CEDAR RAPIDS — It wasn’t the final score the Mustangs had hoped for.
And the forecast was gnarly.
Beyond that, it was a “surreal” premiere for the Mount Mercy University football team in the program’s inaugural home game at Busse Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s a special day,” Mount Mercy Athletics Director Paul Gavin said before kickoff. “When I became AD in 2015, we were talking about football and building a field, so it’s been on the radar for a long time. To see it to this point, I’m very grateful for all the resources we’ve been able to put into it. From the coaching staff we’ve hired to building the Busse football facility, just the support for it all.”
Saturday’s kickoff was originally set for 6 p.m. but shifted to 1 p.m. due to forecasted weather.
The time change and wet conditions didn’t stop fans from tailgating — nor did they dampen the energy inside Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex.
“When we ran out the tunnel, I was looking at the crowd. I was like, ‘dang, everybody’s here for something that they probably never thought would happen at Mount Mercy — a football game,’” Mustangs quarterback Alex Estrada said. “The first home game, everybody’s excited and tailgating. It’s tru...