Mon. & Tues., April 20-21, 2026
We had lots of travel thoughts creeping into our collective minds these past two days.
It started with some fun news from Lyon, France.
Our friend from our days with the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons, Julien Urgenti, is coming to Camarillo!
He'll be here for a week of American football mania in mid-November. Can't wait!
On Tuesday, I headed down to LAX
to pick up Koreen and Brian
FitzGerald who were returning from
a two week exploration of Japan
It sounded like they had a smashing time while visiting the Orient and some of Koreen's cousins.
Our Fall Eastern Swing will
have a twist this year
This Civil War Reenactment in Tennessee will replace our usual American football road trip.
Now, we still plan to see a Volunteer State high school game on Friday night.
While our reenactors are super busy on that Saturday, I plan to head down to the city of Sewanee, Tennessee to see a Southern Athletic Association DIII afternoon game between the Southwestern University Pirates from Texas and the home standing University of the South Tigers.
Why this game you may query?
Simple really, the University of the South, a.k.a., Sewanee as it is often referred to by fans and alumni, has an important spot in college football lore.
The 1899 Tigers were part of the then 17-college Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the pre-cursor to today's mega-powerful SEC.
Besides Sewanee, the SIAA that season included Alabama, Auburn, Central (KY), Clemson, Cumberland (TN), Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky State, Louisiana State, Nashville, North Carolina, Mississippi, Southwest Presbyterian, Tennessee, Texas, Tulane and Vanderbilt
Sewanee's record that season in winning the SIAA Conference Championship was 11-0 in conference games and 12-0 overall. They outscored their 12 opponents, 322-10.
As gaudy as all that sounds, that was not the big story of that glorious team.
The 18 Tigers players on that 1899 roster were known as the nickname the "Iron Men." They were coached by Herman "Billy" Suter and led by future Hall of Fame player and captain Henry "Ditty" Seibels.
There claim to enduring college football lore came during an epic ten day, 2,500 mile train trip where the Tigers played FIVE games in just SIX days!
They won all five of those road games by shutouts!
Those five games are highlighted below.
1899 University of the South, Sewanee
Football Results
12 Wins - 0 Losses
Oct. 21 vs. Georgia in Atlanta - Win 12-0
Oct. 23 at Georgia Tech - Win 32-0
Oct. 28 vs. Tennessee - Win 46-0
Nov. 3 vs. Southwestern Presbyterian - Win 54-0
Nov. 9 at Texas - Win 12-0
Nov. 10 vs. Texas A&M in Houston - Win 10-0
Nov. 11 at Tulane - Win 23-0
Nov. 13 at Louisiana State - Win 34-0
Nov. 14 vs. Mississippi in Memphis - Win 12-0
Nov. 20 vs. Cumberland - Win 71-0
Nov. 25 at Nashville - Cancelled
Nov. 30 vs. Auburn in Montgomery - Win 11-10
Dec. 2 vs. North Carolina in Atlanta - Win 5-0
When you analyze their season, they played their 12 games over a period of just 43 days!
American college football in the pre-CFP era was so much more colorful and interesting.
On a sad note, since Sewanee's Glory Days, the 21st-Century has not been a kind one to Tigers' football fortunes. From 2001-2025 the Sewanee record is a paltry 56-193, a winning percentage of but 22%. During these past 25 seasons the best that Sewanee have done are three 5-5 campaigns in 2002, 2005 and 2011.
The University of the South's last winning season came in 2000 while enjoying a 6-4 season.
Despite all of that, it is still the right call for me that weekend.
Besides . . .
. . . the University of the South . . .
. . . is famed as one of the most
beautiful college campuses in America
It looks like it to me.
Speaking of Tennessee and our Civil War Reenactment . . .
Thomas C. Miller
Civil War Veteran
45th Iowa Infantry Regiment
Company K
He was only 18 years old during his one year of enlistment at the end of the conflict in 1864. The 45th Iowa served primarily guarding the Memphis & Charleston Railroad near Memphis.
After the Civil War, he became a Methodist minister.
The Reverend Miller was Laurie's Great-Great-Grandfather.
Our two favorite Civil War Reenactors are . . .
Billy Otis Streeter who is
Thomas C. Miller's
Great-Great-Great Grandson
and . . .
. . . T.C. Miller who is
Thomas C. Miller's
Great-Great-Great-Great Grandson
It's going to be a fun weekend, I'm sure!
American football news from around the globe . . .
Italian Updates
DI Italian Standings
Only the Firenze Guelfi (4-0) and Legnano Frogs (4-0) are unblemished.
