Starting last week, beneath the lights of the football practice field, many Little Giants lined up to battle on the gridiron, complete with plays, strategies, and even cheerleaders. But instead of red jerseys and pads, these players compete with flags and fraternity letters.
Fall means the beginning of the Intramural football season. But these aren’t just friendly pick-up games like those in backyards throughout America. Teams representing their respective living units practice plays, work on different strategies and line-ups, working hard to earn wins and even points towards a total IM championship, which is awarded at the end of the school year.
But why are IM sports taken so seriously at Wabash? Some believe it simply has to do with school demographics.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re an all male college,” said Marcus Manges, the IM Chair for Delta Tau Delta fraternity. “We’re competitive by nature. The vast majority of the guys here played sports in high school, and the way IM’s are set up, it works to keep that competitive sense going.”
Head Baseball coach Cory Stevens, who also functions as the school’s IM sports director, said that the Wabash men in particular are apt to take competitions like IM’s seriously.
“I think that intramural activities are an integral part of the Wabash experience because our students tend to be competitive by nature”, Stevens said. “Men are attracted to Wabash because they welcome a challenge and IM sports provide a positive outlet for that competitiveness,” Stevens said. In addition to providing an opportunity for Wabash students to compete athletically, sent their respective living units. An example of this can be found in the masses of fraternity pledges who come out to cheer their house’s team at every game.
“The point [of having pledges come out to games] is to start to develop a sense of pride in the house,” Manges said. “And it’s also nice to have cheerleaders.” For some, bragging rights over another house is enough motivation to play hard on the IM football field.
“Of course I want to win the football games because I want to win the IM championship,” said senior George Padgitt. “But even if it doesn’t lead to an IM championship, winning IM football games gives you bragging rights. Everyone wants to be the top dog. It’s a masculinity thing.”
The IM football season is just one of the first events in a year-long IM sports season that includes events like basketball, tennis, wrestling, cross country, swimming, and even darts. Manges said the key to earning points in all of the events is participation.
“My main job [as IM chair] is to communicate to the people in the house when events are,” Manges said. “The more participation, the better because each slot you fill in any event gets you points.”
So as the competition moves from the field to the court to the pool, Wabash men will continue to go all out for a love of competition and pride in their living units. But despite the competitiveness, Stevens believes the IM sports schedule works to bring the campus together.
“Intramurals also offer an opportunity for Wabash Men to gather in a social, yet positive, atmosphere,” Stevens said. “Although our men compete for their respective living units, they bond as a Wabash community through intramural activities.”