SALEM, Va. (WDBJ) – Football teams across the country are preparing for the first snaps of the season.
But practice feels different in Salem, as Thursday’s practice has been years in the making and marks another milestone for Coach Bryan Stinespring and Roanoke College football.
“This is a tremendous story that’s taking place here and we get a chance to write it every day,” he says.
August 14, 2025 marks the start of a new chapter in that story.
For the first time since 1942, the Roanoke College Maroons took the field, albeit for practice, as an official DIII football team.
“It’s been way too long being off a football field,” remarks sophomore defensive lineman Luke Conner. “Way too calm before the storm. You know what’s coming, and we’re going to be, you know, helmets to the wall for the next ten days. I can’t wait.”
“We’re out here as a team. It all counts now,” Stinespring adds.
In fewer than two years, Coach Stinespring has fielded a team of 105 players, plus staff, that make up a group he sees as special for more than just the history they’re making.
“A lot of our players are from here, our staff, this is Ground Zero for us, this is our footprint,” he continues. “We’re all on the same page. We all have familiarity with it, with each other, which gives us a boost on moving forward to coming together as a team.”
“It’s amazing,” begins UVA transfer and now Maroon receiver KJ Bratton. “I see so many guys that I’ve played against, so many guys I’ve went to war with. It just makes it that much more special that we’re all out here together. We finally get to lace them up together and we get to play football together.”
During last year’s club season, the Maroons won each of the four games they played. Following that success, Coach Stinespring is sending the same message to his team as they officially enter the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
“We just got to improve from day-to-day out here and we cannot afford to back up at all. We’re already behind and we know that. So there’s an urgency about everything we do right now about getting better every day.”
“Everyone’s on the same page,” adds sophomore linebacker Charlie Davis. “Obviously, we have goals of going as far as we can, but just making a name for ourselves, our first time in the ODAC. It is exciting, but also is nerve-wracking to make a name for ourselves and just let them know, yes, we are young, but we are ready to compete and play at the highest level.”
Come early September, Roanoke College football begins another chapter. This time, not one of restoration, but instead, one of realization.
“Thinking about in the future, they’re going to be talking about this team for the rest of Roanoke College football,” notes sophomore defensive back Landon Altizer. “So it’s really awesome.”
The official revival of Roanoke College football will be complete come September 6th at Salem Stadium against University of Virginia Lynchburg.
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