For Detroit senior and receiver Cam Moore, his rivalry with Alma College’s football team began with a game his first year, in which Albion was defeated by three points, allowing Alma College to proceed to the NCAA championship. His sophomore year, Alma “blew out” Albion during the team’s senior day.
As early as 1967, the Albion Pleiad has referred to the relationship between Alma and Albion’s teams as “a football rivalry.” This year, Albion faces Alma for homecoming, and the game will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m.
The Beginning of the Rivalry
The “heated rivalry” between Alma and Albion, head football coach Travis Rundle said, comes from how evenly matched the teams are. According to a football program published on Oct. 30, 1982, Albion had won 42 games against Alma since 1900, and Alma had won 30 games. The teams tied five times.
“You look back over the years, it’s a pretty even deal,” Rundle said. “We view ourselves as one of the top teams in the league, and I’m sure they do as well.”
Albion’s last win against Alma in football was in 2021.
Reading fifth-year and wide receiver Dilon Denison said his desire to defeat Alma was “set up” in the game that began a three-year losing streak against Alma in 2022.
“I don’t ever want to lose to them guys again,” Denison said.
For Moore, the losses have been the result of Albion “beating themselves.”
“Last year we were right there,” Moore said. “We just let some plays slip out. But this year I’m here, it’s gonna be way different.”
In the past, Albion has made history against Alma. In 1994, Couch said Alma had their only loss of the year to Albion, allowing Albion to continue to the national championship, which they would win.
Alma College’s head football coach Jason Couch played on Alma’s football team during that game, and said it was “quite a battle on the field.” Since beginning his position as head football coach in 2018, Alma has defeated Albion four times on the field.
“The two schools have been competing against each other for a long, long time,” Couch said.
Approaching Homecoming With ‘Attention to Detail, Discipline’
Couch said Alma is going to “be ready to play, and hopefully we’ll perform at our best.”
Going head-to-head with rival teams makes Albion play “a little bit harder,” Rundle said.
“You have to be on top of everything, be sharp, attention to detail, discipline,” Rundle said. “You have to be a lot better than when you play teams that aren’t as good.”
Denison added Alma has “a really good program.”
“I know it’s always gonna be a battle,” Denison said. “It’s always fun playing against them.”
What will make this game different? For Denison, it’s Albion’s team chemistry.
“When you’re a close-knit group, you’ll do anything for the guys next to you,” Denison said.
Moore also said team chemistry has improved, adding that this season’s team has the best offensive line he’s seen during his time at Albion.
“We have the team and the talent and stuff, we just have to lock in on the little details, and nobody’s gonna be able to beat us,” Moore said.
At homecoming, Moore said he plans to “take it out on the field, win, lose or draw.”
Rundle, Moore and Denison all said they think Albion will win the game.
“We’re going to win, we’re going to put on a show,” Denison said. “We’re ready to be at home, play our football and be who we are.”
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