Berry College Football: A History of Excellence
Berry College's football program, though relatively young, has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in NCAA Division III. From its inaugural season in 2013 to its recent successes, the program embodies the "Berry way" - a combination of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
The Early Years: Building a Foundation
The Berry College Vikings football team represents Berry College in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Vikings are members of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), fielding its team in the SAA since 2013. When Berry football debuted in fall 2013 and Coach Tony Kunczewski fielded his spirited if eventual 0-9 inaugural team, few could have foreseen the program's rapid ascent. However, this initial season laid the groundwork for future success, instilling a sense of determination and resilience within the team.
The Tony Kunczewski Era: A Culture of Success
Under the leadership of Coach Tony Kunczewski, the Vikings have achieved remarkable milestones. Kunczewski arrived on campus as the inaugural football coach. Someone asked how he would define success at Berry. His answer: when a member of the team was elected SGA president. Fittingly, senior offensive lineman Teddy Palmer (17C) was elected to that role the same year that Berry won the first of its five-straight regular-season football championships. The "Coach K" era has been defined by a commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel in all aspects of their lives.
Mason Kinsey: A Viking Success Story
The story of Mason Kinsey exemplifies the Berry College football program's commitment to excellence. As a wide receiver, Kinsey left an indelible mark on the program, finishing his Berry career with a Southern Athletic Association-record 3,343 receiving yards and 50 receiving touchdowns. He was among the best of the best on a team that has won four straight SAA championships and earned three consecutive bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Kinsey's journey to success was paved with hard work and dedication. He achieved all of these accolades by working harder than hard - during practice and in games, in his on-campus jobs as a Gate of Opportunity Scholar, and in his classes as a sports management major - and it paid off. Invited as a junior to a showcase event at the University of West Georgia in the spring of 2019, Kinsey had the opportunity to impress representatives of both the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His performance put him on the NFL’s radar, and he intensified his efforts, driving two hours to Norcross, Ga., several times a week for extra training.
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His talent and dedication earned him an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, the nation's most prestigious college football all-star game. Spring forward to January 2020, and Kinsey wowed NFL scouts as an invited participant in the East-West Shrine Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., the nation’s most prestigious college football all-star game. He was the only Division III player invited, competing with and against some of the top Division I players in the country. His star shone brightly.
Kinsey's success culminated in a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans, a testament to his hard work and the quality of the Berry College football program. And Vikings everywhere cheered when it was announced April 25 that Kinsey had agreed to a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans just minutes after the draft had concluded. “Mason is just so competitive and has such a great work ethic,” Kunczewski told profootballnetwork.com. Through it all, it is Kinsey’s faith that has helped him follow his dream.
Conference Dominance: The Southern Athletic Association
Berry joined the Southern Athletic Association as a founding member in the fall of 2012. The Vikings' membership in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) has been instrumental in their success. The SAA is a conference recognized nationally for the strength of both its academics and its athletics. Last year, for the first time, the Vikings won the all-sports trophy for the conference - the SAA Commissioner’s Cup - based on regular-season and tournament finishes. Softball, volleyball and football have been especially dominant in the conference. Since joining the SAA, Berry has won 29 regular-season championships and 18 conference tournaments, with 17 postseason appearances in eight years of eligibility (excluding the pandemic year of 2020-21).
This conference affiliation has provided the Vikings with a competitive platform to showcase their talent and compete against other top Division III programs. The volleyball and softball teams both advanced to the Elite Eight in DIII national tournament competition and ranked in the top 10 of their sports.
Academic and Athletic Excellence: A Winning Combination
Berry College emphasizes the importance of academics alongside athletics. Berry student-athletes have comparable GPAs to other students, graduate from Berry at slightly higher rates, pursue a wide variety of majors and participate actively in the LifeWorks Program. All four of Berry’s most recent Goldwater Scholars - the top national award for science, engineering and mathematics students - were student-athletes, with three serving as captains of their teams.
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Recent Athletic All-Americans have gone on to pursue postgraduate degrees in the fields of medicine and veterinary medicine, while others work in auditing, data analytics, environmental consulting, sports communication, nursing and teaching. Also, a number of Berry teams have achieved top-20 national rankings, noteworthy given that DIII is the largest division in the NCAA with approximately 450 member institutions. DIII competition is stiff, but Berry is making its name known. Berry student-athletes also have achieved notable success as Athletic and Academic All-Americans in the decade of DIII competition. Across seven sports, a total of 29 Vikings have earned 44 All-American awards, including seven who won two awards and four who were triple winners. Volleyball alone had three triple and three double award winners. Equally impressive, a total of 30 Viking athletes have earned 43 Academic All-American awards across 11 sports.
This commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the success of Berry's student-athletes, who consistently achieve high GPAs and pursue a wide range of academic interests.
Facilities: A Commitment to Growth
The growth of the Berry College football program has been supported by significant investments in athletic facilities. The opening of the Cage Center made feasible the move to DIII by providing an exemplary facility for varsity basketball, volleyball, and swimming and diving. Since then, we have added Valhalla, home to football, lacrosse, and track and field; the Kay Williams softball field; and the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College. We also have improved our baseball and soccer facilities and Richards Gymnasium. All of this was made possible independent of student tuition and fees by the generosity of alumni, parents, benefactors and other partners who contributed construction and renovation funds. This fall, we received a substantial new gift from Steve Cage (74C) to help construct a premier four-court beach volleyball facility, and we also are currently raising funds to relocate and expand a championship facility for our track and field throwing events.
These facilities provide Berry's student-athletes with the resources they need to compete at the highest level.
The Decision to Move to NCAA Division III: A Turning Point
Berry's decision to move from the NAIA to NCAA Division III in 2009 was a pivotal moment in the college's history. It was a pivotal moment for the college as it marked the promise of better days ahead after a bruising and contested decision in 2009 to move from the NAIA to the NCAA. Part of that promise was how the change would benefit Berry’s institutional reputation and aspirations. Today, the Vikings are firmly established as a competitive member of NCAA Division III, and the fit seems apparent. But a decade ago, the move was more controversial than obvious. The Vikings had a proud history of athletic success in the NAIA, including national championships and a still-fresh visit to the baseball World Series. Joining DIII meant the end of scholarship awards based on athletic ability and participation, allowing instead increased focus on financial aid for academics and need. It also meant a four-year prohibition from postseason tournaments due to NAIA and DIII reclassification rules. Needless to say, it was a vexing period for Berry athletes and coaches.
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This decision, though initially controversial, has proven to be a catalyst for growth and success.
The Context Behind the Decision
In 2003, the college considered the possibility of affiliating with the NCAA. Over a period of years, there had been a significant decline in the number and academic quality of institutions making up the NAIA. A committee of the Berry Board of Trustees determined that any decision should be deferred until a new athletic facility could be built. In 2007, anticipating the opening of the Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center, the board agreed to reconsider the issue.
The committee examined opportunities in the NAIA as compared to Divisions I, II and III of the NCAA. The study process was thorough but did not lead to a consensus. In fact, while the faculty voted in favor of a move to DIII, the coaches had a strong preference for the NAIA or DII, and a straw poll of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee indicated no support for DIII, with a preference instead for the NAIA or DI. Adding to these concerns, Berry would join DIII as an independent school with no conference affiliation. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Berry had hoped to join was in the throes of change, and it would be two years before Berry was invited to help establish the Southern Athletic Association.
The decision to move to DIII was based on several factors, including:
- Ability to grow the varsity sports program
- Contribution to campus culture
- Ability to compete athletically
- Consistency with Berry’s educational philosophy
- Quality of the student-athlete experience
- Opportunity to improve the visibility of Berry
- Needed resources
The Results of the Decision
With 10 years of perspective, we now can see clearly the fruits of that thorny decision and can celebrate the trajectory of the athletic program. Berry has thrived in the SAA, a conference recognized nationally for the strength of both its academics and its athletics.
The move to DIII has resulted in significant growth in Berry's athletic program. As one of its founding priorities, the SAA promotes varsity athletic participation through a wide range of diverse opportunities. Since joining DIII, Berry has added nine sports: football, softball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s track and field, and beach volleyball. The number of Berry students competing as varsity athletes has increased from approximately 360 each year to 560.
The move to DIII has also enhanced Berry's campus culture. Before the opening of the Cage Center, Berry was saddled with a “suitcase-campus” reputation on weekends. That term has not been heard in years, and a large part of the increased vibrancy on campus has been due to the growth of varsity sports, along with our increased emphasis on Berry’s residential experience and other efforts.
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