The first weekend of September brought many familiar faces back to Olivet Nazarene University as 62 alumni players and their families returned to campus to celebrate the Championship Era of ONU Football — the teams of 1997, 1998 and 1999. The weekend of events was coordinated by the Tiger Champions Club, a new Office of Development and ONU Athletics collaboration to continue the foundational and lifelong mission of providing opportunity for ministry through athletics.
Festivities began Friday afternoon and offered a chance to retrace old stomping grounds — for some, the first time since graduation — with campus tours before teammates gathered at the Legris House for a time of fellowship to conclude the evening.
On Saturday, before kickoff of the football season’s first home game, alumni filled the Warming House for a time of connection and a special program to recognize the teams.
Former coach and current Director of Athletic Advancement, Mike Conway ’83, reminded players of what had always set their era apart.
“God brought you here, and God brought you back here,” he said. “Your time at Olivet wasn’t just about football. It was about the brotherhood built through a game you love. Though your years on campus were just a small part of your life, they became a foundation. You returned because you care about that foundation and the brotherhood you found here.”
That theme of legacy and foundation continued to echo through reflections from president emeritus John C. Bowling ’71/’72 M.A., Ed.D., Football Alumni Association President Kyle Hastings, and standout players Danny Adams ’97 and ONU Hall of Fame quarterback Brad Odgers ’99. Each keynote spoke to the lasting bonds forged on the field and the long-lasting pride of being part of something greater than themselves.
After a meal shared together at a pre-game tailgate event, players returned to Ward Field to enjoy the home opener game for the current Tiger football team. At halftime, the Championship Era teams were honored with a standing ovation from Tiger fans and family. The Championship Era alumni joined current players (after their victorious win) in a spirited rendition of the Tiger Fight Song, the same tradition first started by the 1996–97 team. The night concluded with a firework display.
The weekend’s events not only honored past victories — including the 1997 inaugural Victory Bowl Championship, the 1998 NAIA National Runner-Up finish and the 1999 Mid-States Football Association Conference Championship — but also celebrated the brotherhood, and team camaraderie that continues to define the culture of ONU Football decades later.
For more information about ONU athletics visit onutigers.com. To learn more about Tiger Championship Club, visit olivet.edu/tigerchampions
