The IUS Intramural Flag Football League gathered to play its second week of games on Oct. 2. This year, the Intramural Flag Football League has 13 men’s teams, four co-ed teams and three women’s teams.
Perry Brown, head of intramural sports and fitness center coordinator, started the Intramural Flag Football League in 2006.
“This is the first year we were able to have a women’s team,” Brown said. “In the past, we were able to accumulate one team but never another to be able to play them. This year, we were able to gather up three women’s teams and co-ed teams.”
Flag football requires seven players from each team on the field. However, Brown said there are at least 10 players on each team this year for substitutions. Brown said there are three officials present on the field during each game.
The Intramural Flag Football League has a series of games each Sunday to allow the teams to play one another. They will continue to play until the championship game on Nov. 14.
“All of the teams will get together to play in the championship on Nov. 14,” Brown said. “There will be a single elimination with the top eight teams. The all-star team will accompany me to [Western Kentucky University] for the annual intramural tournament.”
In preparation for the tournament, players do not have scheduled practices. Instead, players practice on their own time.
Because there are a large number of men’s teams, Brown broke them into two divisions — NFL North and NFL South.
Jared Applegate, junior, said he has high hopes for his team, “Just Blazin’.” This is Applegate’s third year competing in the Intramural Flag Football League.
“My goal is to win the whole thing and nothing short of that,” Applegate said. “We have a long way to go, but I have faith in my squad. Those guys are like my brothers. I’ve known them basically all of my life, and we are around each other enough to where I consider them family.”
With so much testosterone on the field, one could assume that competitive spirits may cause fights and flaring tempers. Brown said the men’s competition can sometimes be too much, but, overall, the teams get along well.
“At times, it gets really competitive, especially with the fraternities playing each other,” Brown said. “When they play against each other, they can get a little physical, but — at the end — they shake hands and leave with good camaraderie.”
Applegate scored his team’s only touchdown.
“I like scoring touchdowns and making the defense look bad,” Applegate said, “but — in all honesty — I like being able to compete against good competition and enjoy a nice Sunday with my friends.”
Each IUS fraternity, sorority and student organization is obligated to play in intramural programs for their school. Each group tries to accumulate the most points in sportsmanship and participation to win the Grenadier Cup.
“I am the intramural chair for my sorority, Alpha Phi,” Rachel Martinson, senior, said. “We participated in flag football to have a good time and play a sport that girls don’t usually get to play. On my team we are very close friends, but — with the other teams — the camaraderie is usually good, although it can become very competitive.”
By COURTNEY
MCKINLEY
Staff
comckinl@imail.iu.edu
