Sporting News Article

FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College senior linebacker Anthony Konieczka was featured last week in The Sports News Magazine, published Thursday, November 10.

The article, titled "Never crying uncle: In Division III, they play for love of the game, not fancy cleats," was written by Konieczka's uncle Mike DeCourcy, a college basketball columnist at Sporting News. DeCourcy has been with The Sporting News for 20-plus years, and is a member of the United States Basketball Writers Hall of Fame.

DeCourcey's article describes Konieczka's life as an NCAA Division III football player, and a clear love of the game that small college players have for the sport. The article's closing line is a simple quote from Koneiczka saying "I play for the love of football. I don't play for a fancy pair of cleats."

Prior to Ferrum's USA South home game against North Carolina Wesleyan College Saturday, Nov. 12, Koneiczka was escorted onto the field at W.B. Adams Stadium by his mom and dad Scharmen and Michael, and his siblings Timothy, Stephany, Michaely, Delaney, Zachary, Jessica and Andrew.

Konieczka was one of 10 players honored Saturday in a special pre-game Senior Day ceremony. All 10 competed for the final time in a Panther uniform, and are now card-carrying members of the "The Black Hats", Ferrum's fraternity of football alumni.