Buena Vista to Celebrate 100 Seasons of IntercollegiateFootball

This fall, the athletics department is proud to be celebrating 100 years of intercollegiate football at Buena Vista University. The football program can trace its roots all the way back to 1893. During the early years, there were so few other colleges sponsoring football in the area that Buena Vista played exclusively high school and town teams. The final game of the 1898 season gave Buena Vista its first opportunity to square off against another college. When Buena Vista recorded a Thanksgiving Day 6-0 shutout over Morningside College on November 24th, 1898, it marked the first intercollegiate athletic event in school history and began a proud tradition that continues today.

"We are really excited to have the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of intercollegiate football here at Buena Vista," said athletics director Jan Travis. "So many great people have contributed to the success of BV football over the years, and we feel that this will be a great opportunity to recognize those individuals for their accomplishments."

While some rules have changed, the competitive spirit lives on. This year will mark the 100th season that Buena Vista will compete in intercollegiate football, as there were years in the first half of the 20th century when the school did not field a football team. The program has had over 25 head coaches, 243 all-conference players, 39 All-Americans, and a total of six official conference championships. A web site featuring the highlights of the program can be accessed on the Buena Vista athletic web page.

"It is our hope that many alumni who were associated with the football program while they were on campus will join us in this celebration," Travis stated. "This is truly a unique event that I am personally looking forward to with great anticipation."

The season-long celebration will be highlighted on homecoming weekend (October 7-9). Football alumni and former coaches as well as their families will have the opportunity to gather at the pre-game tailgate party adjacent to J. Leslie Rollins Stadium prior to the game against Coe College. All former football players will also be recognized at halftime of the homecoming contest.

A special web site celebrating a century of BV football can be accessed at http://www.bvu.edu/athletics/football100/index.asp

Nick Huber
Sports Information Director
Buena Vista University
Phone: 712-749-2633
Fax: 712-749-1460