Inspired by Keith McMillan's "Around the Nation" article on D3football.com this week, I have been thinking about small college campuses all around the nation on a football Saturday. Every environment unique and evoking different memories for the local faithful. Every team attempting to overcome it's own set of challenges and working hard all week preparing for the game. Game day changes the feel, the mood, and the setting of the D3 campus. Not in the over-the-top commercial way it does on many D1 campuses, but in more subtle, real, and genuine way. The setting and sense and feel on a D3 campus on game day appeals to the part of us that wishes life could be simpler. For most of us, Saturday is a special reward from Monday through Friday.
With the perspective that every team and every game holds its own treasure chest of memories, just waiting to be opened, I thought I'd take a glance at the other end of the D3 spectrum. Putting analysis and power rankings and even the color purple on the shelf for a moment, let's take a moment and look at a couple of teams ya' gotta pull for:
Husson University
The Eagles reached out of their class in scheduling 3 non-conference games and were rewarded with an 0-3 start, getting outscored 212-26 in the process. They came back to conference last week and lost a heartbreaker 20-14 to Becker in overtime. Today, they travel to Gaullaudet, who beat them by merely a touchdown last year. Let's see if the Eagles can fly for one Saturday after such a trying start to the season.
Maranatha Baptist
The Crusaders suffered through the nation's longest losing streak at 33 games until breaking it on the last Saturday of the season last year with a 14-6 win over Rockford. All of this only a half an hour away from the campus of UW-Whitewater! They opened the 2011 season with two straight victories! Today, MBC steps up in class to face Concordia (WI) trying to stop their current losing streak at only two.
Frostburg State
The entire nation's heart goes out to the Bobcats and the family of Derek Sheely after his loss in August. Clearly, this team is playing with a perspective much different than other D3 teams this year. Frostberg has already won two games this year, matching it's highest total since 2008. Saturday, the 'Cats face nationally ranked Wesley and will fight with all they have to represent.
Pacific
The Boxers, from Forest Grove, Oregon, are in their second year and seeking their first program victory. It may have to wait awhile as their next three games are against Willamette, Linfield, and Whitworth. Hopefully, Pacific can survive the stretch, continue to improve, and savor the taste of victory one of these Saturdays.
Behind each game and each team lies a storyline every Saturday game day in the fall. Behind each storyline is a committed group of players and their loyal fans putting their hopes on the line. For those of us who come along for the ride, it's easy to appreciate the break from our Monday through Friday. And it's both easy and fun to look around the nation, pick a storyline, and fine someone to root for.
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