2023 Stagg Bowl: a valuable lesson in loss

What does it mean to win? For some, it signifies triumph in a given task; to achieve greatness; to fulfill a specific objective or to surpass others in a competitive scenario. The concept of winning is ingrained in our minds, driven by a natural human competitiveness which drives us to go to great lengths to achieve victory. However, the path to triumph is not always straightforward. External factors act as obstacles in the journey to victory.

The NCC football team knows what winning means and how to achieve it on a weekly basis. Some argue that they are the most dominant team in DIII football. For the entirety of the 2023 season, they ranked number one on d3football.com.

Like most good things, however, The NCC football team’s extraordinary winning streak had to come to an end. They refused to go down without a fight, though.

The 2023 Stagg Bowl

Devoted fans and students packed the Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia, Dec. 15 for the 2023 Stagg Bowl. They expected their beloved team to clinch a second consecutive national championship against Cortland University. It seemed somewhat inevitable that NCC would prevail in the matchup given their dominance, but they had to play the game first.

The air felt electric with energy from the fans and the high expectations placed on the shoulders of the NCC football players. Despite the high clamoring, the team seemed as calm as ever going into the game. The fireworks were set ablaze as each team ran onto the field. The fans hyped them up as the photographers rushed to get a good shot of the team.

It was game time for the last time of the 2023 season.

Game time

The first quarter of play yielded no scoring from either team, which was somewhat of an oddity coming from the NCC crew. Only in the final minutes of the second quarter did NCC begin to put points on the board. NCC led going into halftime knowing they had to keep fighting hard for the win.

It was a fierce battle with a yoyo of possession and penalties given. This didn’t, however, look like the same team Cardinal fans had watched win every game this season. A team that had previous smooth wins and undeniable teamwork. Who were they? The day began to feel like a bad dream, but there were slivers of hope that the spectators could wake up.

Cortland playing hard was not an unusual circumstance, and their first appearance at the Stagg Bowl proved them to be worthy of a title. NCC football did not back down from this difficult battle, though. They wanted the win just as much as their opponents. It was a valiant fight that came down to the final minutes of play.

At the 2023 Stagg Bowl, the game did not conclude as NCC fans expected it to. A 38-37 win in favor of Cortland was a disappointing end to such a dominant season for NCC football. With the winning season NCC had, many fans found it difficult to accept, especially when there were not many doubts going into the final.

As the game concluded and Cortland ran onto the field in celebration, it was a difficult sight for all. NCC players stayed on the field in disbelief. Some even cried. Coaches, fans, students and parents all sat in shock. In moment like those, it can hard to accept the loss. One must cycle through all five stages of grief in a single moment.

Lessons in loss

There is always something in our lives that we place expectations onto that does not play out in the way we had hoped. Not just in sports, but our daily lives of school or work. But that’s life: no one and nothing is perfect. It’s called being human. It’s something we’ve been taught as children, and it’s a daily motto we use if we mess up.

The elements of competitiveness we possess drive us in an inexplicable way to the very limit. No matter how confident we may be going into a situation, there is no guarantee that fate will favor us. That is what makes sports so emotional yet so addictive; excitement comes in the unpredictability.

We can’t look back at this game and think about the ‘what ifs’. What if they didn’t go for two in those last few minutes? What if they didn’t go for it on fourth down? These are all irrelevant questions. We can’t go back and change the past. We can only look forward and learn from our experiences.

Moving forward

NCC football Head Coach Bradley Spencer, ’04, views this experience as a valuable lesson for the team.

“I feel like it’s a game we should have won. We didn’t do the things we needed to do though at a high enough level for four quarters and it came down to one play. When that happens anyone can win. We all have to be better going forward. You can always learn many valuable lessons in a loss, and that is the number one thing we must do,” said Spencer.

Sports are unpredictable. So is life. But it’s the hope we cling onto in moments of uncertainty that matters. This game proves that.

One team had to come out on top, and Cortland rightly earned the victory. Though things may not have worked out the way the Cardinals wanted, there is still hope for the future. We remain here on this Earth, living and breathing. That’s the greatest gift of all.

This isn’t the end for the NCC football team. Perhaps the loss happened for a reason: to make them reflect, bounce back and become stronger.

To the players: your determination does not go unnoticed. Be proud of the season you’ve had.

To the coaches: your support of, and guidance to, this team is invaluable.

And finally to the fans: let’s rally behind our team and show others what it truly means to be a Cardinal.