A ragtag team of ACU faculty and staff made a valiant run in the ACU Intramural dodgeball tournament last week despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

Named “Release the McCracken” after team captain Dr. Vic McCracken, the team brought huge crowds of students cheering them on.

“We had too many students cheering for us,” McCracken said. “Our theory is that we needed more students jeering at us to fuel our bloodlust.”

One professor whose bloodlust did not need fueling was Dr. John Camp. Camp stirred up the crowd with his intense antics and trash talk. He described his behavior as pent-up angst that had been suppressed in the classroom.

“Sometimes, as professors, we want to scream and throw objects at you,” Camp said. “But yelling threats and throwing objects would not make for a welcoming classroom atmosphere. So, dodgeball is an appropriate way for us to do that, in a Christian way of course.”

Despite being weighed down by age, “Release the McCracken” went 2-0 on the first day of competition, heading into the quarterfinals. Their they met their match in the Gamma Sigma Phi – Purple Cobras. In front of a raucous crowd, the “McCrackens” won the first game and appeared to be headed to an easy second game, and match victory. The Purple Cobras, however; staged a furious rally and won the second and third games to win the match.

“Release the McCracken” was eliminated one game later when they lost to another GSP team, the Average Joes. Although they didn’t win the tournament, “Release the McCracken” left their mark on the tournament and had fans buzzing all tournament. Both Camp and McCracken already have their eyes set on next year’s championship.

“We will be back to try again next year and claim what is ours,” McCracken said.

“Deep down in my heart I expected to win it this year,” Camp said. “Next year we are going to need to ratchet up the cockiness. We must remember that, unlike in other sports, cockiness wins dodgeball.”

Camp went on to say that the team captain, McCracken, or as he is known on his team, “Maximus”, will have some personnel and attire choices to make this year. He is in favor of dodgeball tank-tops, of course bearing the infamous mug shot of McCracken.