GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The birth of a new football program.
Calvin University football players reported for day one of the program's inaugural season.
"I woke up this morning and I was as excited as I've been in [my] 16 years of coaching," said head coach Trent Figg. "Calvin Football is real."
112 players reported for day one, and were met with a first look at their new facility which included a brand-new locker room, training equipment and more.
Each locker was custom-made to include a player's name, number and native city. Various players spoke to 13 ON YOUR SIDE about the unveiling.
"So beautiful...Calvin does it again."
"This is the nicest locker room I've ever been in."
"I was impressed, super impressed, not what I was expecting."
"I never thought I'd be here. I'm super blessed to be here, super excited."
The locker room is strategically split into sections based on position groups, allowing for positional meetings to happen right in the locker room.
"We want to create a space that's their own," said Figg, who had a heavy hand in the locker room design. "It's a space that they can call home."
The program's "year zero" was in 2023, but because it did not officially compete in games, everyone officially committed to the school had to redshirt, meaning some players will be lacing up their cleats for the first time in two years.
"That honestly blows my mind that I'm blessed enough to be in a position to be on the first football team ever," said nose tackle Kenden Harp.
"I am itching to put that pads on..."
There are 112 players that reported. Among them is Coach Figg's first-ever recruit that he brought to Calvin, Winton Napier.
"It's a dream come true," said Napier. "I've always wanted to see my name on a big locker room like that."
"Being able to make history in a program is really something nobody else can say."
