Small college football in Kansas is a weird, beautiful grind. If you’ve ever stood on the sidelines in Leavenworth on a Saturday in October, you know exactly what I mean. The wind whistles across the plains, the smell of turf is thick in the air, and the stakes feel way higher than the modest bleachers suggest. University of Saint Mary football isn't just another NAIA program—it's a gritty, evolving fixture of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) that has spent years trying to find its permanent footing among giants.
Honestly, the Spires are an underdog story that’s still being written. They aren't the biggest school in the conference, and they don't have the massive donor bases of some of the perennial Top 25 powerhouses. But there is a specific kind of "blue-collar" energy that permeates the Charles J. Berkel Memorial Stadium. You see it in the way they recruit. They aren't looking for the four-star kid who got overlooked by the Big 12; they’re looking for the kid who wants to hit something and has a chip on his shoulder the size of a limestone quarry.
The Reality of Spires Football in a Tough Conference
Let’s be real for a second. The KCAC is a meat grinder. When you’re playing against programs like Kansas Wesleyan or Southwestern, you aren’t just playing against a team; you’re playing against a culture. For the University of Saint Mary football team, every season is a battle for relevance. Over the last few years, the program has seen its share of ups and downs. It’s a cycle of rebuilding, finding a rhythm, and then dealing with the inevitable graduation of key playmakers.
Success in Leavenworth isn't just about the win-loss column, though that’s what the fans care about most. It's about identity. Under coaches like Lance Hinson—who had two different stints leading the Spires—the program established a reputation for being tough to outwork. Hinson’s return to the program was a big deal because he understood the specific DNA of Saint Mary. He knew that you can't out-finesse teams in this league. You have to be willing to win the ugly games.
What people often miss about University of Saint Mary football is the sheer logistical mountain they climb. The NAIA level allows for a lot of flexibility in recruiting, but it also means players are balancing intense academics with a schedule that looks surprisingly professional. These guys aren't on full-ride "everything paid for" scholarships in the way D1 players are. They are there because they love the game. Period.
Breaking Down the Offense: Speed vs. System
The Spires have historically fluctuated between high-tempo spread looks and more traditional ground-and-pound philosophies, depending on who’s taking the snaps. In recent seasons, the focus has shifted toward a more balanced attack. They need playmakers who can operate in space because the defensive lines in the KCAC are getting bigger and faster every year.
If you look at the stats from the past few seasons, you’ll notice a trend. When the Spires can establish a run game early, they win. When they become one-dimensional and have to throw 40 times a game? That's when things get shaky. It’s basic football, sure, but at the NAIA level, the talent gap between a starting left tackle and a backup is often wider than in the pros. Depth is the enemy of every small-school coach. One injury can change the trajectory of an entire month of football.
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The Berkel Stadium Experience
You haven't really seen University of Saint Mary football until you've sat in the stands at Berkel Stadium. It’s intimate. You can hear the pads popping from the back row. You can hear the coaches screaming adjustments. There’s no Jumbotron to distract you from the fact that these are just kids playing for the love of the sport.
- The atmosphere is distinctly "small town Kansas."
- Tailgating is a tight-knit affair where parents and alumni actually know each other.
- The student section—the "Spires Crazies"—might be small, but they make up for it with sheer volume.
- The view of the surrounding Leavenworth landscape provides a backdrop that feels more like a movie set than a sports complex.
It's sort of refreshing. In an era where college football is becoming a corporate behemoth of TV contracts and NIL deals, Saint Mary feels like a throwback. The players are members of the community. You’ll see the starting quarterback in the cafeteria or the middle linebacker in your morning ethics class. That proximity creates a different kind of pressure—and a different kind of support.
Navigating the Recruiting Trail in Leavenworth
How does a school like Saint Mary compete for talent? They don't have the flashy facilities of a Power Five school. They don't have a direct pipeline to the NFL, though some players have certainly gotten looks. Instead, they sell a "why."
