This past fall brought a different experience for Chris Wesolowski.
As a freshman he went from strapping on the helmet and shoulder pads at Cardinal Mooney Catholic every Friday night under the lights to standing on the metal bleachers at Spartan Stadium on the weekends. Being a fan rather than a player brought him a sense of frustration and curiosity.
Faced with the reality that he was too small or not good enough to play Division I football at MSU, Wesolowski wanted a way to continue playing the sport he loved without going through the roadblocks of what it takes to play in the Big Ten.
So when the idea of joining a club team with other students who had the same passion for the sport as he did came along, Wesolowski was excited.
But at the time MSU didn’t have a club football program, giving Wesolowksi the vision of starting up a team next fall, paving the way of other students who are hoping to make one more tackle or one more touchdown.
How did this dream come to a reality? By the help of a man named Al Manfroni, who also initiated the club football program at Oakland University.
“We finally got registered as a student organization this past November,” Wesolowski said. “We also got registered with the league that we’re going to be playing in the NCFA.”
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The National Club Football Association, which houses every club program in the country, including U-M Flint, Ohio State and Wright State, inducted MSU in the league right before Christmas break.
The league, which supports six conferences and 22 other universities, also offers a national championship played in Salem, Virginia in the beginning of December.
The Grizzlies currently hold the label as reigning champions after squandering Robert Morris, 14-12 at Salem Stadium.
Wesolowski has enlisted other MSU students to prepare for the team’s first season.
“We have a board, we have a vice president, we have a head of social media, graphic designer and events coordinator,” Wesolowski said. “We also have a coaching staff from outside the university.”
One of the most appealing things of joining the club team is not only reliving arguably the greatest high school moment as a football player, but following a less demanding schedule.
As a student himself, Wesolowski understands that school comes first before extracurricular activities. So while the athletes are still required to practice and prepare for upcoming opponents, their first priority will be in the classroom.
“We’re only going to be practicing three times a week, just so students can focus, obviously on class and also get to play football,” Wesolowski said.
The first official meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5 in Communication Arts and Sciences Building, where Wesolowski and the rest of the leaders will speak on behalf of the program, as well as the essential details before the train leaves the station. Roughly 200 people responded to the mass email sent out by the organization last week.
Games are expected to be played at Hope Sports Complex and practices will be held at Patriarche Park near East Lansing High School.
“I’m just excited about players getting the opportunity to play again,” Wesolowski said. “To put the shoulder pads and helmet on again and not get the chance to play football but the chance to play for something with a group of guys every week.
“It gives guys who love football a chance who haven’t received an opportunity to play in a couple of years to play for something again.”
