Division 3 Football Rocks!

 My first in person football game was in 1963 when my Dad took me to see Nebraska beat the shit out of South Dakota or South Dakota State I'm not sure. Then I saw the Steelers and the Vikings from a rickety bleacher at the old Rosenblatt. From then on it was Husker football, high school football, University of Nebraska at Omaha football (those were the days before Trev Alberts decided a hockey team was more important than football OR a national champion wrestling team), an occasional NFL game in Kansas City, and an occasional Kansas game (ugh). 

About 5 years ago or so, I discovered Division 3 college football. Because my nephew, Tad, was playing center at Nebraska Wesleyan and only because of that did I begin to notice that football for the love of the game actually existed on a college level. I know its all a cliche to say college players play for good old State U and the glory but we all know what bullshit that is. But Division 3 college players truly do play for the love of the game. There are NO scholarships, no NIL money (I think Tad once got $50 bucks for tweeting about Runza once), nuthin. They have no incentive to lift weights, work out, practice 6 days a week, take long ass bus rides to far away places and then back in the dead of night other than they love the game of football.

Nebraska Wesleyan began its 2023 season far away in Sherman, Texas against Austin College. Its ten hours away. Its in Texas for chrissakes. But Max's Mom and I decided what the hell, lets go. And go we did. To Sherman, Texas to watch Division 3 college football. This is exactly the type of adventure I love. An adventure nobody in their right mind, other than parents of players would endure. Aunts and uncles of players? Damn right.

The road to Texas consists of flat prairie, toll roads in Kansas (really, you haven't paid for freakin turnpike yet?), red dirt in Oklahoma, rest stops and Spotify and podcasts (thank god they exist what a time to be alive!). Sherman, Texas is a smaller town barely in Texas. It consists of I think one road in which you are constantly on in some form, the Sam Rayburn highway. You are on this road turning left going in circles so much it's like you actually drove in a NASCAR race.

Austin College is a small private college in Sherman with an NAIA athletic program. What's that mean? Well, they aren't in the NCAA Division 3, so they can give scholarships to play football (what that means I have no idea). They are called the Kangaroos or Roos for short and have a large stadium like all Texas schools do. They also went 1-9 last year and have a new coach so optimism reigns in Sherman. Nebraska Wesleyan also went 1-9 last season, so something has to give here.

The game itself is good football. These kids are out there in the Texas heat cramping up like crazy, getting hurt, giving it all they got, and what more can you ask? Nephew Tad is the starting center, all conference and a captain. Scoff if you wish but this kid is dedicated to being the best he can be as an undersized offensive lineman 24/7. I am proud of him and his ability to perform at a superior level and as a linemen get no glory. Dedication, man. 

Wesleyan broke Austin College early and held them off with two defensive goal line stands to take the season opener 19-7. As a point of pride, Tad made a serious block that saved a sack and allowed a long pass completion to be had (that it was called back for some reason is of no importance because the kid did his job). That's the play I remember and always will. 

After the night game, the NCAA forced Wesleyan to get back on their bus and ride home all night sore and tired and cramping (it was like a MASH unit on both sidelines there was so much cramping going on) because the NCAA sucks. Forcing a team to NOT stay an extra night at a hotel after a night game in the Texas heat is not only unsafe, but also downright cruel. But that's the NCAA, an organization stuck in the days of the flying wedge and sis boom bah. 

It was a long trip home also. A stop at Win Star Casino, a gigantic decadent resort that would fit right in out in Las Vegas, cut the drive from 10 hours to nine hours (woo hoo). 

Congrats to Nebraska Wesleyan. Back in Lincoln next Saturday to play somebody. But wait, my Huskers play at Colorado on TV at the same time. Oh well, I guess the Huskers will have to win without my help sitting on the couch screaming and scaring the dog. I'll be in Lincoln screaming Go P Wolves!