New England College鈥檚 football team will play its first official game on Saturday, more than 50 years since the Pilgrims last fielded a gridiron squad.
The school briefly organized a team for two seasons in the 1970s, according to Coach Kevin Kelly, and lost every game. The aim is to do better.
鈥淣ew England College has never won a varsity football game. So that鈥檚 our first goal,鈥� Kelly said.
Last year, the team played an exhibition season, picking up a few wins. This season鈥檚 slate of official games kicks off Saturday at 12 p.m. against Plymouth State University in a Division III clash.
鈥淭his is the big boy league,鈥� said Kelly.
Nearly 40% of the Pilgrim roster are graduates of New Hampshire high schools, but they鈥檒l be led Saturday by quarterback Lukas Kottstorfer, a 6鈥�2鈥� 210 lb. transfer from Bryant University who originally hails from Germany.
Given that the majority of his players are freshmen and sophomores, Kelly said he鈥檚 focused on not just this season, but growing the program long term.
鈥淛ust think about what we鈥檒l be like in three or four years,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be just like everybody else.鈥�
Division III athletic programs award academic and need-based scholarships, but don鈥檛 grant athletic scholarships. There also aren鈥檛 massive opportunities for athletes to earn money on their images and on-field talents, the way stars at larger programs are now able to under NCAA rules.
But Kelly said the Pilgrims won鈥檛 lack support: he said the student body and a network of alumni have been supportive.
鈥淵ou got to win on campus first,鈥� he said.
The administration is backing the revitalized football team with a new stadium and an updated training facility, both of which are still under construction. For now, fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs to Saturday鈥檚 game, as there is limited bleacher space for the more than 2,000 people expected to attend.
