BUIES CREEK, N.C. - After more than a five-decade absence, Campbell University plans to once again field a varsity football program in 2008. The Fighting Camels will compete on the NCAA Division I-AA (non-scholarship) level. University President Dr. Jerry M. Wallace made the announcement Friday afternoon in a campus-wide gathering at Turner Auditorium. Fred Taylor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Bob Barker, Chairman of Executive Committee of Board of Trustees were also present at the announcement.

"Throughout the years, a continuing request from students, alumni, and university friends has been to consider the return of football to the athletic program of the university," said Dr. Wallace. "After a very careful feasibility study, which included faculty, students, alumni, trustees, and athletic staff, the trustees have approved the addition of football to Campbell's athletic program. Therefore, I am delighted to announce the Fighting Camels will be back on the gridiron in the fall of 2008."

A member of the NCAA Division I ranks since 1977 and of the Atlantic Sun Conference since 1994, Campbell will compete against similar non-scholarship programs on the Division I and non-I levels. Home games will be played at a yet to be constructed on-campus site.

"This is a very exciting day to be a Fighting Camel with the return of football after an over 50 year absence," said Director of Athletics Stan Williamson, who has been heavily involved with football programs at Georgia Southern, Houston and Nicholls State. "College football is one of the most exciting events in our country. The atmosphere that on-campus intercollegiate football brings to a campus is exhilarating. The addition of football at Campbell will certainly enhance the student life aspect of Buies Creek. Most of my professional career has included college football and I am thrilled that we have the chance to bring that excitement to Campbell University."

According to Williamson, the decision to compete as a Division I-AA non-scholarship program allows Campbell to enjoy campus life enhancements without the financial burden tied to providing scholarships to be competitive at the scholarship level. Fellow Atlantic Sun Conference member Jacksonville University added non-scholarship football in 1998 and competes in the Pioneer Football League along with Davidson, Butler, Dayton, Drake, Morehead State, San Diego and Valparaiso. Other Division I-AA programs with similar non-scholarship philosophies are Duquesne, Iona, Marist, La Salle and St. Peter's.

"We believe Campbell will develop a competitive non-scholarship football program and we hope to be able to compete in the Pioneer Football League as early as the 2008 football season," said Williamson.

The search for a head football coach will begin immediately.

"We will be seeking an individual with strong leadership abilities, who will be a good fit for the mission and purpose of Campbell University. This individual will need to have a good understanding of NCAA Division I-AA non-scholarship football and a vision of bringing this football program to a solid competitive level," said Williamson.

In addition, the University will add competitive, practice and other football-related facilities on campus over the next two years.

"Campbell will obviously need new facilities for football," said Williamson. "Our plan is to develop practice fields, a locker room/office facility as well as a new football stadium before the start of competition in the fall of 2008."

Documents available indicate that Campbell first fielded a varsity football team in 1925 and did so until 1950, except for 1940-45 during World War II.

Coaches Edge and Baker led Campbell's first football team in 1925 to a 3-1-1 record, including a 7-0 victory over Carthage in the team's first game. The 1929 squad, under the direction of Coach Bob Hays won Campbell's first-ever state championship while posting a 5-2-1 record. Campbell again won a state junior college championship in 1932 under the guidance of Coach S.O. Brandon. Coach H.H. Smith's Camels tied Belmont Abbey and Brevard for the title in 1939.

After World War II interrupted many sporting events nationwide from 1940-45, Campbell won three-consecutive North Carolina Junior College Championships from 1946-48 under the direction of Coach Earl Smith. The 1947 team defeated South Georgia 47-6 to win the Eastern United States Junior College Championship. One year later in 1948, Campbell again won the N.C. title, but fell to South Georgia 26-19 in the Eastern U.S. championship.

With the on-set of the Korean Conflict and the movement of many North Carolina schools to senior college status in the 1950s, Campbell dropped its varsity football program after the 1950 season.

After moving to senior college status in 1961, Campbell later joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Fighting Camel athletics program then moved to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level in 1977 and was a charter member of the Big South Conference in 1983. Campbell joined the Atlantic Sun Conference (then named the Trans America Athletic Conference) in July 1994.