Chapman Panthers Football Tickets

The Chapman Panthers football team is a Division III football program located in Orange, California. They are a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), which consists of nine other colleges and universities from Southern California.

While Chapman may not be a household name in college football, the Panthers have been building a successful program over the past few years. In fact, they’ve made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, culminating in a run to the quarterfinals in 2019.

What makes Chapman unique is their commitment to academic excellence. They consistently rank as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country, and that focus on education extends to their football program. In fact, their head coach, Bob Owens, has emphasized the importance of academics to his players.

“We recruit smart kids,” Owens said in a 2018 interview with the Orange County Register. “We don’t want them to sacrifice anything academically for football.”

Despite being a smaller school, Chapman has had some success in recruiting talent. In 2018, wide receiver Jacob Isabel was selected as a preseason All-American by D3football.com. He went on to catch 68 passes for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns that season.

For those who follow college football at the highest level, it’s easy to overlook programs like Chapman. But there are some similarities between Division III football and the FBS or FCS levels.

For starters, the players still put in countless hours of practice and preparation. They’re required to balance their coursework with their athletic commitments, just like any other student-athlete. And while they may not receive scholarships, most players are still motivated by the love of the game.

Additionally, Division III football teams can showcase some serious talent. Every year, a handful of players from Division III make the jump to the NFL. Some notable examples include Pierre Garçon (Mount Union), Fred Jackson (Coe College), and Adam Thielen (Minnesota State).

In the end, the Chapman Panthers may not have the same level of national recognition as Alabama or Ohio State. But they’re still a great example of the hard work and dedication that goes into building a successful football program, even at the Division III level.