Flag football rising in popularity as intramural sport at Niagara University

By Benjamin Fey

Special to Niagara Frontier Publications

The Kiernan Center was renovated recently by Niagara University, which added new equipment and more space for students to enjoy.

It’s easy to focus on the new additions of physical things at the Kiernan Center, but there’s more for students to be excited about than new equipment.

The Kiernan Center is home to 50 intramural sports that have gotten underway during this fall. These intramural sports include flag football, 5-on-5 basketball, dodgeball, outdoor soccer, and coed volleyball.

One sport in particular has separated itself from the pack though due to its popularity. That sport is flag football.

The flag football teams are made up of strictly students who attend Niagara University. Students select teams as they wish, but not exceeding 10 students.

“We all love to be able to play football at school with our friends,” said Niagara University flag football team quarterback Mike Cej. “With the NFL going on right now, we're all eager to go play football.”

Cej is a captain of the Niagara University Gamecocks flag football team. The Gamecocks have worked their way into the championship game after a 4-1 season.

“We're all very excited to play in the championship,” said wide receiver Conner Albanese. “I didn’t think I’d care so much about flag football, but Niagara has made it very fun for all of us.”

The rise of intramural sports – and football, in particular, has given athletes who may have played in high school an opportunity to relive the excitement football can bring without having to put on the pads.

“After playing football in high school, I always wanted the opportunity to play again,” sophomore Christian Levisque said. “This gave me a way to enjoy the game, without the injuries.”

Even though the fall sports may be ending, Kiernan Center offers a new variety of sports for the spring semester. The sports offered in the spring are 3-on-3 basketball, broomball, coed indoor soccer, coed volleyball, floor hockey, and softball.

••••••••

This is a Niagara University student-created piece completed as part of the course CMS 226A. For more information, contact the Niagara Frontier Publications’ managing editor.