Metro's Journey to the Gridiron

The Metropolitan State College of Denver, a small school that isn’t known for having school spirit or a football program.   That will all be changing very soon.  This spring MSCD will have a football program for the first time.  The community and student body are very supportive for a new football team but they are also hesitant on how the team will do in the near future.

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Several Metro State students were talking one day and asked why doesn’t Metro have a football team?  With one simple question and a short amount of time to think of a reason, an idea was formed and put into action.  These Metro State students decided to set forth and put a football program together.



Ted Reynolds, a sophomore at MSCD and president of the football program. Was asked why he decided to put a team together.  “One there isn’t a team and a lot of people [students] wanted one.  Second the school is changing and the program will fit in.” It was  perfect timing and a great opportunity to get the ball rolling to put a football program together.  MSCD is growing and making good changes for the school, a graduate program will soon be offered on campus.  Very soon MSCD is changing their name to fit the look of the growing school. 

Ethan Heritage, Senior at MSCD

“With Metro changing from a college to a university it’s great that we are starting a football team now.  People associate football with universities it gives the school and football a look.” Ethan Heritage, a senior lacrosse player at MSCD.

“Football is an iconic image for colleges.  This football team will only make Metro a better college.’  Brandon Garjeda, a senior at MCSD said, ‘Every school should have a football team.”  With the student body very hopeful and excited about MSCD having a football team some of the student body is also nervous on how the team will do. 

Sam Padilla, a junior at MSCD, thoughts about Metro’s football team, “It’s cool that we are going to have a football team but I don’t think they will be a good team.” When asked how the football team could become good, Padilla said “Get better student athletes by scouting out for players and recruiting them from high school.” 


The student body is nervous and anxious about a new team.  They want the team to succeed.  “If we play bigger schools in the NCAA we will be good or since CU is joining the PAC10 Metro should join too.” Padilla said.  

Defensive Coordinator Coach Louie Wright

 
“This football program is like a baby.  Just like a baby it needs time and training to grow into a good team and a very big one at the least.’ Says Defensive Coordinator Coach Louie Wright.  Right now the football team is starting out as a club sport.  The program has to start off somewhere small to begin the building process for a bigger team. “In two years we hope to fulfill the NCAA requirements so we can start playing schools around Colorado like, Adams State.”

Only time can tell on how this brand new football program will develop into.  As for right now there is a lot of enthusiasm for what the program will do for MSCD.  MSCD is not known for having the greatest school spirit.  With the sports already on campus they do not generate enough fan base or extra revenue.  The football program will “generate more school spirit and revenue but mostly more school pride for the lacking that it has now.” Anthony DiTullio, a junior at UCD, said.


The football team has great support from MSCD but also from students at University of Colorado at Denver, sharing the same campus.   Kurt Myers from UCD says, “There will be a greater population of students supporting the team.  Football is huge which means more money will be generated by having more students on campus and the enrollment for school will also go up.”  With more students on campus Sara Michelsen, a junior at MSCD, said very excitedly, “Having a football team will be really awesome.  It will bring the community together.  People are in their own world and right now Metro is a commuter school.  So games will be a really good social gathering to meet new people.  It will be a great event that everyone can go to.”


MSCD football team is only at the first step of making a big change and difference for the team and for the school.  With the greater support and patience from community will make this growing process be very successful in the future.