ST. LOUIS, MO. – Campbell University has accepted an invitation for membership in the Pioneer Football League and released its 2008 schedule, Director of Athletics Stan Williamson announced on Wednesday.

Campbell, which announced its return to intercollegiate football in April 2006, will begin league play in 2008 as the league's ninth member. PFL teams will compete in a full round-robin schedule.

"All of us at Campbell University are extremely excited about membership in the Pioneer Football League," said Campbell University President Dr. Jerry Wallace. "Conference membership is such a vital step in the development of any football program. We are fortunate to be included with such a fine group of quality institutions who are competing at the same level of college football. The PFL is a great home for Campbell football and we know great rivalries will be developed as we begin competition with the 2008 season."

In addition to a full slate of PFL games, the Camels will host Birmingham Southern and play at Methodist and Carthage College (Wisc.) during the non-conference portion of the 2008 schedule. The announcement of conference affiliation and the 2008 schedule is the latest notable date in the process of bringing football back to the University, which began with a feasibility study in August 2004.

"We are proud to welcome Campbell to the Pioneer Football League", said Pioneer Football League Commissioner Patty Viverito. "PFL expansion is a positive step toward growing non-scholarship football, within the league and nationally."

In June 2007 the PFL hosted a summit for institutions which sponsor, or have interest in sponsoring, Division I non-scholarship football programs. Since that time, the league has taken a leadership role to foster this brand of football, recognizing it is important to have those that sponsor non-scholarship football to keep it and those considering adding non-scholarship football to add it.

The Pioneer Football League, which recently completed its 15th season, is a non-scholarship NCAA Football Championship Sub-Division conference. The league still retains four of its charter members – Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University and Valparaiso University, plus the University of San Diego (joining in 1992) – which were joined in 2001 by four new teams, three of which remain today – Davidson College, Jacksonville University and Morehead State University.

Among the Pioneer membership are two schools in which the Camels have shared league affiliation. Campbell and Jacksonville are both members of the Atlantic Sun Conference for 17 varsity sports. Campbell and Davidson also compete as members of the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. The Camels and Wildcats were also league rivals in the Big South Conference (1990-92) before Davidson re-joined the Southern Conference in 1992 and Campbell left for the Atlantic Sun in 1994.

"One of our greatest challenges in bringing football back to Campbell University was in finding a conference home," said Director of Athletics Stan Williamson. "The Pioneer Football League (PFL) is the perfect conference home for Campbell Football. We will be competing against similar institutions that complete at the same level of college football. We are delighted to be included with this fine group of institutions and this will provide Campbell with an outstanding football schedule for 2008 and beyond. Our 2008 schedule will be challenging but PFL conference membership is another giant step forward in bringing college football back to the Buies Creek campus."

In January 1991 the NCAA passed legislation to require Division I institutions to sponsor all intercollegiate sports at the Division I level. Each of the league's members are dedicated to the enhancement and sound management of intercollegiate football as an integral part of the student-athletes' collegiate experience. From the league's inception it has been a proponent of the creation of a non-scholarship football classification within Division I and adopted the moniker of Pioneer based on the intent to become the first league in that new division. All the league's members are committed to the non-scholarship football model.

"Membership in the Pioneer Football League allows the opportunity for our student-athletes to set goals during each year. To have a goal for our players to earn all-conference honors and to compete for a league championship is important each season," said Campbell head coach Dale Steele. "The Pioneer is an outstanding league. Through the entire year, week-in and week-out, games are competitive. On any given week, any team in this league can defeat any other. Our football team is extremely excited. Our players have anxiously awaited this announcement. It's another milestone as we move into spring practice and embark on our first season in 2008."

2008 Campbell University Football Schedule

* Pioneer Football League opponent

Home games in BOLD ALL CAPS

CampbellFootball Timeline

August 2004

Campbell University begins a feasibility study for the possibility of adding non-athletic scholarship football as a varsity sport.

April 7, 2006

Campbell University announces the return of football as a varsity sport for the 2008 season. The program will compete on the NCAA Division I-AA (non-scholarship) level.

2006

Campbell University submits formal application for membership in the Pioneer Football League.

June 15, 2006

Dale Steele, a veteran of more than 25 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, is named head football coach at Campbell University

January 2007

Lonnie Hansen named assistant head coach / running backs coach.

March 15, 2007

Campbell University holds its ceremonial groundbreaking "explosion" for the construction of its new football stadium on campus.

June 1, 2007

Tony Grantham (linebackers / recruiting coordinator), