Berry pulled out a thrilling overtime win Saturday at Chicago. The win, however, did more than improve the Vikings’ record to 5-1 this year; it signaled the program has arrived.
If the program’s first year of existence, 2013, was about launching a football program and 2014 about building a program of significance, this year is about starting to reap the benefits of two years of foundational work. At the Division III level, most insiders acknowledge it takes a few years for a program to gel.
Perhaps the payoff manifests itself in thrilling overtime victories, whether against Chicago or instate rival LaGrange. It’s also about national recognition such as the program’s first-ever vote in the D3Football.com coaches poll.
The program now has signature wins it can point to. It has also established an on-campus home and has started the on-campus traditions that accompany game day.
If nothing else, at 5-1, Berry is guaranteed a .500 record at minimum. One more victory and the Vikings secure the program’s first-ever winning season.
