Courtesy of Albion College Public Relations

ALBION - The excitement surrounding Saturday's football game between Albion College and Hope College has carried over to the presidents of both institutions.

Albion College president Dr. Peter T. Mitchell and Hope College president Dr. James E. Bultman discussed the football game at a meeting on Monday. Dr. Mitchell shared his story of the meeting with a group of student-athletes from the football program at lunch on Tuesday, and they urged him to wager on the outcome of the contest.

The presidents have decided that the loser must dress the part of the winning school's mascot on Monday. If Albion wins, Dr. Bultman must wear a band uniform of the Albion British Eighth. Dr. Mitchell will wear a Dutch boy costume complete with wooden shoes if Hope emerges victorious.

"Jim is a good friend and a fierce rival," Dr. Mitchell said. "The rivalry between Albion and Hope is intense, but always dignified and classy. This year with so much on the line, we decided to raise the ante. And I'm going to meet with our football players and make it very clear that I have no desire to look like a little Dutch boy and wear wooden shoes on a mid-November day."

Dr. Bultman said, "I look at (Saturday's game) as a Division III league showdown at its best, and it will be a joy to be a part of it. This is a great rivalry in sport and has been for many years. I coached against Morley Fraser and Frank Joranko. I have no desire to play in the band as a Great Briton. My Dutch boy costume will be packed."

The winner of Saturday's Albion-Hope contest will be the sole football champion in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association for 2001. Both teams bring 4-0 league records into the contest, however, Hope is 7-1 overall and Albion in 7-2 in all games. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Albion's Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium.