By Valerie McCutchan

2014 is off to a great start for the NIRSA Championship Series!

The 2013 flag football season culminated in the national championship tournament, held January 3-5, 2014, under the sunny skies of the University of West Florida.

69 teams (15 co-rec, 25 men’s, 13 women’s, 16 open non-collegiate) brought their ‘A game’ to Pensacola, FL to battle it out for a NIRSA Championship title.

Teams from seventeen states, Washington D.C., and Mexico, arrived in Pensacola on January 2, for pre-tournament meetings, and the atmosphere was nothing short of electric, as they prepared to represent home institutions, interact with their competitors, and put their football skills to the ultimate test.

Pool play and a day-and-a-half of competitive bracket play came next, the excitement and energy of which was captured through the #NIRSAFlag hastag. The championship games were webcast live, allowing friends, peers, and supporters back home to still cheer their teams on. The women’s championship game was broadcast in both English and Spanish since one of the finalists’ was from Mexico’s Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.

Teams demonstrated an incredible level of play from pool play to the championship game.

After great efforts by all teams, the crowned champions included: Kennesaw State University in the men’s division, the University of Central Florida in the women’s division; and Angelo State University in the Co-rec division. Full results, All-Tournament teams, All-American officials, photos, and archived webcasts of the championship games can be found here.

Teams weren’t the only ones traveling long distances and bringing their ‘A’ games to ensure a strong tournament—volunteer staff and officials were essential to this event. The tournament staff and hosts planned and executed an impeccable tournament, from start to finish. Led by co-Tournament Directors, Brian Mills, University of Houston, chair of the NIRSA Championship Series work team, and Jeff Schmitt, University of West Florida, the 2013-2014 NIRSA Flag Football Championship Series staff was composed of 58 collegiate recreation professionals and 55 students officials, who volunteered the last days of their winter break to making sure this event was successful. These professional and student leaders worked hard to offer the student-participants a valuable opportunity to engage in healthy play, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship.

All-tournament staff at the 2013 NIRSA Flag Football National Championships.

This year’s tournament also saw a large increase in the number of teams participating. In part, this success can be attributed to the support of the Institutional Registrations. A huge thanks to the following members who took advantage of this option: Gold level – University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and University of Southern Mississippi; Silver –Texas A & M University and Georgia Southern University; Bronze: Louisiana State University, Oklahoma State University, and University of Kentucky.

The University of West Florida Recreation & Sports Services staff were exemplary hosts of a well-orchestrated event.  Teams, officials, and staff look forward to returning to Pensacola next year.

Directors
Co-Tournament Director: Brian Mills, University of Houston
Co-Tournament Director: Jeff Schmitt, University of West Florida
Open Tournament Director: Mark Crager, University of Southern Mississippi
Scheduling/Results Director: Mary Pittman, University of West Florida
Director of Registration: Jake Marg, University of West Florida
Socials Director: Bill Healey, University of West Florida
Director of Marketing: Annina Dahlstorm, University of West Florida
Director of Facilities: Mallory Gohl, University of West Florida
Social Media Director: Dave Peters, Florida State University
Director of Officials: Bradley Patty, Angelo State University
Director of Rules: Brice Maurer, retired, The Ohio State University
All American Director: Sarah Fain, Georgia Southern University
Associate Director of Officials: Kurt Klier, University of Maryland
Assistant Director of Officials: Jason Gant, Creighton
NIRSA Headquarters: Valerie McCutchan
NSC Board: Sid Gonsoulin, University of Southern Mississippi

Tournament Staff 
Dianne Abel, University of West Florida
Taysha Blessington, University of West Florida
Nick Brigati, Ohio University
Tyler Burroughs, Georgia Southern University
Michael Castaneda, University of Kentucky
Anna Castillo, Southwestern University
Jason Cato, University of North Florida
Mark Comer, University of South Florida
Jarrode Davis, Western Kentucky University
Marty Dempsey, University of Florida
Matt Dunigan, University of Central Florida
Jeff Feldhaus, Virginia Tech
Adrienne Fike, University of West Florida
Justin Ford, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Zach Gilbert, University of North Carolina -Wilmington
Pam Grega, University of Central Florida
Liz Hedrich, University of West Florida
Casey Herman, University of West Florida
Jason Hess, University of Maryland
Mark Humes, University of West Florida
Jennifer Hernandez, University of West Florida
Jerrod Jackson Texas A & M University
Victoria Landron, Louisiana State University
Stephanie McAlpine, University of Texas – Arlington
Dan Robertson, Angelo State University
Amy Robinson, University of West Florida
Joanna Rochelle, University of Southern Mississippi
Jessica Rojas, University of West Florida
Dale Russell, University of West Florida
Chelsea Scott, Texas State University –San Marcos
Brittney Shiller, University of Central Florida
Ben Strunk, University of Florida
Ray Sunwall, University of West Florida
Seth Thomas, University of Richmond
Mike Valentine, University of Southern Mississippi
Manny Voska, Oklahoma State University
Oscee Wheatfall, Texas A & M University
Ryan Wingers, Georgia Southern University
Joe Wise, Auburn University