Last week, the picture at the top of this column was not of me. As expected, I got hundreds of e-mails wondering what I really looked like. I usually answered with, "A better looking version of Rex Grossman," to which many replied, "How can two people who look so similar perform so differently?" Anyways, onto the main point of this column.
On more than one occasion, I've heard that Tufts, being a Div. III school, isn't known for its athletics, the last two times coming from my grandfather, and a friend from Bucknell (yes, they're Div. I). Usually, a brief explanation of how competitive D-III sports are - specifically the conference Tufts plays in (the NESCAC) - follows, and then there's the obligatory and unconvincing "okay." Sometimes I don't care, but other times I get a little riled. Just because Tufts doesn't make SportsCenter or Sports Illustrated doesn't mean there's not athletic competition at the D-III level.
But I do admit that, at first, I was skeptical of what small school athletics would be like. As a senior, I did a horrible job applying to colleges. My initial criteria had nothing to do with campus size, location or the student body; it had to do with whether or not the school had a Div. I sports program.
Why? Because I love sports, I wanted to continue with the statistical work I did in high school, and I wanted to get involved in the sports media scene. Three schools I looked at were Syracuse, Maryland and Duke - all D-I powerhouses in certain sports - even though those schools were wrong for me. Tufts was the only school I applied to that didn't have D-I athletics. I got accepted and couldn't have been happier.
At Tufts, I'm a stat boy for the Tufts volleyball team, and announce games with JumboCast. Would I have been able to do either of these things at a large D-I school? Maybe, but my chances were better at a smaller school, like Tufts. As an added bonus, I've been present for some great Tufts athletic moments, as well as a sixth-place finish by the Jumbos in the Directors' Cup, which ranks and awards points to Div. I, II and III schools based on order of finish in NCAA events.
Some may lament the fact that Tufts isn't a Div. I school and lacks big-time athletics, but being at a small school does have its advantages. Besides increased opportunities to be directly involved in the athletics scene, whether as an athlete or member of the media, athletics fans also can benefit from a small school setting.
Sure, we may not be able to watch basketball games in the Carrier Dome, but Cousens Gymnasium provides an intimate atmosphere to watch competitive NESCAC action (remember both Tufts vs. Williams Men's Basketball games from last year? Cousens was packed.). We may not have the history of a University of North Carolina-Duke or Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry, but there are plenty of intense and passionate games the Jumbos have played.
Last season, I had the privilege of attending the Tufts vs. Amherst NCAA Sweet Sixteen game at Amherst. The atmosphere was electric, the crowd was raucous, and the game was one of the most memorable in Tufts history. The players on the court weren't playing for NBA contracts or endorsement deals, but simply for pride and a love of the game.
In addition, at Div. III schools, there is a better chance that an athlete is one of your close friends, or a coach is one of your instructors, adding a more personal feel to athletic contests. There are many times I've witnessed friends of a particular athlete come to a game, just to support him or her. How many of those Troy Smith fans actually personally know him (or even lived with him), and how many Duke students can say they took a class with Mike Krzyzewski?
And then of course, there are the fans. While Tufts may not have the "Cameron Crazies," Jumbo fans can be rowdy and brutal. Last season, for example, during the Men's Basketball NESCAC Tournament semi-final game against Trinity, chants of "safety school" could be heard.
Of course, Tufts fans can be positive as well. This past fall, during a volleyball match against MIT, the men's swimming team made its presence felt by cheering on Tufts by banging on an empty water jug, as Tufts defeated MIT in a thriller.
As March Madness approaches, it's easy to get caught up in Div. I hoops and wish that Tufts could play on such a grand stage; however, there are always several Tufts teams throughout the year that contend for conference titles and for spots in the NCAA Tournament.
Let yourself get attached to the Jumbos, and you'd be surprised how emotional you'll get. There is plenty of great athletic competition around, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
