Gridiron Glory: A History of Roanoke College Football

Roanoke College, a small liberal arts school with a rich history, boasts a compelling, albeit interrupted, football legacy. From its early beginnings to its recent revival, the institution's relationship with the sport reflects broader historical trends and the enduring spirit of its community.

Early Years and Interruption

Roanoke College's football program experienced an abrupt halt in 1942, marked by a 42-0 defeat against Catawba College. This game inadvertently became the team's last appearance on the field as the United States entered World War II, compelling young men to serve their country. The exigencies of war led to the cessation of the football program, leaving a void in the college's athletic offerings.

A Nod to the Past

Eighty-two years later, the echoes of the past resonate as the Maroons prepare to take the field once more. Head football coach Bryan Stinespring, a one-time history teacher, understands the magnitude of the sacrifice made by those who served in World War II. To honor the 1942 team, an individual each week will wear the jersey '42', symbolizing the values and dedication of that era.

Building a Program

Stinespring's hiring last fall marked the beginning of a new chapter for Roanoke College football. Tasked with building the program from the ground up, Stinespring and the college successfully raised $1.3 million to support the team's revival. What began with just five players in January has grown to a roster of 62, a testament to the enthusiasm and commitment of the young men who seek to establish a lasting legacy. Stinespring, with his extensive experience as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech, VMI, and JMU, brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the region's football landscape.

Club Sport Status and Future Varsity Competition

In its inaugural season, football operates as a club sport at Roanoke College, with a five-game schedule. However, the program is poised to transition to full varsity status in 2025, when Roanoke College will join the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) at the Division III level. This move signals the college's commitment to providing a comprehensive athletic experience for its students.

Remembering Coach Hackman

The legacy of Buddy Hackman, the last football coach of the 1942 season, remains strong within the Roanoke College community. His grandson, Bud Pierce, fondly recalls Hackman's dedication to athletics and his commitment to instilling proper technique in his athletes. Pierce's collection of photos and keepsakes serves as a tangible link to the past, offering inspiration to the current team as they embark on their journey.

A Boost for the College Community

The revival of football has had a ripple effect throughout the Roanoke College community. In addition to the football team, the college has also established band and cheer team programs, enriching the student experience and fostering a greater sense of school spirit. President Frank Shushok noted that the goal of adding 80 students to the three programs was exceeded, with 130 students joining in the first year. This surge in participation underscores the enthusiasm and support for the return of football.

Spirit and Tradition

Terrell Smith, the director of Marching and Spirit bands, is tasked with creating a modern arrangement of "Maroon Victory," the college's fight song, originally composed in 1922. The Spirit Band will perform at basketball games after the football season, further enhancing the gameday atmosphere. The cheer team, under the leadership of Head Competition Cheer Coach Katelyn Kaminski, has already qualified for the NCAA College Nationals, showcasing the talent and dedication of Roanoke College's student-athletes.

Return to the Field

The Roanoke College Maroons returned to the football field on Saturday, September 6, competing as an official collegiate team for the first time since 1942. The Maroons faced the Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons at Salem Stadium. Roanoke College came in strong on special teams with a tipped punt by George Wythe graduate Tandom Smith, which was caught by Brayden Andrews, putting the Maroons up 7-0. The Dragons’ offense answered quickly to tie the game at 7. With the Maroons in possession of the ball, Kam Hill pitched the ball to Polo Hill for a 19-yard run, keeping the Maroons drive alive. The Maroons capitalized in the redzone with a handoff to Polo Hill, finding the endzone for Roanoke College’s first offensive touchdown. In the program’s first official game since 1942, Roanoke College advanced to a 23-7 win. This was Coach Stinespring’s first collegiate win as a head coach.

Salem Stadium: A Home Field Advantage

Roanoke College plays its home games at Salem Stadium, a venue with a rich history of hosting Division III football championships. The stadium provides a fitting backdrop for the Maroons' return to the gridiron, offering a competitive environment and a sense of tradition.

