American college football players touring Spain in May? Something about that notion raises eyebrows. The idea that anyone in Spain might acknowledge American football, perhaps, is the first mystery. Then, one must absorb the likelihood that there might be anyone in Spain to actually engage such a team in competition.

Thus, when the curious asked Adrian College football players why they were headed to Barcelona, Spain, to play football, they became accustomed to the inevitable litany of explanations. Yes, there are clubs in Europe that are eager to learn from Americans how to play our kind of football. And yes, they were going to get to play a Spanish and a French team.

Beyond that, they explained what Adrian College head football coach Jim Lyall had been telling them for over a year. The 10-day trip would help them to build cultural awareness and collegial relationships. The College even offered players the opportunity to take a course that would further enrich the experience. This is where I came in. I taught a special May term course on Hemmingway's Spain.

The most obvious disparity between our young men and the Europeans was sheer size. At 360 pounds, junior Aaron "Hemmy" Hemgesberg was approached for autographs on the basis of his stature. As I observed our players, however, I could not help but appreciate how full of respect and wonder they were.

For instance, after a dizzying bus ride up the mountain to the monastery of Montserrat, many of our football players broke away from the line of tourists in the basilica to kneel and pray. And I watched as a somewhat beat-up and very large hand dragged across alabaster fixtures, lingering to absorb such an ancient and spiritual space.

And imagine my surprise when several of them opted to leave the bullfight early, disgusted with the macho bullfighter, and the brutal death of an innocent animal.

Day by day, we were a study in contrasts: a group of large McDonald's-craving males, and five chocolate-craving moms, happily strolling down Las Ramblas in the rain. As our tour guide, Manel, informed us, Barcelona normally has 360 days of sunshine a year. Out of our nine days, we had cold and rain for seven.

But despite bad weather, sleep deprivation and lack of "normal food," their spirits remained high. Climbing up the narrow, spiral-staircased towers of Gaudi's famous Las Sagrada Familia, the dramatic cathedral we have come to recognize from the media coverage of the 1990 summer Olympics, they joked about getting stuck, wedged into spaces not designed for young men striving to gain weight. And again, I noticed the amazing disparity between people and circumstances: these big sleepy guys were in good enough condition to delicately negotiate 250 steps up and down in the dark.

Like any group of tourists, we spent a good bit of time on the bus. Perhaps the idea of riding on a bus with 35 football players might give one pause. Yet again, even though they were struggling for endurance in the early morning tours, they not only listened politely to Manel's descriptions of Montjuic, the site of the Olympic games and stadium, they also politely listened to mundane details on the local industry and economy. Only a few of Manel's Catalonian pronunciations finally brought out the witty whispered parodies from the bus comedians. And lest you remain skeptical, let me assure you these were very witty football players.

Finally, I should mention that when the time came to play football Saturday-and yes, in the pouring rain - these young men gracefully secured victories with their opponents  (13-0 and 26-0) and then backed off to let the Spanish and French teams stay in the game. Gentlemen and scholars, these were fine ambassadors of America and American sport. Thus, when the sun actually came out on Sunday morning for our "free day," and again Monday, for the ferry ride up the Mediterranean coast to the magical medieval town of Tossa del mar, one could say even the weather signaled approval of these very special young men.

TOP BROTHER
Recent grad wins Theta Chi award

Pat Kilbane '02 is this year's recipient of the Colley Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an undergraduate by the national fraternity Theta Chi. It is presented annually to the undergraduate member who best demonstrates distinguished service to alma mater, fraternity, and chapter. Only one recipient is selected each year. Kilbane is the 69th recipient of the award, and the first recipient from Zeta Beta/Adrian. He is currently enrolled at Notre Dame Law School.

BEING UNIQUE
The unusual achievements of the freshman class

Adrian College welcomed 302 freshmen on August 22. Their homes are as far away as China, Japan, Zimbabwe, California, and Alabama and as near as Lenawee County and Toledo, Ohio.  Although we have our share of class presidents, valedictorians, varsity athletes, all-state musicians, and community volunteers, some of our new students have distinguished themselves in their hometowns in some interesting and unusual ways. Adrian's Class of 2006 includes:

A certified laboratory phlebotomist

A member of the Veterinary Explorers Program

An entrepreneur who developed and operated a 500-member music club website

A zookeeper

An Eagle Scout of the Year

An award-winning composer of works for solo piano, "Cold West" and "Blizzard"

A professional housepainter

A four-year recipient of the University of Michigan Women in Science Award

A singing and dancing high school mascot (the Stryker High School Panther)

A member of the cast of "That's My Dog" on the Fox Family Channel

A set of twins

An archer who is ranked #2 in the nation for her age group

An actor in a series pilot for the WB Network

A Spanish teacher in a joint elementary school/high school world languages program

CHURCH-RELATED EDUCATION
Caine elected president of UMC organization

Adrian College President Stanley P. Caine was recently elected president of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church. This organization consists of 124 educational institutions affiliated with the UMC, including Adrian and Albion as well as Duke, Emory, and American University. Its aim is to strengthen UMC-affiliated educational institutions through such methods as advocacy, financial assistance, and programming.

Dr. Caine served as first vice president of the organization last year. He was elected to his new, one-year term by the presidents of the member institutions.

"We believe in the importance of the role of church-related higher education," Caine said. "We believe we have something special to offer students, and that moral and spiritual development is an important component of higher education."