The football teams of the University of Saint Francis and Marian University (Indianapolis) are beginning a new tradition this year by adding a little extra incentive to their annual rivalry game. On Saturday, October 1, the teams will be playing for more than the upper hand in the conference. The two universities will be competing to take home the inaugural Franciscan Bowl trophy. Kickoff of the Franciscan Bowl game is at noon at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium on the USF Campus, 2701 Spring Street in Fort Wayne.

USF President Sister M. Elise Kriss and Marian President Daniel J. Elsener recognized that with two Catholic universities in the Franciscan tradition, this game provided an opportunity to spotlight the schools’ values and the spirit of goodwill in competition. In fact, St. Francis of Assisi was known to challenge the friars who followed him to compete in their own practice of virtue. This same good-natured competition inspired the Franciscan Bowl.

“This game is about more than just winning a trophy,” said Kriss. “USF is excited about having the chance to compete against a university that shares so many of our values and traditions, and we know that Marian feels the same every year when this game shows up on the schedule.”

The winner of the annual game will be awarded the new Franciscan Bowl trophy and it will reside with the winning school until the next competition. Both schools plan to continue the Franciscan Bowl each year to enjoy the rivalry and help build spirit between them for the future.