Recruiting for University of Saint Mary football is about finding the right fit. It’s about the kid from rural Kansas, or the overlooked athlete from Texas or Florida, who wants a small-campus environment where they won't get lost in the shuffle. The coaches sell the "Spires Family" concept, and while that sounds like a cliché, it’s actually the truth. In a program this size, you have to be a family because you’re all you’ve got.
The academic side is a huge selling point too. USM is known for its nursing and health sciences programs. A lot of the guys on the field are grinding through incredibly difficult degree paths while practicing twenty hours a week. It takes a specific kind of discipline to handle that. If you aren't serious about your future, you won't last long in this program.
The Rivalries That Matter
You can't talk about Spires football without mentioning the rivalries. The KCAC is full of them. Every time they play Ottawa or Bethany, there’s a little extra "juice" in the air. These are schools that have been playing each other for decades. The history is deep, and the grudges are real.
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Winning a rivalry game in the KCAC can save a season. Even if the overall record isn't where the team wants it to be, beating a rival on Homecoming or Senior Night provides a momentum boost that carries over into recruiting. It’s the lifeblood of the program.
Why the Defense is Always the X-Factor
In the KCAC, if you can’t stop the run, you’re done. It’s that simple. University of Saint Mary football has had some legendary defensive players over the years—guys who were undersized but played with a terrifying level of intensity.
The defensive scheme usually relies on a lot of movement. Since they aren't always going to have the 330-pound nose tackle who can eat up two gaps, they have to be creative. They use stunts, blitzes, and disguised coverages to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing. It’s high-risk, high-reward football. Sometimes it leads to massive turnovers that flip the game; other times, it leads to big plays for the opponent. But it’s never boring.
- Preparation: Film study is massive at this level because physical advantages are slim.
- Special Teams: Often the difference-maker in close KCAC games.
- Conditioning: The Kansas heat in September is brutal; the team that wilts first loses.
- Leadership: Senior leadership isn't a luxury; it's a requirement for survival.
The Future of the Program
Where does University of Saint Mary football go from here? The goal is always the same: a conference title and a trip to the NAIA playoffs. But the path is getting harder. The KCAC is expanding and the level of competition is rising. Schools are investing more in facilities and coaching salaries.
To stay competitive, Saint Mary has to continue to punch above its weight class. This means leveraging its location near Kansas City for recruiting and maintaining the high academic standards that attract "the right kind of guy." It means the alumni base has to stay engaged and the local community in Leavenworth needs to keep showing up on Saturdays.
The Spires aren't looking for a shortcut. There isn't one. It’s about the slow, methodical build. It’s about finding those "diamonds in the rough" and developing them over four years. When you see a senior who has been in the program since he was a freshman finally lead the team to a big upset win, you realize why this level of football is so special.
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Actionable Steps for Fans and Recruits
If you're actually interested in the program—whether you're a potential recruit or just a fan of local sports—there are a few things you should actually do to get the full picture. Don't just look at the box scores.
For Prospective Athletes:
Get on campus. Seriously. You can’t feel the vibe of the school from a brochure or a highlight reel. Go to a game, walk the campus, and talk to the current players when the coaches aren't around. Ask them about the balance between football and academics. That’s where you’ll find the truth. Also, make sure your film is up to date and highlights your versatility; small schools love guys who can play multiple positions.
For Fans and Alumni:
Show up. The biggest advantage a small school can have is a hostile home environment. When Berkel Stadium is packed, it’s a tough place for visiting teams to play. Support the Spires Club and engage with the team on social media. In the NAIA world, visibility is everything.
For the Casual Observer:
Keep an eye on the KCAC standings mid-season. The conference often has "trap games" where a team like Saint Mary can knock off a ranked opponent and throw the whole playoff picture into chaos. That’s when the football is at its most exciting.
University of Saint Mary football is a testament to the grind. It's not always pretty, and it's rarely easy, but it's authentic. In a world of polished, PR-heavy sports, the Spires represent the raw, honest side of the game. That’s why they matter. That’s why people keep showing up to watch them play under the Kansas sky.