No Friday Night Lights for Mason
Once the crisp, cool autumn air begins to hit the ground, colleges nationwide gear up for football season. Students gather in the stands sporting team colors, the crowd cheers as a player takes the opening kick and the familiar Friday night lights gleam from the stadium.
At George Mason University, things are a little different. There is no NCAA football team affiliated with the university, which is what most of the student body longs for. However, many students are unaware of the football talent that flies just under the radar. That talent is found with the George Mason club football team.
“[We make] a pretty small impact in regards to general knowledge. We’re trying to put our name out there,” said George Mason club football head coach Matt Dyson.
The club team began in 1993 with Joe Pascale as head coach and quickly began to make a name for themselves, winning five Seaboard Conference Championships from 2001 to 2005.
“Most people think club football is just people getting together to play football,” said Dyson. “The level we play at is much higher than club. We play Division II and III teams and junior colleges.”
Despite their success and efforts, the team is not widely recognized on campus. Some might not take the team seriously because of their club label and lack of an NCAA branding.
“Their exposure is not right in your face,” said freshman Pat Carroll, a communication major and avid sports fan. “There’s definitely negativity to being a club team. They [need] more exposure, online media, especially for incoming freshmen. They need to get Mason students more interested in it. That’s a step in the right direction.
Dyson and his team have Keep Reading