Division III: The Less Glamorous Side of College Football

College football is a sport we all enjoy. We get up each Saturday and tune in our TV's to pregame and College Game Day. We watch the highlights and big plays after the games and it is no wonder how we sit in awe of this young men who play at that level and can only think of what they will become.

What we don't see the player who pays for his education. The guy who doesn't have a need to worry about his draft spot or his team's rankings. The guy who, every day, gives his all and knows that this is for love, not fame. The guy that plays NCAA Division III collegiate football.

These are the players that bring true love to the game. These players have little to look forward to after football. Many of them will not go pro, or even attempt to. They don't have to worry about their draft spot or when to declare, because most of them will never declare for the draft. These are student-athletes who go to school for a career opportunity with higher education and play football simply because they love the game.

They practice, sweat, and give everything they have every day during the season and as soon as the season ends, they go back to the classroom. There is no leaving early for the draft, there is no interview or press conference to talk about the season's end. There is only tomorrow, which brings more opportunity for academic achievement.

Take nothing away from the big-time college players, but the true love of the game comes in the form of young 19-23 year old, under recruited, maybe less talented men playing Division III football. Going pro doesn't apply to these players. Football is everything, but they know it won't last forever. Many of them play their last games for nothing. Championships don't apply for most players. Their is no playoff or bowl game to work for, only for themselves and the game.

For all the TV coverage and publicity of major college football, you have dozens of Division III players, who payed their own way into college on the basis of their academics, playing because they don't know how to give up this game. The world was finally shown that side when Williams played Amhurst and College Game Day was there. That gave credibility to Division III football.

It showed the world that it is not a different kind of football, just with unknown players. The love of the game shows when these players play their last game and, win or lose, go into the locker room with tears in their eyes and heartfelt good-byes with coaches and players because they know this is the end of their careers.

This is the same game we love, but on a smaller stage. The same field we give anything to play on, but without the huge stadiums. The same hard work and determination in practice, but without the pay-offs. This is Division III college football and more than anywhere else, college football lives here.