keep all the programs on an upward arc, with the donors and former letter winners helping to build and extend the legacy.

"I think they've been extremely important for the growth of our program. It's contributed to some of our championships," he said. "The athletes have noted the difference, and the coaching staff has definitely noticed and appreciated the difference it's made as far as training opportunities and equipment and run a high-level practice. They give us the tools we need to do our job.

"Obviously we're going to feel it financially with the pandemic cutting operational budgets. We're going to have to tighten the belt, so to be able to use monies through our foundation account through the giving of our donors will present opportunities for our athletes they might not get."

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