As those of you who have been paying attention already know, The University of Chicago was one of the founding members of the Big Ten football conference. Hell, we pretty much invented the sport as you and I know it today. The first Heisman trophy winner and very first player drafted in the first-ever pro football draft was our very own Jay Berwanger (drafted to my hometown Philadelphia Eagles). These days, those days are just a fond memory and a little display in our spiffy new gym.
Now, I am born-and-bred Big Ten fan. My dad's family talks about the state of Michigan the way my mom's family talks about "The Old Country." The first song I ever knew the words to was 'Hail to the Victors' (which is now my ring tone). We identified my family's white minivan in a parking lot of other people's white minivans by the 'GO BLUE' sticker on the bumper. You probably know where this is going. The best reasons to go to a D-3 school?
1. There isn't a separate athlete culture on campus.
2. We really, truly believe in the 'scholar-athlete' ... and the 'scholar' part comes first.
3. Our football team will never, ever, lose to Appalachian State.
I'm crying on the inside.
