There are so many things that catch fire today. You often have to be careful of what you say or do to make sure that you are sensitive to those around you. Going to a small university, there are a couple things that get ragged on the most and, for Mansfield, it's the Sprint Football team.
There are so many stigmas and insults I hear from people that don't know or understand the game. Contrary to popular belief, Sprint Football is real football with minor restrictions or qualifications. The players wear the same gear, play on a standard field and follow the same game rules. The players are at equal risk as any other football teams and share the same bond.
The only thing that really sticks out in my mind and might catch a lot of people's attention is the weight limitations. As of 2005, players must weigh no more than 172 pounds. When sprint football first got it's start the weight limit was 150. Before being called Sprint Football, it was called the Eastern Lightweight Football League, then the Lightweight League, and now as we know it, Sprint Football. The Collegiate Sprint Football League has added three teams since 2008 including Mansfield University after the Division ll team was cut in 2006. The League is now made up of Penn, Princeton, Cornell, Army, Navy, Mansfield, Post University and Franklin Pierce.
As anyone, I pick on the team with a light heart. I pick on the players that I am friends with but, I mean well. I attend the home games when I can and take pride when we win. I listen to my friends talk about football and the team. I listen to them talk about their workouts and how the team will be better next year. I see some of the guys go to the field to play, practice, and keep in shape. Though we have Sprint Football and people always ask what it is and if it is real football I answer to my best ability. I tell my family to come out and watch game to get their own opinion of it. I take pride in my schools teams as I do with any team I'm affiliated with. I may not pay as much attention to my college team as I do my NFL team, but i still know the difference and also know that they aren't that different. Sprint football is real football and still just as good to watch and get into. There are currently eight schools with Sprint Football and I'm honored to be attending one of them, and the league is expanding.
