The simple answer to non-grizzlies is: Yes. Our campus is home to over 20 NCAA Division III, varsity sports teams. So when you figure the numbers out, roughly more than 60 percent of the campus is involved with athletics in one way or another.
It’s crazy to think that so many students are involved with athletics at our school. But honestly, it’s what drives people to come to Franklin (aside from the awesome atmosphere and people that attend FC or course). Personally, I was recruited to come to Franklin on behalf of athletics and couldn’t be happier that I decided to enroll.
The athletics-centered atmosphere is unbeatable at the Division III level. With that being said, we always have fans supporting our teams wherever we go and not just for one team. As part of our newest varsity sports team, for me there truly was no better feeling than having so much support from fellow students at our games during our inaugural season. It’s also an amazing feeling to be around such like-minded, driven individuals. It really inspires you to put 120 percent into what you do, because you basically have the whole campus behind you. You also have people who you can truly relate to -- especially if you had an away game the night before a big exam, which you probably stayed up all night to study for (we all understand the true struggle).
Not to mention the faculty (at least most of the faculty) is very understanding about student athletes missing class for games or practices, and are willing to work with you (since most students are athletes). It’s also pretty awesome when your professor asks you how your game went and you can say you just crushed Hanover.
At Franklin College we also pride ourselves on the tradition of teams being a family. I can honestly say in high school and throughout my previous competitive sports experience I’ve never had such close teammates as I have had at FC. At Franklin your teammates, more than likely, are your ride-or-dies as far as almost anything. They are pretty much willing to go to the ends of the earth for you if you need them to. These are the same people that will cheer you on and push you to reach your goals on and off the field, as well as being the people you can spend 24 hours of the day with and somehow not be tired of (which is kind of a crazy thought).
What is also crazy to think about is the fact that these people will really and truly be your best friends for life. Because let’s be real, who do you know that wasn’t some hot-shot in high school, that still talks to their hometown high school friends all the time? Huh? I have got you there!
An amazing thing that we also have at Franklin is our sense of unity between all of our sports teams (despite the occasional rift in the waves). In times of trouble and times of success we can come together as a whole. It’s such a (for lack of a more elegant term) cool experience. We somehow, since it’s beyond my understanding, come together like magnets to a fridge and just stick together.
I honestly think this is what sets our school apart from the rest and makes Franklin College a unique place to attend for your undergraduate education.
