Why Minnesota's best are D-III

As Macalester embarks on its new experiment in building competitive football, we bring you a weekly look inside the program from one of the 37 student-athletes in uniform.

By Adam Johnson 
(posted Sept. 23, 2002)

Saturday afternoon at Macalester Stadium was a prime example of why the purest form of football takes place in small, collegiate stadiums and not domed, artificially surfaced, corporate-sponsored facilities.

A quick comparison of our Macalester Scots and the Minnesota Vikings should clearly illustrate my point. It's not the fact that we're 2-1 and the Vikings are 0-3 that makes our form of football more enjoyable. It's the game's surroundings which make the two forms of football so different.

Let's get the similarities out of the way first. We have both played three teams from three different states. As football families we have both helped a teammate through the loss of a loved one. As players and coaches we all hope to be victorious when the final horn sounds. The differences, which are numerous, are the reason why the Division III football experience is so much better.

First, you can park within 50 yards of Macalester Stadium without paying a dime. I think the last time I was at a Vikings game they were charging $30 to park that close.

All you need as an adult visitor to Macalester Stadium is five dollars to enter — only three as a visiting student and kids under 12 are free. If you're lucky enough to be a friend or family member of a Scots player you can get in free by being on his "guest list."

The cheapest ticket to a Vikings game is $23 and that's the same whether you're 63 or three. Unlike the NFL where inflated ticket prices are a result of inflated salaries, our tickets will always be the same even if tuition climbs to $35,000 next year.

You can get a Scot Dog and soda for three dollars at Macalester. That's not enough for a Dome Dog alone at the Vikings game. You'll need to get your snacks early because, unfortunately, our concession stand closes after the third quarter. However, after outscoring Principia 21-6 in the fourth quarter on Saturday, that rule might change.

Before the 2002 season, the "economists" for the Vikings devised the Randy Ratio — a percentage of plays that went to Randy Moss that would give a good indication of whether the Vikings would win on any given Sunday.

On Saturday against Principia, we had no "Munson Meter" or "Denny Denominator" to predict the chances of us winning. None of us just played when we wanted to, and nobody sat out the game because they were disgruntled about the lack of money in their financial aid statement.

Speaking of which, I wish Red McCombs would just forget about Bryant McKinnie and use the $13.1 million offer on something else. I did the math and he could put 108 football players through Macalester on four-year scholarships-oops, I mean financial aid awards. This is Division III.

Throughout the game, someone new stepped up on seemingly every play. Quarterback Adam Denny didn't focus on one player the whole game but spread the ball to all three receivers and both backs. There were no outbursts on the sidelines between offensive players — a weekly tradition between Moss and Daunte Culpepper.

Our kicker, Mike Cosimini, had a rough day missing two extra points and a field goal. However, unlike Doug Brien who was blamed for the Vikings' Week 2 loss, Cosimini's performance was quickly forgotten when freshman Andrew Connet knocked through a PAT to put us up 32-31.

Even though we found ourselves down by twelve points twice on Saturday the crowd never booed. We had fumbles, interceptions and a few dropped passes but we still had the support of the crowd. It seems as though a seven-point deficit or a turnover by the Vikings brings a solid two minutes of booing in the Metrodome. Our fans stayed with us through the good and bad Saturday and when the final horn sounded — or should I say bell rang — I'm sure they were glad they did.

Down by five with 25 seconds to go, it was easy to dig down deep when we heard the "Let's Go MAC!!" chant blaring from the stands. As the crowd erupted on Jared Hillman's game-winning touchdown catch, there was no doubt in my mind that this is the purest form of football in the country.

Maybe Red McCombs should pull the Vikings from the NFL to play a lesser Arena League schedule. It might help them get back to the basics.

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