Sprint football has arrived on Long Island. Molloy University is the first area college to offer the sport for players with a 178-pound weight limit at the Division III level.
Molloy is the ninth team to join the Collegiate Sprint Football League.
“It’s an outstanding opportunity for high school players to continue their football careers at the next level,” Molloy coach Brian Hughes said. “It’s a chance for the smaller players, who aren’t big enough to be recruited to play in the NCAA, to continue to play. We are super excited about the future and the commitment to sprint football here at Molloy University.”
The Lions open their inaugural season Saturday at Cornell University at 1 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN+.
“Sprint football is not a club sport,” Hughes said. “We follow NCAA Division III rules, so it’s basically an NCAA Division III sport with a 178-pound weight limit. There are no scholarships offered and it doesn’t count as a sport toward the Title IX guidelines.”
Sprint Football, founded nationally in 1934, was originally known as the Eastern 150-pound Football League. In 1967, the name changed to the Eastern Lightweight Football League and in 1998 changed to its current name, the Collegiate Sprint Football League. The weight limit has increased over the years as the weight of the average college student has increased.
The league’s longest tenured programs are at Army, Navy, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania -- teams not to be confused with their Division I varsity teams. Sprint Football has also made its way to the midwest where the Midwest Sprint Football League was founded in 2021 and began play in 2022 with seven schools.
“It’s exciting when you look at our schedule and see the likes of Army and Navy,” Hughes said. Molloy hosts the sprint teams from Navy on Oct. 27, and Army on Nov. 8. Navy is the three-time champion of the CSFL.
Experience helps
Molloy's roster of 36 includes 23 players from Long Island. Junior Thomas Everding, a Newsday All-Long Island selection in 2021 who captained two Long Island Class III championship teams at Plainedge, is Molloy's team captain and a two-way starting lineman at 5-11, 178 pounds. The 20-year-old is in his third season of sprint football, having transferred from St. Thomas Aquinas.
“It’s exciting to be a part of something new and help build the program from its foundation,” said Everding, who is studying secondary education. “I love football and I want to coach when I’m done playing.”
Hughes said having a player like Everding is helping to kickstart Molloy's program.
“He’s an exceptional man and his presence and commitment to this program validates what we’re doing,” Hughes said. “He knows the game and he’s as tough as they come pound for pound. Thomas is a natural leader, and we need that first guy here to leave a lasting impression, so others follow. He’s the right guy to get a program going.”
As a senior at Plainedge High School, Everding was the key cog in an offensive line that rolled to more than 250 yards rushing per game in a 12-0 season that ended with a Long Island Class III title. He also played tackle for a defensive unit that allowed only four points per game.
His college football odyssey took him through Caldwell College in New Jersey where he suffered a broken left leg as a freshman. He transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas as a sophomore and was captain of the team that went 4-3.
“I’m the most experienced player at Molloy and our guys are looking for leadership and direction,” said Everding. “We have an excellent group of players, mostly from Long Island.”
School support
Everding said sprint football is all about speed. “The guys are a lot quicker at this level,” he said. “There is no room for out of shape players. This is a faster game with pads. The weight restriction evens the playing field for everyone. We weigh in on Tuesday and Thursday for Saturday games and Monday and Wednesday for Friday games.”
The Molloy University sprint football team practices at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Hughes said players need to make weight twice a week or they are ineligible to play in the upcoming game.
“It’s similar to wrestling,” Hughes said. “Players need to be disciplined to stay on weight. Players can be 190 pounds on game day because there is a 12-pound float."
Molloy school administrators see sprint football as a way to attract more male students, and as a safer alternative to conventional football.
Molloy president Dr. Jim Lentini addressed the team after a recent workout, telling players how proud he was of the group and Molloy’s deep commitment to the program.
“I came out to address the team because I hadn’t seen them yet as the start of the semester is very busy,” Lentini said. “It was my first chance to come out here and show my support.”
Lentini said he would be attending Saturday's game in Ithaca.
"They get a nice crowd at Cornell, and this will be a wonderful life experience,” he said. “Sprint football was so appealing to us as a university. It helps in our recruitment of student-athletes and drives enrollment. We had about 55 new students enroll in the school in our first year of sprint football.”
Molloy quarterback Paulie Drummond, who played at Eastport-South Manor, transferred from Keystone College, a Division III school in La Plume, Pennsylvania. The 6-2 signal caller is pumped for his first start Saturday.
“We’re running the spread and I’m excited about it,” Drummond said. “I wanted to be back on Long Island and Molloy is an amazing school. I’m studying sports management with classes in journalism.”
Hughes said he plans to grow his roster in his first few years.
“The initiative is to bring it on and show people they can play football after high school at a competitive level,” said Hughes, who was offensive coordinator at LIU Post before coming to Molloy. “And it’s an even playing field. No one is overmatched by size. There are no transfer portal issues.
“There will be a learning curve. This season will serve as the foundation for the building of this program centered around faith and family. I love coaching football and what it teaches young men in camaraderie, the brotherhood and life lessons.”
WHAT TO KNOW
- Sprint Football, founded nationally in 1934, is a varsity sport played under standard college football rules. Players’ weight cannot exceed 178 lbs. The weight restriction emphasis players’ speed and agility rather than size and strength.
- Molloy, in its first season of Sprint Football, has a roster of 36 players – 23 from Long Island.
- Molly’s season begins Saturday at Cornell at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
MOLLOY SCHEDULE
Sept. 21 at Cornell, 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 St. Thomas Aquinas, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 Caldwell University, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Penn, 7 p.m.,
Oct. 27 Navy, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Mansfield University, 4 p.m.
Nov. 8 Army, 7 p.m.
Home games at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex