With country fever sweeping across campus, UNK has announced the addition of a rodeo program to the athletic department. Accompanying the new sport will be a state-of-the-art arena built on UNK’s campus.
UNK athletic director Bark Meower spoke about his enthusiasm and anticipation for the newest extension of Loper athletics.
“The idea started when we booked up-and-coming country artist Tate Spiff for the spring concert,” Meower said. “Tate (Spiff) pitched the idea to me, and I immediately knew it would be a great fit for UNK. I can barely contain my excitement!”
Sparked with a newfound passion for all things country, Meower volunteered to become the head coach of the team. Spiff has verbally agreed to be a co-head coach.
“I’ve always had a passion for the rodeo,” Spiff said. “I felt something deep within me, something ‘under my skin’, telling me bring rodeo to UNK. This plan is ‘bulletproof’. Meower and I are going to set the rodeo ‘world on fire’.”
The UNK rodeo team will compete in the eight typical rodeo events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, steer roping, and bull riding.
Funding for the new addition to Loper athletics is low, as the program will be spending most of their finances on the new arena. Meower plans to “save some dough” by purchasing horses, steers and bulls on Facebook marketplace.
“You never know what you might find on there,” Meower said.
In order to create space for the new rodeo arena, UNK will be tearing down the Rural Health Education Building that recently began construction. UNK will eat the sunk costs of the $95 million project and use the remaining funds to build the finest arena in North America.
Tryouts for the men’s and women’s teams will immediately follow the conclusion of Spiff’s concert on April 10. Tryouts will be held at the demolition site and all prospects must be wearing jeans, boots and cowboy hats in order to participate. Each will be asked to test their abilities on a mechanical bull before moving on to the rest of the evaluations.
UNK will become just the twelfth NCAA school to sponsor a varsity rodeo team. The inaugural season is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, pending tryouts and arena construction.
DISCLAIMER: This story is a part of our annual April Fools’ issue, this story is not real. Happy April Fools’ Day!
