Springfield, Ohio — For one night at least, Wittenberg's hard-driving football coaching staff is encouraging the players in the program to stay up late and enjoy the party.

It's all for a good cause, and the usual trappings of college night life will largely be absent. The Tiger players are competing against one another to raise money for cancer research through the American Cancer Society's annual Wittenberg Relay for Life event Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26.

Relay for Life is a nationwide program that honors cancer survivors, pays tribute to the lives lost to the disease and raises money to help fight it. Wittenberg has hosted one of the approximately 4,800 annual events for years, but this the first time the American Cancer Society has had the entire Tiger football team around to do some of the heavy lifting.

The campus event is scheduled to start with an opening ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Wittenberg's Edwards-Maurer Field and Earl F. Morris Track. Every participating team will have a representative running or walking around the track continuously until the event concludes at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 26.

Wittenberg football players have split into eight teams, and they been competing to raise the most money for the relay. A total of 65 players and coaches are involved, and the goal is to raise at $2,500.

There is still time to make contributions on behalf of the Wittenberg football team. Donations can be made via the Wittenberg Relay for Life Web site.

"Relay for Life is an important cause," said Wittenberg Football Head Coach Joe Fincham. "Our players recognize this and want to make a difference.

"Cancer has affected many of our players' and coaches' lives in some way, and they know that this small task can go a long way in helping the fight against it."

The Tigers finished an injury-riddled 2008 season with a 6-4 overall record, including a mark of 4-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Wittenberg is home to the football program with the most wins in NCAA Division III history, and the Tigers have eight NCAC titles in 20 years in the league, the highest total in that time span.

The Tigers open the 2009 season with games at Olivet on Sept. 5 and Washington University on Sept. 19 before their home opener at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Brad Tucker

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Related Links: Wittenberg Football Home Page