5 Shocking Facts About University Of The South Football: The Joe Freitag Era And The Iron Men’s Legacy

The University of the South football program, known as the Sewanee Tigers, is currently undergoing a significant transformation, with the most recent and crucial update being the appointment of a new head coach in late 2025. As of today, December 17, 2025, the program is poised to enter a fresh era under new leadership, aiming to build on the foundations laid by its standout young players and recapture the glory of its storied past, particularly the almost unbelievable achievements of its legendary 1899 squad.

The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division III Southern Athletic Association (SAA), a highly competitive conference that tests the resolve of the small, liberal arts institution. Despite a challenging 2025 season, the team showed flashes of brilliance and individual excellence, signaling a promising future that the new coaching staff is expected to harness and develop into consistent success.

1. The New Era: Coach Joe Freitag Takes the Helm

The biggest news surrounding the University of the South football program is the recent change in leadership. On December 11, 2025, the University officially announced the hiring of Joe Freitag as the 33rd head football coach in the program's history. This appointment marks a pivotal moment for the Sewanee Tigers, signaling a commitment to a new direction and a fresh start.

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Joe Freitag: Biography and Coaching Profile

• Full Name: Joe Freitag
• Current Position: Head Football Coach, University of the South (Sewanee Tigers)
• Date Hired: December 11, 2025
• Previous Role: Offensive Coordinator at Monmouth College (Illinois)
• Experience: Freitag spent 11 standout years at Monmouth College, where he was instrumental in developing their offensive schemes. His coaching career also includes stints at Coe College and Augsburg College.
• Significance: He is the 33rd head coach and steps in after the departure of former coach Andy McCollum and a brief period with interim coach Tracy Malone. His competitive Division III background is expected to bring a wealth of strategic knowledge and a winning mentality to the SAA conference.

Freitag’s hiring is viewed as a major move to revitalize the program. His extensive experience as an offensive coordinator suggests a focus on developing a high-powered, efficient offense, which will be essential for competing against SAA rivals like Berry College and Trinity (TX).

2. Standout Players: The 2025 All-SAA Honorees

While the team finished the 2025 season with a 3-7 overall record (1-6 in the SAA), the season was not without its bright spots. The individual performance of several young players earned them top recognition, highlighting the raw talent that Coach Freitag will inherit. These players represent the core foundation for the Tigers' future success.

Three Tigers Earn First Team All-SAA Honors

The 2025 season saw three key players—a freshman and two sophomores—named to the prestigious First Team All-SAA roster, showcasing the youth movement within the program:

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• Barton Mixon (Running Back): As a freshman, Mixon immediately established himself as a dominant force in the backfield. He was named to the First Team All-SAA Offense, a rare achievement for a first-year player, demonstrating his potential as a future star.
• Jaden Gnagy (Defense): A sophomore, Gnagy's performance on the defensive side of the ball was crucial for the Tigers. His recognition on the First Team All-SAA Defense solidifies his role as a defensive leader for the coming seasons.
• Jaylen Mack (Defense): Also a sophomore, Mack joined Gnagy on the First Team All-SAA Defense. The back-to-back All-SAA honors for these two defensive playmakers indicate a strong and stable core for the Sewanee defense.

Additionally, Junior Dyer Barnes was recognized with All-Conference honors, further demonstrating that the talent pool at Sewanee is deepening.

3. The Unrivaled History of the "Iron Men" of 1899

No discussion of University of the South football is complete without mentioning the legendary 1899 team, famously known as the "Iron Men." This team holds one of the most remarkable and arguably unrivaled feats in the history of college football, a legacy that provides the program with a unique and powerful narrative.

The 1899 Sewanee Tigers, representing the small Episcopal university, achieved a perfect 12-0-0 record. What makes this accomplishment truly astounding is the five-game road trip they completed in just six days. This epic journey covered 2,500 miles by train, during which the team defeated five major Southern powerhouses in succession:

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• Texas
• Texas A&M
• Tulane
• LSU
• Ole Miss

Playing with a roster of only 18 players, the "Iron Men" were an inspiration. The only team to score on them all season was John Heisman’s Auburn team, a testament to their defensive dominance. This historical success is often cited in documentaries and historical accounts, cementing the Sewanee Tigers' place in the early annals of American college football, long before the rise of modern powerhouses like Alabama and Clemson.

4. The Home Field: Historic Hardee-McGee Field at Harris Stadium

The Sewanee Tigers play their home games at the Historic Hardee-McGee Field at Harris Stadium, a venue steeped in tradition and located on the beautiful campus in Sewanee, Tennessee. The stadium is a central hub for Sewanee Athletics, hosting not only football but also men's lacrosse.

The field itself is a combination of historical names: "Hardee Field," named for Lt. General William J. Hardee, and "McGee Field," dedicated in 1977. The modern facility features an artificial turf surface and has a seating capacity of approximately 1,200 to 3,000 spectators, depending on the source, creating an intimate and classic Division III game-day atmosphere.

5. The Challenge Ahead in the SAA Conference

The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) is a highly competitive NCAA Division III conference. The 2025 season saw Sewanee finish near the bottom of the standings with a 1-6 conference record, a position they shared with other teams like Rhodes and Southwestern (TX) in recent years. The conference is often dominated by strong programs, presenting a continuous challenge for the Tigers.

Coach Joe Freitag's primary task will be to elevate the program's standing within this challenging landscape. His focus will be on maximizing the potential of the All-SAA honorees—Mixon, Gnagy, and Mack—and leveraging the momentum from the major coaching hire. The 2025 schedule, which included five home contests, provides a blueprint for building local support and enthusiasm. With a new offensive mind at the helm and a talented young core, the future of University of the South football is focused squarely on climbing the SAA rankings and returning to the competitive spirit that defined the "Iron Men" over a century ago.