Jeff Crane, deputy athletics director at the University of Memphis, tells ‘Wake Up Memphis’ with Robyn Walensky the student athletes’ positive attitudes have “motivated” people like himself.
The coronavirus pandemic has created a host of problems for the athletics department. The department has been able to save some money in preparation of the difficult fall season ahead, but it still isn’t enough to make up for the loss in ticket sales.
“We’re anticipating a $9 to $10 million financial impact for our program this season,” Crane tells ‘Wake Up Memphis.’Unfortunately, Crane adds this kind of deficit is becoming the “norm” across college athletics.
However, the morale of the student athletes has been the motivating factor, even when the season was in question.
“It’s a true testament to those young people,” Crane says, “and I think it shows you the resilience of young people generally. They have been incredible, their focus from day one, and their energy and their passion and their excitement. I can recall even during the summer when we had some days we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to play sports this fall, our student athletes were out there, and they were excited, and they were just excited to be with their teammates and prepare for this season, and even in times of uncertainty, they have stayed optimistic.”