Only three DI Games this week
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Bologna Warriors (0-4) at
Milano Rhinos (0-4)
"Barnburner"
Legnano Frogs (4-0) at
Ancona Dolphins (2-2)
Parma Panthers (3-1) at
Ferrara Aquile (2-3)
Italian DII Standings
The Monza Daemons and Padova Saints are the last two undefeated DII clubs, both 4-0.
Italian DIII Standings
Part 1
The highly competitive Girone A Conference is going to go right down to the wire by all accounts.
The Bari Navy Seals (4-0) are the class of the Girone B Conference.
Italian DIII Standings
Part 2
Good to see the Cagliari Crusaders (3-0) having success this season in the Girone C Conference.
The Formigine Honey Badgers (4-0) are steamrolling their opponents in the Girone D Conference.
Italian DIII Standings
Part 3
Both the Girone E and Girone F Conferences are still wide open for the taking.
Coffee in Italy is at all times,
also wide open for the taking
Though you need to be sure to know the correct jargon and the rules before ordering.
News from Spanish Football
2026 Spanish DI
Final Regular Season Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Badalona Dracs 6-1-1
2. Terrassa Reds 5-3
3. Valencia Firebats 4-4
4. Mallorca Voltors 2-5-1
5. L'Hospitalet Pioners 2-6
Western Conference
1. Las Rozas Black Demons 7-1
2. Osos Rivas 5-2-1
3. Zaragoza Hurricanes 3-4-1
4. Coslada Camioneros 2-5-1
5. Gijón Mariners 1-6-1
Spanish DI Football Playoffs start this weekend
Spanish DI Playoff Semifinals
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Western Conference #2 Seed
Osos Rivas (5-2-1)
at
Eastern Conference #1 Seed
Badalona Dracs (6-1-1)
and
Eastern Conference #2 Seed
Terrassa Reds (5-3)
at
Western Conference #1 Seed
Las Rozas Black Demons (7-1)
Solid Semifinals poster
Spanish DII Standings
Cataluña Conference
Barcelona Pagesos 6-0
Argentona Bocs 4-2
Reus Imperials 4-2
Riudoms Rebels 3-3
Barberà Rookies 2-4
Barcelona Uroloki 2-4
Barcelona Búfals 0-6
Levante Conference
Valencia Giants 7-1-1
Alicante Sharks 6-2
Sueca Ricers 4-2-1
Alicante Thunder 1-7
Murcia Cobras 1-7
Madrid Conference
Alcobendas Cavaliers 6-0
Alcorcón Smilodons 5-1
Tres Cantos Jabatos 3-3
Boadilla Vikings 2-4
Pinto Goldbats 1-4
Madrid Capitals 0-5
Norte Conference
Valladolid Penguins 5-1
Santurtzi Coyotes 4-3
Cantabria Bisons 4-2-1
Torrelavega Berserkers 3-3
Villamayor Mercenarios 2-4
Guadalajara Stings 0-5-1
Sur Conference
Jerez Jaguars 5-0
Mairena Blue Devils 4-2
Canarias Canes 2-3
Sevilla Linces 0-6
Upcoming Spanish DII Games
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Cataluña Conference Game
Argentona Bocs (4-2) at
Reus Imperials (4-2)
Norte Conference Game
Cantabria Bisons (4-2-1) at
Valladolid Penguins (5-1)
Madrid Conference Game
Alcorcón Smilodons (5-1) at
Alcobendas Cavaliers (6-0)
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Cataluña Conference Game
Barcelona Uroloki (2-4) at
Barcelona Pagesos (6-0)
Our old team, the Thun Tigers, have a game in Switzerland on
Saturday vs. the Geneva Seahawks
Recent results from Costa Rica's DI . . .
Upset in San José
The Leones (4-2) handed the Dawgs (5-1) their first loss of the season.
The Tigers campaign continues
to be dismal
The Toros (3-3) with the expected clobbering of the Tigers (0-6).
Costa Rica DI Standings
Are the Playoffs up next in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica trying to grow the game!
One of our former Varese Skorpions,
Luca Pinto, played in this game for
Team Italy vs. Team Mexico
If memory serves me correctly, Luca, a Defensive Lineman, is a spry 57 years old this year.
Passionate is a good word for Luca's mindset.
Some posts of interest as a Washington alumni . . .
The Huskies are #11 on this list
with 24 wins vs. ranked opponents
since 2014
Washington's 790 all-time wins
ranks us 17th in NCAA DI History
All of this despite the UW
going 0-12 in 2008
Almost there!
Good to know
Finally in news from the net . . .
If true,
these are both heartening and . . .
. . . most frightening at the same time
An interesting two days and the week isn't even half over.
