Dear reader:

We’ve asked a few Division III players and coaches to join our blog and give us an inside look into life in Division III football. Introducing Fitchburg State senior kicker/quarterback Treavor Smith:

Well, it’s that time again … For the next three or so months, it is college football season at the Division III level. It’s time for students and fans to come out on Saturday afternoons and root for their favorite team. Fall is also the time of year that many student athletes and college football players enjoy the most, time for all the hard work put into the off season to come out, and to finally enjoy the reward — that is, every Saturday afternoon when we get to go out and perform in front of family, friends, and classmates.

I will be writing every week to give an inside look into what goes on during the season of a Division III football player. I am a senior placekicker at Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts. I handle all of the kicking duties. I am also on the depth chart as a quarterback. I’m 24 years old and my hometown is Putnam, Conn. Fitchburg State College is a school of about 2,500 students and is located in north central Massachusetts, about 20 minutes north of Worcester, 45 minutes west of Boston.

We are members of the New England Football Conference and play in the Bogan Division. We start this season with targets on our backs as we are the defending Bogan division champs.

We also start the season with some additional adversity. The new sports complex featuring the new sprint turf that will be home to our football, field hockey, and both men’s and women’s soccer teams is not finished yet and we are not sure when it will be completed. Right now we our practicing on the outfield of our softball field. Overall, it’s not that bad. We still get out there and get some good work in, but it will definitely be nice to get off the softball field and onto the new field.

School started on Thursday and it is nice to not have to worry about class. It is almost like the Matt Leinart situation where I can just show up for football and that is it. This is my final semester of school and I am doing my internship with the city of Worcester police department, which starts next Wednesday for me, so right now my only focus has been football.

Good luck to everyone and see you next week.