From Grass to Glory: Eastern University's Football Ascent

Billy Crocker’s voice echoed across the parking lot behind Valley Forge Military School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as he directed drills during a late October practice. The players moved with precision, a stark contrast to the chaotic beginnings of the Eastern University football program, which launched in 2022 without a weight room or locker room. Five years later, the team stands at 6-2 and is two victories away from capturing its second consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference title.

Crocker, who previously served as a defensive coordinator at Villanova, Elon, and Connecticut, took the head coaching job in 2021. He declined an offer from an established Division III program, choosing instead to build a team from the ground up. The first fall in 2022 was designated as 'year zero,' featuring only non-counting games. The roster consisted of roughly 90 freshmen, many of whom had not been recruited by other colleges. Senior cornerback Tahjere Jackson-Alston, a West Philadelphia High School graduate, joined the initial class, stating he wanted to start history despite being an underdog.

The program’s first official season in 2023 ended with a 2-8 record, playing home games at Penn’s Franklin Field. By 2024, the team had moved to its own facility, O’Hara Field, just one mile from campus. The Eagles entered the final game of that season at 4-5 after losing four of their first five. In a matchup against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, Eastern trailed by as many as 26 points before rallying to win 37-33. Senior receiver Chris Rivera described that comeback as the turning point where the team realized it had something special.

Momentum carried over into 2025, when Eastern won its conference and advanced to the third round of the Division III playoffs, finishing 11-2. Quarterback Brett Nabb, who took over the starting role in 2023, was named the conference offensive player of the year. Crocker credited the success to the players who remained through the early struggles, noting that the local community and campus investment were vital. The coach brought his 'tap the rock' mantra from his time at Villanova, a reminder that success would not be linear.

The Eagles face Stevenson University for their final home game on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. A win would position them to clinch the conference title. Nabb, whose college career is nearing its end, praised the coaching staff for instilling the strength needed to compete. Jackson-Alston expressed his hope that incoming players would look up to the current group and carry the legacy forward, aiming to be even better than the players who built the foundation from scratch.