Saturday, Sept. 13, marked a major milestone for Calvin University — especially for the football team and student community. Calvin football hosted their first-ever home game on campus against Concordia University Wisconsin.
The stands were packed, the student section was electric and fans were anticipating a great game. Calvin wasted no time making a statement and delivered a commanding 34-7 win.
Director of Athletics Jim Timmer discussed how monumental Saturday was in the process of a “series of firsts.” He explained, “We announced [the football program], then we had our first coach, our first recruit and then first practice. Now we get to bring football to Saturdays on our campus. While it’s not the stadium that will ultimately be their home, this will be a great way to bring the community together on a Saturday afternoon like most college campuses.”
Calvin’s permanent football stadium is nearing the final stages of construction. Timmer explained how the timing of donor funding, along with Michigan construction laws, have contributed to difficulties in the project, but he is hopeful the stadium will be ready in time for the season next fall. In the meantime, the team will practice on the new field and play their games on the Zuidema Soccer Field.
Head coach, Trent Figg, shared his excitement for this new chapter for Calvin football games, saying, “The buzz around campus on Saturday afternoons is going to be incredible. You can already feel the excitement building. It’s not just football, it’s alumni, prospective students, and the entire Calvin community rallying together.”
Further, playing on campus will be beneficial for the pre-game routine, according to Figg. “Home-field advantage isn’t just about the crowd. It’s about being able to use your own locker room, your own facilities, and go through your normal routine; that’s huge for our guys,” Figg explained. He hopes Calvin fans will show up and bring energy, saying, “Knight Nation has always been loud and proud, but this year we need everyone out there; every student, every alum, to make our home games something special.”
Saturday was the culmination of a story that began back on Jan. 6, 2023, when Figg was offered the job as the first head football coach at Calvin. For him, “the question quickly became, ‘How do I not take this job?’” Figg started his coaching career at William Jewell College in 2008; from there, he spent time at a number of Division-1 schools, including his former role as senior offensive analyst with University of Oregon under Dan Lanning.
For Figg, building Calvin football wasn’t just about starting a team — it was about creating a culture from scratch. He explained that Calvin’s commitment to excellence and student culture drew him in, saying, “Calvin athletics has been successful for 150 years. There’s already a blueprint here for excellence, and we’re applying that same model to football.”
The strong athletics program at Calvin ultimately led him to take the opportunity as head coach. Even with Calvin athletics providing a strong blueprint, he still had to develop the football program from the ground up: “When I got here, football was a blank slate. We had to set the culture, the standards, the daily process — and that’s what excites me the most about building this program.”
Figg puts a focus on the process over the outcome. “What we’re looking to improve each week is, how can we be elite in our process? We believe when our process is right, the outcome will be what it needs to be.” Sophomore transfer quarterback Thomas Vaccaro echoed these same ideas, saying, “The goal is always to win a championship, but we know it starts with focusing on ourselves and pushing the guys around us to be better every single day. Keep building, keep taking the next step. Even after a big win, it’s about chasing perfection and becoming the best version of our team.”
Vaccaro spent his first two years playing Division-1 football for Samford University, but decided to transfer to Calvin this year. He said, “When I toured Calvin, I fell in love with the place and the community. It just felt right — like this was where I was supposed to be.”
The community was on full display in Saturday’s home opener. Calvin provided a fast start in the first quarter, setting the tone with two touchdowns on offense, along with a blocked field goal and two forced three-and-outs on the defensive end. Down the stretch, Calvin continued to convert on their scoring opportunities, which only added to their lead. Vaccaro led the way as quarterback with 14 completions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Calvin proved to be most successful on the ground, with sophomore Hunter Hogan rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
The dominant win came down to Calvin’s defense. Concordia found limited time in deep territory and were unsuccessful in most scoring opportunities. The constant pressure of the Knights’ defense eventually led to an interception by junior Alexander Minnehan. The win set the tone for this season, and Calvin will look to carry that energy into next week’s game.
Up next, the Knights will be traveling to Tiffin, Ohio, to take on Heidelberg University on Sept. 20. They will return to campus to play Kalamazoo College on Sept. 27.
