Salem, Virginia, is renowned for its deep-rooted football legacy, highlighted by the success of its only high school, which has clinched 10 state championships in the last 30 years. The city has also hosted the NCAA Division III championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, over 20 times.
This weekend, Roanoke College aims to contribute to that rich football tradition by launching a junior varsity football team for the first time since World War II. The team’s inaugural game is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. at Salem Stadium against Hampden-Sydney’s junior varsity squad.
Head coach Bryan Stinespring, who transitioned from his role as associate head coach at Virginia Military Institute to revitalize Roanoke’s football program last year, reflects on the journey. “On January 10, we had three coaches, four players, and no footballs,” he said.
Now, Stinespring oversees a squad of 61 players practicing on the newly resodded Alumni Field on campus. His experience as a longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach, including coaching in a Division I national championship game, adds to the excitement. “This was the right place at the right time. To be able to start up a program intrigued me,” Stinespring noted.
Roanoke College last had a football team in 1942, shortly before the nation entered World War II. Many players from that team went into military service, and the program was discontinued until now.
Athletic director Curtis Campbell, who took charge of the Maroons’ athletic department last spring, is eager about the football program’s kickoff and its potential to invigorate local sports culture. He emphasized the importance of starting new initiatives, stating, “When you’ve been doing this for a while, you don’t get many opportunities to do something for the first time.”
The players, too, are energized. Sophomore Luke Conner expressed his enthusiasm for the new program, highlighting its connection to military service as meaningful. He aims to join the Army Rangers after graduation and is glad to be part of this new chapter at Roanoke.
Freshman wide receiver Khamari Garner, a graduate of Salem High School, echoed the sentiment, describing the surge of community support for college football as exciting. “It feels amazing. We ain’t never had nothing like this before, and I feel like it was a good thing to do for the community,” he shared.
Campbell aims to recruit local talent, prioritizing players from Southwest Virginia, which he feels has been overlooked. He believes establishing a solid Division III football team will benefit both the college and the community.
Stinespring’s impressive background includes playing for Covington High and James Madison University, as well as coaching success at Virginia Tech, where he was known for recruiting top-tier local talent. Campbell felt confident in Stinespring’s abilities and character when he named him head coach.
To kickstart the program, Roanoke raised $1.3 million, investing in locker room facilities and a strength and conditioning center for athletes. The college hopes to field 100 players by next fall and emphasizes that enhancing the athletic program is also beneficial for local community engagement.
With free admission and parking for home games, along with shuttle services from campus, Campbell is hopeful for strong local turnout this Sunday. For Stinespring, the game will symbolize the culmination of a demanding journey, as he hopes it will be a moment players and coaches cherish in years to come. “For the first time in my life, I’m doing something that’s bigger than the game of football,” he said.