1. Do you hold tryouts for the rodeo team?

    No, not a formal tryout like football or basketball might have. Generally speaking any student who meets the criteria set forth in the by-laws of the N.I.R.A. is eligible to rodeo. Basically you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 academic hours, possess either a current or cumulative GPA of 2.0, and be in good standing with your college or university to be eligible to rodeo. Regardless of the number of individuals rodeoing for a particular school each coach may choose a maximum of 6 guys and 4 girls of whom the points they earn at a particular rodeo will count for team standings. EACH INDIVIDUAL ENTERED IS ELIGIBLE TO EARN INDIVIDUAL POINTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE CHOSEN TO BE "ON TEAM".

2. What do I need to do to apply for a rodeo scholarship?

Click on the link that says "scholarship" to download the scholarship application. Regardless of your self-appraised value it is still recommended that you complete the application as asked. Scholarship application are accepted on a year-round basis. The awarding of scholarships is primarily based upon the following criteria: Financial Need, Reference letters attesting to your work ethic and conduct, academic ability and past successes, athletic ability and past successes. The amount of scholarships that may be awarded varies with each individuals situation. We offer scholarships that may pay each or all of the following: tuition, fees, books, housing, and meal plan.

3. How often do you practice?

We devise a practice schedule at the beginning of each semester that best fits the number of students that we have practicing in each event. For example, we may rope tiedown and break-away on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then tie goats on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Steerwrestle on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Team rope on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The weekends that we have college rodeos we compact our practice schedule.

4. Do you have enough timed-event cattle for sufficient practice?

We generally begin practice the second week of school. We have our first team meeting the first day of class and from the numbers that we come up with at that meeting we then purchase practice livestock. For example, if we have 4 team ropers we will get 10 fresh steers, 4 steer wrestlers we will get about 5 bulldogging steers, 5 girls needing goats we will buy 3 goats, if we have 5 calf ropers we get 15 fresh calves. We keep very good cattle to practice on. Email me at any time and I will provide you with the email address of some current team members so that you can ask them some questions about our program.

5. Can I still rodeo even if I am not chosen to be on the team?

Yes, every student at Trinity Valley who meets the eligibility requirements set forth by the NIRA may compete in the college rodeos. Each member is eligible for scholarships and travel money. The individual points that they earn will count toward the year-end regional standings for regional awards as well as qualifying for the CNFR. The definition of being "on" team means that the point you earn will count in the team standings as well. Beside this there is no difference.

6. How can I qualify for the College National Finals?

There are two ways a contestant may qualify for the college national finals; 1. At the end of the regular season contestants who finish in the top 3 regional positions will earn a  trip to the CNFR.

The top 2 teams in each region will get a bye for 6 men and 4 women to compete at the CNFR.

For more complete and accurate information please refer to the NIRA Rulebook, which is available online at www.collegerodeo.com

7. How long can I rodeo at a junior college?

Considering normal circumstances 3 years is the maximum.

8. Is there an opportunity to earn travel money?

YES, we offer a considerable amount of travel money for those team members who earn it. Based upon the costs incurred while traveling this current year our travel money for those who were eligible to receive travel money was an average of $150 per student per rodeo. Factors that play a crucial role in determining eligibility for travel money are; points earned at previous college rodeo, if chosen to represent TVCC "on team", dedication and contributions to team practice, likelihood that a contestant will place and earn points during the current rodeo.

9. Where do you have the rough-stock practice?

We do not have bucking chutes at our college arena at this time. Even though it is on our agenda I predict it may be at least a year or two down the road. Local contractors buck bulls every Tuesday night here in Athens, some of our students go up there. There is sometimes an opportunity to get on some practice horses at the Stace Smith Rodeo Company Ranch which is located approximately 1.5 miles from our college arena.

10. Do you video tape the college rodeos?

Yes, and we do not rely on team members to do this. We video approximately 85% of our practices. I feel as though this is an irreplaceable tool when working to improve. We actually hire a student that travels to video students at the college rodeos, this way it is a job for someone and very, very rarely does something happen where someone is missed when they are competing. It is a priority for me to have this video to study and observe, therefore we spend the money and hire someone to ensure that the job gets done and gets done right.

11. Do I need to attend class to receive a 2.0 GPA at Trinity Valley?

YES, the educational opportunity is the MOST IMPORTANT thing we do here at TVCC. Some of our students will pro rodeo for their livelihood, however, most will not. Rodeoing for a living is a worthwhile goal, but your education can never be taken away from you like a rodeo career can through injury, etc. We take pride on the success of our university transfer students and this can only continue by offering students learning centered educational opportunities like we have for so many years in the past.

12. What kind and level of conduct is expected of me while rodeoing for Trinity Valley?

I only recruit students of exceptional character and work ethic. Respect, students should posses, or be prepared to obtain, respect for themselves, teammates, college instructors and their rodeo coach. All things worth having is worth working hard to get. I believe in hard work and discipline. There is a time to have fun and a time to work toward goals, both academically and athletically. It is my goal that I can mentor our team members to obtain a balanced schedule of work and play.