It’s strange to think that Creighton could currently be experiencing the same kind of excitement experienced by schools such at Mizzou, Notre Dame and Nebraska.
Contrary to the popular Creighton football “Still Undefeated” shirts worn by many proud Creighton students, Creighton football is actually only undefeated since 1942.
Because so many men were drafted to fight in the WWII and so many goods were needed by the soldiers fighting overseas, the football program ended after 1942. When the war ended, football was not brought back to Creighton. Instead, the soccer program was started.
As a sports fan, part of me wishes Creighton still had a football team. Nothing is the same as watching the football fly through the air and players run the field trying to avoid the defense’s tackle attempts.
There’s even a difference when you’re tailgating before a football game as opposed to tailgating before other sports. The buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air can be felt even before arriving at the stadium.
As soccer playoffs begin and basketball season starts, think about how different the sports environment at Creighton would be if we still had football. But, in order to have a football team, we would have to say goodbye to one of the sports we have right now.
Since that’s not going to happen, we should be happy that we have such a phenomenal athletics program. Men’s soccer is ranked No. 2 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the team won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title for the third consecutive season. The team received a first-round bye in the MVC tournament and will face off against either Evansville or Bradley on Friday in Evansville, Ind.
Women’s soccer finished the season with a 12-6-1 record, having their sixth 10-win season and eighth consecutive winning season.
Women’s volleyball is playing one of the nation’s hardest schedules and has managed a 14-8 record going into the last weeks of the regular season.
Though it is common to hear people say they wish Creighton had a football team, we should stop wishing for something we aren’t going to get and appreciate what we do have, athletic excellence.