By Dhember Viera
Staff Reporter
One of the most beautiful times of the year is approaching. Leaves are slowly
changing colors and falling, and the scent of pumpkin-spice latté is lingering through Mercer. Fall is officially here.
Aside from a beautiful view around campus and chilly nights, fall brings forward many different things to do and sporting events to attend, Bryan College rugby being one.
The Rugby Club returns this year with a team of 22 eager guys excited to knock one another around and come full force against other schools on the pitch.
“Rugby for Dummies”
Rugby is a physical game in which 15 players try to advance a ball toward a goal
line, while the 15 players of the opposing team attempt to stop them. It sounds a lot like American football on the surface. Unlike American football, there are no downs and the ball is in continuous play. In fact, possession is exchanged often and quickly.
There are few long, sustained drives toward the in-goal area, or end zone to American fans. Progress up and down the pitch, or field, is achieved grudgingly and usually in short chunks.
There is extensive contact and a lot of tackling.
“Unlike other sports, rugby doesn’t have sissy time outs,” said Michael Palmer, associate professor of communications and rugby faculty sponsor, when asked about the game.
“Rugby is a very basic level of war without weapons,” Palmer added.
Both Palmer and Col. Ron Petitte, club parent, are experienced rugby players and express a passion for the game, even taking time to coach the Bryan College club.
From off the hill, licensed referee Gareth Daves from Knoxville, Tenn., has been coming once per week to help teach fundamentals and tactics of the game. Bryan College alumni and former rugby team captain, Clayton Schmidt, is current manager for the team and is dedicating a lot of time and helping administer the team.
Unlike many of the team sports and clubs at Bryan, the college does not fund the Bryan College Rugby Club. It is not considered a varsity sport and does not have a budget, nor paid coaches and trainers due to the fact that rugby is such a heavy contact sport and carries a higher risk of liability.
One of the unique things about this team is that it has been around for seven years, making it the longest running club at Bryan.
How do they do it without any school funding?
The guys on the team are extremely dedicated, and when it comes to fundraising events, they have been willing to do whatever it takes. They also seek sponsorships from Dayton businesses.
“I give full credit to the boys,” said Palmer. “They work so hard to be able to do this.”
With the money they earn, the club pays league fees and purchase necessary equipment and uniforms.
The rugby club meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:30 p.m. at either open grassy areas around campus or at Cedar Point Park, at the foot of Bryan Hill.
Games are held either at the Rhea Family YMCA football field or the Delaware Avenue Sports Complex in Dayton.
The rugby club is always recruiting. If any men on campus are in the mood to tackle somebody, or want to be a part of the brotherhood and camaraderie that comes with being on a sports team, talk to Palmer, Petitte or any of the current team members. There is an upcoming alumni game under the lights at the YMCA field on Oct. 5.