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When Whittier takes the field in its first year back from a three-season hiatus this Fall, it has a chance to stake a claim to a unique title: North American Continental Champions.
In a distinct arrangement, Whittier hosts CETYS (Centro de Ensenanza Tecnica y Superior) University out of Tijuana, Mexico, on September 12th. The game is part of head coach Cory White's blueprint to take advantage of a well-known Division III rule.
White reflected, "When I originally interviewed for the job, I had laid out my blueprint for the first couple of years and what I wanted to do was play an international school." His main reasoning was access to 10 more Spring practices than the 15 that the NCAA allots every Division III school. Much like bowl practices at the FBS level, these increased Spring practices help the program's younger players gain experience.
Division III international showcases are nothing new. For instance, Augustana, Wisconsin Eau-Claire, and Western New England all took trips to Italy last Spring. (see Division I Rejects great podcast on that here).
Whittier's arrangement adds a home-and-home series element. While Whittier hosts CETYS this year for an exhibition, the Poets will return the favor and travel to Tijuana next Spring. A scheduling opening allowed the Poets to be the rare Division III school to host an international school.
Oddly enough, despite being in different countries, CETYS might as well be another member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Coach White compared Whittier's arrangement with the travels of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools to Canada for their own Spring international trips.
White explained, "Most schools when they go international, they fly to Europe or Australia, which costs a significant amount of money, but we take a bus ride the same day when we play them (CETYS) internationally in 2027, and get those practices, which is really the true reason for this game." White further called CETYS' location as, "really San Diego."
The game is also culturally significant for Whittier's surrounding community. Coach White touted the vibrant East Los Angeles community's "huge Hispanic culture" and reasoned, "bringing a Mexican team here is a great draw for fans, and it's going to be a lot of fun."
CETYS' relative familiarity with other SCIAC schools shows the convenience of this arrangement. CETYS had similar home-and-home arrangements with Occidental and LaVerne in 2018 and 2019.
Overall, the intercontinental exhibition is just a small glimpse into Whittier's grand return to the college football scene after three seasons away. The program that once had Pro Football Hall of Famer George Allen as head coach and Richard Nixon as a former player had strong alumni and booster backing to return to the field in 2026.
"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for a motivated alumni and booster group that really put their money where their mouth is", White reflected. September 12th's international faceoff will be one of the first payoffs of this effort.
Although USC and UCLA will fill the glamorous LA Memorial Coliseum and Rose Bowl on September 12th, the most interesting game will instead take place a stone's throw away in little Whittier, California, with international bragging rights on the line.
