The Hope College football program will add another team to its storied 91-year history Saturday (Sept. 30) when the Flying Dutchmen (2-1) meet Wisconsin Lutheran College (1-3) in Milwaukee.
Kickoff will be 1 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. in Michigan).
The game will be broadcast by WHTC-AM (1450) and WFUR-FM (102.9). It will also be available on the internet -- www.hope.edu.
Founded in 1973 and with an enrollment of 600 students, Wisconsin Lutheran introduced football as an intercollegiate sport this fall.
The game will be played at Valley Field on the campus of Marquette University, a college without a football program. The field has an astroturf surface and is part of an outdoor intramural sports complex.
Over the years Hope teams have played 65 different opponents, posting a record of 354-283-38.
Wisconsin Lutheran inaugurated its entry into football by posting a 14-0 victory over Rockford, Ill., another college stepping on to the college football stage for the first time this fall. The reality of their situation -- ten freshman in the starting offensive lineup, for example -- has come to roost the last three weeks, however. The Warriors have scored only three points in their last three outings, bowing to Trinity International, Ill. (42-0), Concordia, Ill. (22-0) and most recently Augustana, Ill. (64-3).
Last Saturday's Hope victory over Wheaton was a signature game for head coach Dean Kreps. For the first time in his six years as head coach, Kreps has a .500 record (24-24). He have never been above the .500 mark as head coach. In Kreps' inaugural year (1995), the Flying Dutch lost their first three games.
Through three games, Hope is limiting its opponents to an average of 50 years rushing. Wisc.-Lutheran is averaging only 30.5 yards per game so there's a good chance the Dutchmen will be faced with another air attack. Hope's first three opponents averaged 51 pass attempts per game. Last Saturday, Wisconsin Lutheran attempted 33 passes against Augustana after averaging just 18 attempts in their first three games.
Senior tight end Brian Adloff of East Grand Rapids (East Grand Rapids HS) needs one pass reception to become Hope's all-time leading receiver. He had four catches last Saturday to raise his career total to 107. He shares the mark with Bill Vanderbilt, Jr. (1984-87).
The Flying Dutchmen suffered a number of injuries in the Wheaton. Most serious was the career-ending knee injury suffered by starting senior defensive tackle John Dobbins of Marshall (Marshall HS).
The Flying Dutchmen will be seeking their third straight victory in the final non-league test before MIAA conference play begins. After Saturday's game, the Dutchmen take a week off before renewing the traditional Wooden Shoes rivalry at Kalamazoo on October 14.