CORVALLIS, Ore. – When it comes to dynamic duos, there are many that come to mind: Batman and Robin, Shaggy and Scooby Doo, Sonny and Cher, Thelma and Louis, Bert and Ernie. At the Cascade Collegiate Conference, that dynamic duo is Mickie Bush and Dr. Bryce Bernard.
The dynamic pair has an important job in helping students get and remain eligible for competitions. Bush is the CCC Eligibility Chair and works as the Registrar at the Oregon Health and Science University – previously at Concordia University-Portland when it was a member of the Cascade Conference. Bernard is the CCC’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) and holds the same title at Corban University.
“My job is to evaluate eligibility documents for each institution for each sport,” said Bush. “Bryce and I review the documents to make sure student-athletes are eligible to compete and provide a place to answer questions of eligibility or NAIA bylaws. We’re a resource for athletic directors and compliance directors. Also, if there’s an appeal on eligibility, Bryce and I are on the committee that reviews and makes recommendations.”
Bush started in the Registrar’s Office at Concordia and soon got involved with athletics. She took over the CCC Eligibility Chair when the former chair retired. In 2004, she left Concordia, but continued as the chair at both the CCC and Frontier conferences, even though she wasn’t at an NAIA school anymore.
“I stayed because I love athletics and I get to continue relationships with coaches and athletic directors (ADs),” said Bush. “I wanted to stay involved with athletics. I love being at an institution and interacting with student-athletes. I’m a tool for them to graduate and work toward getting a degree – which is the ultimate goal of a registrar.”
Bernard got started as an FAR when he was in his second year teaching when the AD at the time walked into his office with a proposition.
“He came in and said he needed someone to sign eligibility forms each term,” said Bernard. “I said, ‘I can sign forms.’ I had no idea what I was signing up for.”
He got started at the conference level when that same AD said the CCC was looking for someone to be on the eligibility committee and told Bernard he had volunteered him.
While he might not have known what he was getting into, it is the relationships that Bernard gets to make in his roles as FAR that keep him doing it.
“I love working with students and this gave me another avenue to spend time with them and build relationships,” said Bernard. “I enjoy athletics and going to the games so this gave me a connection to the kids playing in the games.”
Like Bush, Bernard gets to help student-athletes work toward completing a degree, while also pursuing their love of sports.
“I get the opportunity to talk with the kids, their graduation plans, and help keep them on track,” said Bernard. “They start to see the priority in graduating and I can help show them how to balance time with athletics and academics.”
The two have been in the business for a while, but neither claim to know all the answers. There are times where they get stumped and have to call the NAIA office to get answers.
“First I check in with Bryce and see what he thinks,” said Bush. “He’s on the National Eligibility Committee and knows a lot. If we’re still not 100-percent confident, we’ll check in with the NAIA just to make sure we don’t miss anything.”
Some of the biggest challenges for Bush and Bernard have to deal with individual sports where student-athletes can compete unattached at competitions.
“I’m constantly checking in with wrestling,” said Bush.
“There are always issues that stump me,” added Bernard. “There’s probably a case a year I’m not sure how to handle. We’ll call the NAIA and dig through the handbook.”
For Bernard, it’s the international issues that often stump him and sometimes he’s having to do some research on the fly while coaches are out recruiting.
“Coaches will be on the road and call me,” said Bernard. “I don’t have all the resources as the NAIA, but I try to understand the transcripts as best as I can. Coaches just want to know if there’s a chance the kid will be eligible or if they have used up their eligibility. Even today I was reading Venezuelan articles to figure out a kid’s situation.”
Bernard says it’s even helped him learn some new languages, but Google Translate is one of his saved websites.
“I’ve picked up a little Portuguese and Spanish,” said Bernard.
Over the years, some things have changed since Bush and Bernard first started with the CCC. For one, the CCC’s commissioner used to be an athletic director from one of the member schools.
“Over the last 34 years, the CCC has become so much stronger,” said Bernard. “Having commissioners like Rob Cashell to help guide the conference has helped tremendously. There’s a more planned approach in how athletics fits in as a conference in every school. It’s much more organized and forward-thinking.”
One thing that hasn’t changed over the years, however, is the ability for Bush and Bernard to build relationships with student-athletes, coaches and admin.
“I love making relationships with kids, it’s the best part of my job,” said Bernard. “Especially being at a faith-based school, I get to help them mature as individuals and Christians. It’s an awesome opportunity and privilege to do that.”
“I get to work with a high caliber of people,” added Bush. “I really enjoy that piece.”
The CCC returns the sentiment too.
“We are so fortunate to have Mickie and Bryce leading the conference efforts in the areas of eligibility and compliance," stated Commissioner Cashell. "Not only are they experts in the field they are caring and compassionate and truly want the best for each student-athlete on all of our campuses.”