On Monday night, the Larry Sanders Intramural Fields awoke after a season of hibernation. Gone were the scorching heat and oppressive winds of summer, along with the dreadful nightmare of an earth-rattling hailstorm, the likes of which had not been seen since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Instead, the bubbly voices of onlooking students accompanied the spiraling footballs and energetic cheers of “Go Team!”
“Ah yes,” smiled the Intramural Fields. “Intramural season is here.”
This year’s intramural season is certain to be the best we at the Optimist have ever covered, and we declare that as fact because it is also the first we have covered in quite some time. Here’s hoping it will not be the last.
If you are one of the stragglers on campus and have not yet chosen a team to root for this season, have no fear. Pay close attention, and you will become an intramural expert in no time.
So without further ado, my friends, allow us take you on a tour of the fascinating world that is ACU intramural flag football.
Men’s Champ League
There are nine teams in Men’s Champ League this season, including four official social club teams. Only Pi Kappa and Frater Sodalis have not entered a Champs League team because, well, this is football, not Super Smash Bros.
Gamma Sigma Phi won the championship last year as Phi Slamma Jamma (not to be confused with Carl Carlton’s 1981 hit single, “She’s a Bad Mama Jama”). While the GSP roster features plenty of turnover this season, Parker Tennet, the club’s Intramural Director, ensures us the team will still warm up to Carlton’s grooving tune.
“We are looking to upkeep a strong tradition of winning flag football so all I can say is that we are gonna put up a fight against any team out there to the best of our abilities,” Tennet said.
Of the five non-club teams looking to challenge for flag football supremacy, the most notable may well be MACC Attack, quarterbacked by none other than former Wildcats’ pivot John David Baker. Having used up all of his NCAA eligibility, Baker is excited to showcase his talent on the intramural fields.
“It was an opportunity to play at the highest level of competition now that my college career had come to an end,” he said. “Just the speed of the game, there will be athletes on these fields that I’ve never had to deal with before. These guys are on a whole ‘nother level as far as athleticism.”
Baker also has high praise for his new MACC Attack teammates and their abilities, both on and off the field.
“Most of the guys on the team are accounting majors and only play chess and cricket,” he said.
MACC Attack has already started the season off on the right foot, defeating Tennet’s GSP boys on Tuesday night, 13-12, after GSP missed a last second conversion. Baker seemed to transition well from playing under the lights at Shotwell Stadium to the Larry Sanders Intramural Fields, but only time will tell if he can maintain his poise under the pressure of playing in front of an actual crowd.
Women’s Champ League
Six teams will contend for the title in Women’s Champ League action this fall. Sigma Theta Chi, Ko Jo Kai, GATA and Alpha Kai Omega have entered teams, while the women of Zeta Rho have volunteered to bring cookies and orange slices for the teams to enjoy at halftime. The final two teams are Eta Pi and The Heat, both non-club affiliated.
Abusement Park, last year’s champion, will not be returning to defend its title, meaning the league will be as open as the dancefloor at a Churches of Christ convention.
Preseason favorites are Siggies and Kojies, and we expect the rivalry between the two clubs to reach its boiling point when the teams finally meet Oct. 9. Kojies cannot stand losing to Siggies, while Siggies literally can’t even.
Other Notes
Kyle Pinson, ACU’s director of intramural sports, is excited to see another season get underway.
“Intramural sports increases the sense of community on campus,” he said.
While flag football is the current focus, Pinson notes that the variety of sports keeps things interesting, and there is always room for new suggestions from students. So what is next? A Super Smash Bros. tournament, perhaps?
“Curling. … Just kidding. Mark Lewis would be pumped though,” he said. “Everyone has an idea for a new intramural sport. Keep them coming! I’m all ears.”
Tennet speaks for Pinson and his fellow Intramural Directors when he sums up the spirit of ACU intramurals.
“[This] is a good chance for students as individuals and as groups to come together in a healthy, competitive atmosphere and have fun playing sports we all love,” Tennet said. “I think it has such an awesome atmosphere of fun and tradition around it that people want to come support their club and their friends. Plus it’s an excuse to put off your homework a little bit longer.”
