Division-III sports are many things, but they are not, however, incredibly exciting. Being a Division-III basketball player myself, I have seen and heard many of my fellow athletes joke and complain about life as a D3 athlete. I have never, and hopefully will never, hear an athlete say any of the following...

1. I hope our game/meet/match is packed!

No, you don’t. Most (if not all) D-III athletes spent their entire childhoods practicing in order to become a D-I athlete. The only reason these athletes play their sport anymore is because they either have an absolute love for the game and cannot bear to be without it, regardless of the level of competition. Or more likely, they simply felt obligated to continue their athletic career since they were given the opportunity. No one cares about who watches them play.

2. I can't go out, we have a game tomorrow night.

The probable response would actually be “I shouldn’t go out, we have a game tomorrow night… But it is 50 cent shot night”. The beauty of playing sports at a lower level of competition is just that. It’s a lower level of competition. Therefore, everything else follows suit. Lower level athletic ability, lower level significance, and lower level preparation. In fact, one wouldn’t be surprised to catch one of these lower level athletes with a nice, little buzz during the game.

3. I'm basically a celebrity on campus.

You’re basically just like every other student on campus. However, instead of spending free time doing whatever it is normal kids do, D-III athletes have certain obligations like practice and games/matches that they choose to attend from time to time. Division-III athletes are almost like the cool college athletes you see on ESPN! Except their schools are half the size, and NOBODY knows who they are.

4. I didn't have time to study because I had practice.

...and then I had to finish Game of Thrones (cue Jon Snow spoilers), take a nap, go to Chipotle and take mirror selfies of me flexing for my Snapchat Story. Division-III sports take up at most three hours of the night. You had time to study.

5. Would you like an autograph?

Who are you? Again, NOBODY knows who they are.

6. We have the fanbase!

Unless parents, grandparents, and siblings count, a fan base is relatively nonexistent. Sure, a dozen of the players’ fraternity/sorority brothers/sisters will drunkenly stumble in followed by five or ten freshmen who can’t seem to find any dorm parties and want to be #socollege, but outside of them, the stands are generally silent.

7. My sport is definitely my number one priority.

One main reason for playing Division-III sports is to have the ability to stay active having fun playing their sport of choice all while earning an adequate education and pursuing a career. Unlike higher level athletes, these athletes have other time-consuming interests and are able to participate in them! Many athletes are students, performers, leaders before members of a sports team.

8. If not for sports, I could not afford college.

Ah, my favorite. Every semester, when the student account billing statement comes through the mailbox, Division-III athletes are reminded that, although they bring in some revenue for the university and represent it wherever they go (in uniform, of course, because no one would recognize them otherwise), these kids still unfortunately have to pay full tuition. But hey, D-III sports wouldn’t be the same any other way.