Sit down with the AD: Pat Atwell discusses the future of C-SC athletics

August 9, 2021 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor

Culver-Stockton College athletic director Pat Atwell hopes the Wildcats can avoid any coronavirus pandemic setbacks this year. Photo courtesy C-SC Athletics

CANTON, Mo. — The most unsettling part of attempting to play collegiate sports during the coronavirus pandemic had to be the daily unknowns.

Pat Atwell knows that all too well.

With the Heart of America Athletic Conference choosing to proceed with fall sports as planned in 2020, the Culver-Stockton College athletic director tried to keep the Wildcats on the field and the games played as scheduled. Sometimes, that pursuit was in vain.

Not only did Atwell and his coaches have to quarantine players at different times last fall, but games were canceled less than 24 hours in advance because of positive COVID tests. It happened against Missouri Valley College, which had to postpone a trip to C-SC for a football game after receiving word of contact tracing issues hours before the bus departed.

Those issues hopefully will be non-existent this fall.

If there are no stoppages or quarantines, the Wildcats believe this can be a banner year, complete with a new turf surface at Ellison Poulton Stadium and heightened expectations yet again for the football program.

The veteran C-SC athletic director sat down with Muddy River Sports editor Matt Schuckman to discuss the upcoming season and the future of Wildcats athletics.