With 16 men and women’s athletic teams at Jacksonville State University, how can they all have one voice on campus? Is it possible to unite them under a common purpose? That is the principle of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). While JSU’s SAAC isn’t well known, it is making major strides on campus and gaining recognition.
The committee has representatives from each team on campus, including the athletic training staff. The committee meets at least once a month to discuss anything that affects student-athletes on campus.
“The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is a vital part of any collegiate athletic department,” said Misty Cassell, SAAC faculty sponsor and Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance at JSU. “The SAAC is an outlet for student-athletes to share the issues and concerns they face, as well as formulate methods to make the student-athlete experience better.”
SAAC serves many purposes. Overall, the top priority of the committee is to encourage support amongst the athletic department and create unity across all teams. Members are encouraged to tell their teammates about upcoming competitions, attend them and support their fellow athletes. This way, school spirit and respect for others develops, and the overall student-athlete experience is enhanced.
The committee’s influence is not limited to Jacksonville State’s campus — community service is an integral part of its mission. The Gamecock SAAC has an ongoing project called ‘Soap for Hope’ that asks student-athletes to collect spare toiletries from hotels on road trips to be donated to 2nd Chance, Inc., a domestic violence shelter in Anniston, Ala.
“Community Service is a major element of SAAC,” said Cassell. “Joining efforts across the athletic department, campus and community allows for student-athletes to impact the lives of others in a positive way, while individual student-athletes develop values and character that will go with them far beyond their college career.”
The Gamecocks compete in the NCAA Division I Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), which has its own SAAC committee that includes two representatives from each member institution.
For the past two years, the OVC SAAC has sponsored a community service project called Hoops for Heroes that sends veterans to the conference basketball tournament.
To raise funds, JSU’s SAAC hosts half-time competitions at select Gamecock basketball games, offers bake sales at the Theron Montgomery Building and participated in Gamecock Softball Fan Day.
The next fundraiser is scheduled for half time of the February 23 men’s basketball competition at Pete Mathews Coliseum, which has a 7:45 p.m. tip off time.
“It’s wonderful to know that conference-wide, our schools are pulling together to honor those who have provided us with our freedom,” said Andrea Hoke, member of the committee and track and field student-athlete.
From a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) perspective, it is the committee’s responsibility to cast votes on behalf of the athletes. Each year there is a new set of tentative laws and regulations that all NCAA institutions must abide by. These issues vary widely and cover topics such as recruiting, eligibility and finances.
“SAAC members can offer beneficial input on rules and regulations because we experience them and what their impact has on ourselves and fellow athletes,” said Hoke.
While student-athletes do not have an actual vote in the NCAA structure, the Division I National SAAC has a representative from each conference and forms official positions on each piece of legislation. Often, NCAA governing bodies and special interest groups will meet with the Division I SAAC to get its opinion, which, in turn, shapes their positions.
For the past three years, the Ohio Valley Conference representative has been Jacksonville State University women’s soccer student-athlete, Chelsea Pelletier.
For more information about Jacksonville State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee or the Hoops for Heroes project, please contact Chelsea Pelletier at Pelletierchelsea@gmail.com.
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