Written by Eli Dean and Nic Fraraccio // Photo by Macy Cox
As the excitement grew for the Division II national championship game, students, faculty and members of the Harding community gathered together to cheer on the Bisons in McKinney, Texas. Over 8,000 Harding fans attended the game Dec. 16 at McKinney ISD stadium, making it the highest attended national championship game since 2015.
Following the historic 38-7 victory against Colorado School of Mines, elation took over the players and fans in McKinney. Sophomore Isaiah Phelps said the Harding fans and players showed amazing emotion during the game and following the final whistle.
“Running on the field was incredible. Experiencing the first national championship in Harding history, knowing how hard the team fought to get here and how much work they’ve put into this season, it was so rewarding to watch them take home the trophy,” Phelps said. “And when the clock hit zero, the joy of knowing that those players just represented my school in such a spectacular way, it felt surreal.”
Members of the student body played a role in Harding’s success on the football field throughout the 2023 season. Junior Spencer Aiello said the crowds at football games created a winning atmosphere for Harding players and coaches.
“I told a lot of guys on the football team before they left that our atmosphere at home this season was the reason we won certain games,” Aiello said. “If we could have a home atmosphere at that championship game, we were going to win, and I think our fans absolutely exceeded that expectation.”
Harding alumnus Ken Bissell said the entire weekend was an incredible experience for the Harding community.
“It was unlike any Bison football game experience in my more than 40 years of attending games, the best I’ve ever seen,” Bissell said. “It was obvious from Friday night’s pep rally that it was going to be special, but it was beyond what anyone could have anticipated. There was a buzz at the tailgate, and it carried over into the stadium. The national media who were at the game were blown away by the number of fans and the noise we made.”
When it was all said and done, the Bisons were national champions for the first time. Phelps said the support from students and fans across the country helped pave the way for what was an amazing atmosphere.
“Seeing all the alumni, all the students [and] everyone showing support for the team, all of it was so cool,” Phelps said. “Hearing over 8,000 fans cheering when we broke off a big play or made a clutch stop was astounding.”