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Building a Culture

Coach Bryan Stinespring emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong culture and setting high expectations for his players. He views the initial season as a development opportunity, focusing on instilling the values and work ethic necessary for long-term success.

Roanoke College Athletics: A Broader Perspective

Roanoke College is an NCAA Division III member competing in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Maroons were a founding member of the conference in 1976. Roanoke athletics began in 1870 when the college fielded its first baseball team. In 1900, Roanoke helped serve as a founding member of the Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association but quickly left the association. Roanoke later re-joined as a non-football member from 1915 to 1918.

Basketball's Illustrious Past

The men's basketball program, added in 1911, received national recognition in 1939 when the team finished third in the National Invitational Tournament. With more than 1,300 wins, the program is among the most successful in the nation.

Lacrosse and Other Sporting Achievements

Men's lacrosse and men's basketball are two of the school's most popular and historically most successful sports at the college. The school's baseball team in 2017, entered the ODAC Tournament as the conference's 6th seed, went on a run to win the title before sweeping the South Region and making an appearance in the Division III College World Series in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Facilities and Rivalries

In 1985, the Salem city government constructed Salem Stadium adjacent to Roanoke's Elizabeth Campus. Constructed for the football team at nearby Salem High School, many hoped the college would revive its football program and that the team would play in the stadium, but the college declined until recently. Roanoke College raised $1.3 Million to reinstate football which returned as a club team during the 2024 season and obtained varsity status beginning in the 2025 season. Roanoke College and Washington and Lee University have been rivals for nearly 150 years. The rivalry is fueled by a long history of competition; the schools have competed against each other since the 1870s. The schools are both charter members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and are located about 50 miles from each other along Interstate 81. Roanoke and Virginia Tech were rivals in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Virginia Tech was a small college.

School Colors and Nickname

Roanoke has two sets of school colors, blue and gold for academic use and maroon and gray for athletic use. This dates to 1907 when the baseball team needed new uniforms, but could not obtain any in blue and gold. Maroon and gray uniforms were purchased as a substitute. Within a few years, maroon and gray were adopted as Roanoke's official athletic colors. The college athletic nickname became Maroons as well.

Athletic Venues

After beginning their history in the tiny, on-campus Alumni Gymnasium, the men's and women's basketball teams began playing their home games in the 6,820-seat Salem Civic Center arena in 1968. In the 1980s, the school opened the 2,000-seat Bast Center located on-campus where the men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams played until 2016, when the state-of-the-art Cregger Center opened on-campus. The baseball team formerly played at Kiwanis Field near Elizabeth Campus, but now plays at Haley Toyota Field, home stadium of the Salem Red Sox, Carolina League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The softball team plays at the nearby James I. Moyer Sports Complex.

Recent Successes

On January 28, 2012, the men's basketball team defeated Eastern Mennonite University to win the 1,300th game in program history. Roanoke is one of only 20 NCAA Division III schools with that many victories. Roanoke completed the 2011-12 academic year with two ODAC championships: women's outdoor track and field and softball. Roanoke athletes won the top ODAC scholar-athlete of the year awards; golfer Brandon Ketron won the men's award, track athlete Sarah Witt won the women's award. Roanoke and Washington and Lee University are the only schools to win both awards in the same year. Roanoke won a total of four ODAC championships during the 2012-13 academic year: men's soccer, women's indoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, and men's lacrosse. Roanoke currently owns the most ODAC titles in men's lacrosse with 18 titles and in women's basketball with 13 titles.

Individual Achievements

In 2009, Robin Yerkes secured an individual national championship when she won the Division III women's 400m track and field event.

Community Support

The Roanoke College football team, in its first season of varsity competition since 1942, ranked fifth in regular season home attendance among 241 Division III schools in 2025. The Maroons had an estimated total of 25,118 for their five home games, averaging 5,044 each Saturday. The biggest crowd of 5,815 saw RC battle ODAC Champion and NCAA Tournament team Randolph-Macon College on Oct. Head coach Bryan Stinespring has emphasized the support of the community of Roanoke Valley and Salem.

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