This is a story about a bunch of dudes. Dudes that play football. No, not that pigskin type that seems to be popular these days on the grassy fields and concrete schoolyards of Anytown, U.S.A. En Español, these dudes juegan fútbol, play soccer if you will, and the way that they gel when brought together embodies the true essence of the sport, rarely seen since the days of Pelé juggling a rotten cantaloupe in the barrios of Brazil.
They began their soccer careers spread across this great nation, from the barren flatlands of Oklahoma, to the hallowed preparatory school grounds of New Hampshire, to the mean streets of Miami. None of them were good enough for the “big time” that is Division III athletics, but each brought a little piece of his soul when they stepped onto this campus in Two Thousand ought One. When the jigsaw puzzle that was their competitive spirit became fully formed and emerged ever so delicately from the womb, out popped the Dudes of Sweetness. It took four years of grit, grime and sheer guts, but last Sunday this group of Dudes sealed their eternal legacy in the Sports Bible when they were crowned the 2004 Intramural Soccer Champions, A-League, fall season.
“More than anything, I am proud of our rag-tag, scrappy team,” said Dudes of Sweetness captain Kevin Haas ’05.“ At the beginning of the season, I proclaimed that I would settle for nothing less than the championship, and the championship is what we got. It was my proudest and happiest collegiate memory slash moment.”
The victory came in the form of a 6-0 finals drubbing of the Rising Lions. While the score might not reflect any tense moments, the beginning of the game was marred by an injury to unofficial team leader Ahmed Martin ’05, who dislocated his shoulder after being undercut by a Lions player. An ambulance and fire truck swarmed the field to tend to Martin’s injury, and for a brief moment it looked like the stable psyches of the Dudes might be at risk.
“The injury sort of set us back mentally even though we already had a 1-0 lead,” Haas said. “But then we rallied with five more goals and kicked some ass for Ahmed’s sake.”
Taking a look back at their history shows some rocky times for the Dudes of Sweetness. Created in 2001 by Chris Knacke ’05, Chris Meade ’05 and Blake Maybeck ’05, the Dudes saw heartbreak in their opening years, losing in the finals of both the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The 2004 campaign, the curtain call for a majority of the team, had to be different.
“We had to leave the school with some pride, because academic pride means nothing,” said Aaron Thaler ’05.
“I think we felt a sense of urgency,” said Andreas Mendez-Peñate ’05. “We wanted it bad this year, to preserve the legacy.”
This raises the question of what it means to be part of this Dudical legacy.
“I feel like I have been a Dude since I was a little fetus,” said Marcus Bach-Armas ’05, who joined the squad this year and plays each game in hiking boots. “Despite my rookie status, it is a fact that all Dudes love other Dudes equally.”
Teammate Phil Amidon ’05 echoed Bach-Armas’ sentiments.
“First of all, the Dudes of Sweetness means heart. Another word that comes to mind is dedication that none of us really have. We undedicated ourselves to the cause for four years and in our final year, we did it in the finals. Three cheers. Hip hip hooray, hip hip hoorah, hip hip hooray.”
Other Dudes could not help but make comparisons to another group of scrappers who recently became champions: The Boston Red Sox.
“We have some fun and we have some crazy hair because we can grow beards and stuff,” Thaler said. “Those of us who are Red Sox fans felt we had to do something for the Sox. They won, Kerry lost, we had to win, you know. Without a doubt.”
When the final whistle blew and the victory was certain, the Dudes threw off their shackles that was four years of frustration and convened at the center of the pitch in celebration.
“We were chanting and yelling and the other team got pretty pissed off,” Mendez-Peñate said. “We were pretty obnoxious as always. That is one of our staples, you know, we are dudes, we are obnoxious.”
Despite scoring at will in the game, did the Dudes “score” in more ways than one?
“I think my girlfriend said ‘yay,” Thaler said.
Dudes groupies were more willing to express their love for the squad.
“I have already had most of them but I would take round two, definitely after this victory,” said Liz Beedy ’05.
As the sun set on the season and career for the Dudes of Sweetness, the literal sun was sneaking its way under the horizon. While the victors received their championship beer cozies, there were hues of fantastic pink and orange spread across the sky. Team members could not help think that a higher power was responsible for the win.
“It was definitely a sign from above,” Mendez-Peñate said. “That was it, a culmination of everything. We have nothing to live for now.”
Thaler agreed.
“It was beautiful, the clouds were amazing,” he said. “It just looked like someone was making a platform for us to go up to the sky and be happy.”
On the field with arms wrapped around an assortment of teammates, Captain Haas summed it up best.
“Watching the beautiful skyscape is proof indeed that God herself approved of our victory.”
Congratulations Dudes of Sweetness, you are true champions.
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