Nestled quietly behind the Jane B. Moore Softball Complex, there lies a bed of the greenest grass. You probably wouldn’t see it driving down Wire Road unless you were looking for it. No, it is Auburn’s best kept secret—the intramural fields. Upon this grass has taken place some of college’s most challenging battles—battles bigger than choosing a major, taking exams, figuring out what to do with the rest of one’s life. And beneath this grass lie the hopes and dreams of many Auburn men and women.
But among these hopefuls, there can only be one champion. To be a champion means to overcome every setback, to defy all odds. Many strive for it, but few reach it. Many want it, but few are willing to put in the blood, sweat and tears to earn it. Many play the game, but few will win. There can only be one champion—and this year that “one” was the Fifty Phi Knights.
The Fifty Phi Knights, the Fall 2015 Independent Men’s Flag Football Novice League Champions, came from humble beginnings. Team captains Denham Childress and Stuart Scott (both of Thorsby, Alabama) decided to recruit some friends to play for fun. Childress and Scott named the team after their Eagle’s Landing house number, 55, which is more commonly known among partygoers as “Fifty Phi.” The mascot was inspired by the mixtape “56 Nights” by the rapper Future. They came to adopt the motto, “Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose.” Even in the beginning, Childress and Scott knew that this was bigger than just intramural football. And the Fifty Phi Knights were more than just a team—they were a band of brothers.
The Knights come from all over the state; some of them even played sports as rivals in high school. Along with Childress and Scott (WR/FS and WR/SS, respectively), Stephen Mims (WR/CB) also hails from Thorsby. Kaiser Woodley (QB), Brandon Stokes (C), and Shane Howard (OL/DL) as well as head coach Corey Killingsworth, quarterback coach/assistant head coach Justin “Bubba” Stafford, and defensive coordinator Gabe Hayes are all from Jemison, Alabama. Tyler Henderson (WR/LB) and offensive coordinator, Trenton Bishop, are both from Clanton. Hudson Pugh (OL/DL) is from Montgomery and Christian Agee (WR/CB) is from Verbena.
With their 7-1 record, the Fifty Phi Knights have changed what it means to play novice league intramural football. Integrating headsets, uniforms and a full coaching staff, the Knights have single-handedly turned the novice league of independent men’s flag football upside down. But their season was not without obstacles.
Just two games into the season, WR/CB Stephen Mims was involved in a work-related accident rendering him unable to play for the remainder of the season. But adversity didn’t stop the Fifty Phi Knights…no, it fueled them. The Knights came back with a vengeance. After that, it seemed to be one win after another, with the Knights outscoring opponents 164-30 throughout the playoffs. The Knights finally took the championship win on October 6 with a stunning 46-12 against the Auburn RUF.
But what the Knights really want us to know is more than just their record, more than just their stats. They want to be remembered as the team who pushed the limits and changed the game. And, as team captain Denham Childress says, “It’s only the beginning.”