Quality sports, academics attract backing for Drury

by Diane Rarick

SBJ Contributing Writer

Businesses that want to make points with the fans of the Drury College NCAA Division II men's basketball team say their support gets noticed at Drury.

Opportunities for networking and advertising, along with the chance to be linked with a quality academic and athletic program, are some of the reasons that local companies cite for their support of the Panthers.

Office Concepts of Missouri is one of Drury's major supporters, according to Dr. Bruce Harger, director of intercollegiate athletics. The company sponsors the Office Concepts of Missouri Holiday Tournament Dec. 10-11.

"Sponsoring the tournament has been an absolute joy for us," said Steven W. Moore Sr., president of the company. "I believe very firmly in the work ethic and morals of Coach Gary Stanfield and Dr. Bruce Harger. In that level of college basketball, some programs wouldn't hold a candle to the way that Coach Stanfield runs the program."

Moore, past president of the Drury Basketball Booster Club, said he is impressed with the program's 100 percent graduation rate since 1989.

"We get more bang for the buck at Drury on the positive side," he said.

Office Concepts has sold equipment and gained valuable referrals through its association with Drury.

"There is an active, working board, and Drury is small enough that people just refer. It's a strong opportunity for a business or individual to use the system for referrals," he said. Office Concepts now has a contract for all the copiers in a new campus copy shop for faculty, staff and students. The company's name also appears on the Weiser Gymnasium's permanent message board, along with Clarion Hotel and Morelock-Ross Builders.

Wayne Morelock, president of More-lock-Ross Builders, has been involved with Drury for about five years. Along with the company's name on the permanent message board, Morelock-Ross advertises in basketball publications.

It's the program's commitment to individual academic achievement that impresses Morelock.

"Our organization is very impressed with Gary Stanfield. He is a man of integrity who is very focused on winning basketball games, but more than that, to helping develop quality young men, and that's why we feel so strongly about Drury," Morelock said.

A major new Drury sponsor for 1999 is Alltel.

"Any high-quality organization you can associate with is a good idea. I'm impressed with the record of accomplishments and the athletes' graduation rates," said Ray Thomas, vice president and general manager for Alltel Missouri. "There is a heavy focus on that at Drury and I find it very refreshing."

Alltel was a naming sponsor for a fund-raising golf tournament for the men's program this year and has provided money to get the new women's basketball team off the ground next season, Thomas said.

Alltel will have a booth at Weiser Gymnasium this season to promote its products and to let fans make free cellular phone calls.

The Drury Booster Club offers five levels of support, with gifts starting at $50 to $1,500.

Benefits include the opportunity to purchase season tickets, priority parking and the chance to mingle with players, coaches and other boosters at club receptions, banquets and team functions.

Steve Scott, of Scott Financial Services, is a 1970 Drury graduate who is a long-time fan and active booster club member.

"I've probably not done a lot of business as a result of this. I have made a lot of contacts from networking. I've met a lot of people who I probably wouldn't have met," Scott said. "I haven't gone after it to make business, it's a loyalty to the program."

Scott also stressed the team's high graduation rate as a mark of its quality.

Scott, president of the boosters in 1984 and 1997, said Drury basketball sells itself.

"Weiser Gym is not at all like going to the SMS Hammons Student Center. It's smaller, and there's not a bad seat in the house," Scott said.

"Wherever you're at, you're in the middle of the noise and fun. Weiser Gym is a beautiful setting for a business that requires being seen and known by a large number of people," he added.

The Drury Basketball Booster Club raises more than $100,000 annually, enough money to pay for team expenses such as room, board, books, travel and recruitment, according to Scott.

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