The Unfolding Impact of College Closures: A Diamond in the Rough
The closure of a college or university sends ripples far beyond the campus gates. The impact is felt most acutely by the students, faculty, and staff whose lives are upended, but the surrounding community, alumni network, and even the broader academic landscape can also experience significant consequences. The story of the Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) baseball team offers a poignant example of the complex emotions and challenges that arise when a school faces closure.
The Final Season: Birmingham-Southern's Baseball Team Plays On
Jan Weisberg, coach of the Birmingham-Southern College Panthers, held an unusual preference: to play on the road, even during critical postseason games. His reasoning was deeply rooted in the emotional turmoil surrounding the college's impending closure. "Just with all the emotions that we’ve been facing," Weisberg said, "to not have that one on our back of, ‘God, this could be the last game in this dugout.’"
Since 2010, the Panthers have been a force in NCAA Division III baseball, boasting nine 30-win seasons, nine conference championships, and a national runner-up finish. However, this year's postseason carried unprecedented weight. Birmingham-Southern, a 1,300-student college founded in 1856, officially closed on May 31, after struggling for almost two years to replenish its depleted endowment. Following the Alabama state treasurer's denial of a $30 million loan in October, the school voted to close in late March. The baseball team faced the unique situation of competing for a school that would soon cease to exist.
Despite the looming closure, the Panthers rallied, posting a 17-4 record since the school's announcement. This success culminated in a Super Regional appearance against Denison University in Granville, Ohio, with a College World Series berth at stake. Weisberg attributed the team's performance to a newfound sense of freedom: "They’re playing for freedom, for fun."
The Broader Context: Small Liberal Arts Colleges in Crisis
Birmingham-Southern's fate is symptomatic of a larger trend affecting small liberal arts institutions. Athletic director Kyndall Waters explained that schools like Birmingham-Southern have struggled since the 2007 recession, facing declining enrollment and fundraising coupled with rising operating costs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges.
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According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEOA), 279 private nonprofit campuses have closed since 2018. This translates to roughly five small liberal arts college closures per year. A SHEEOA case study revealed that 52% of students displaced by these closures never re-enrolled, and 67% of those who did failed to complete their education.
Waters, a Birmingham-Southern alumna and long-time employee, described the closure as "a labor of love" and expressed her disappointment that decision-makers failed to recognize the importance of institutions like BSC for students in Alabama and the southern region.
The Human Impact: Navigating Uncertainty and Loss
The news of Birmingham-Southern's closure was delivered to students during their spring break. Weisberg recalled "a lot of sadness, a lot of crying" during the team meeting that followed. Despite the emotional toll, the team found solace in each other, holding impromptu batting practice sessions to stay connected.
Weisberg challenged his players to "move on and finish strong," and they responded by winning two of three games against Centre College and dominating Piedmont in a 10-0 victory. The team's success resonated with the Birmingham community, as evidenced by the large crowds at their games and the outpouring of support from alumni and coaches across the country.
Junior catcher Shane Nelson described the atmosphere as "the most fun I’ve ever gotten to play in," noting the inspiration and energy provided by the supportive fans. However, the team also faced adversity, including doubts about their NCAA Tournament seeding.
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For seniors like pitcher Hansen McCown, the season represented a final opportunity to achieve a lifelong goal. "I’ve yet to make a World Series," McCown said. "To do this as the very last team… I think it’s really special." Non-seniors, meanwhile, grappled with the challenge of balancing their current season with the need to find a new college for the following year. Waters noted that approximately 400 Birmingham-Southern student-athletes were in the transfer portal, seeking new athletic homes.
A Program's Legacy: More Than Just Wins and Losses
The closure of a college baseball program has far-reaching effects that extend beyond the immediate loss of a team. These programs often serve as vital community hubs, fostering a sense of belonging and pride among students, alumni, and local residents. The disappearance of a program can sever these connections, leaving a void in the social fabric of the area.
Moreover, college baseball programs provide valuable opportunities for student-athletes to develop their skills, pursue their passions, and gain access to higher education. The closure of a program can limit these opportunities, particularly for athletes from underrepresented backgrounds who may rely on scholarships and other forms of financial aid to attend college.
The Birmingham-Southern baseball team exemplified the positive impact a college program can have. As Nelson stated, "Every professor I’ve ever had knows me and remembers me… It’s all family." The team's success on the field, coupled with their strong sense of community, created a lasting legacy that transcended wins and losses.
The Transfer Portal Era: A New Landscape for College Athletics
The rise of the transfer portal has dramatically altered the landscape of college athletics, creating both opportunities and challenges for student-athletes and coaches alike. While the portal allows athletes to explore new options and potentially find better fits for their skills and aspirations, it also introduces a level of instability and uncertainty that can be difficult to manage.
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For coaches, the transfer portal has become an essential tool for roster management, allowing them to quickly fill gaps and improve their teams' competitiveness. However, the constant churn of players can also disrupt team chemistry and make it harder to build a cohesive and successful program.
The situation at Illinois State University, as described by coach Holm, illustrates the challenges posed by the transfer portal. After a promising season in 2024, the Redbirds saw several key players depart for high-major programs, leaving the team with a sense of "hollowness of what could have been."
The issue of tampering, in which coaches or agents contact players who are not yet in the transfer portal, further complicates the situation. While technically forbidden, tampering is often seen as a necessary evil in the competitive world of college athletics.
Some coaches have proposed solutions such as contracts to lock players into programs for a certain period, or an oversight committee with the power to punish offenders. However, in the absence of meaningful reform, mid-major programs are left to navigate a complex and often unfair system.
The San Francisco State Example: Athletics Program Disbanded
San Francisco State University announced the disbanding of three athletic programs - baseball, men's soccer, and women's indoor track and field - due to a significant deficit in the athletics program. This decision, impacting 44 student-athletes, was attributed to a $1.2 million debt in the scholarships account and proposed budget cuts to the California State University system. The baseball team, in the middle of their season, learned of their program's fate through a university statement. Despite the shock, coach Tony Schifano focused on helping his players transfer to other programs and encouraging them to strive for postseason success.
A Triumphant Finale: Birmingham-Southern's College World Series Run
Despite the adversity, the Birmingham-Southern College Panthers achieved a remarkable feat, advancing to the Division III College World Series. Their journey culminated in a Super Regional victory over Denison University, fueled by strong pitching and timely hitting.
The Panthers' success captured the attention of Blue Eyes Entertainment, which documented their season for a potential television show. As Weisberg noted, the team's resilience and determination in the face of adversity made their story all the more compelling.
The Birmingham-Southern College Panthers advanced to the Division III College World Series, defeating Denison University in Granville, Ohio, 7-6. Birmingham-Southern won Game 1 of the best-of-three series, 10-1, behind a complete game by Drake LaRoche. With the Super Regional win, BSC earned a spot in the Division III CWS.
The team's situation drew parallels to the University of California, Berkeley, which announced the cutting of several sports in 2010, including baseball. The Golden Bears baseball team continued to play, ultimately reaching the 2011 College World Series.
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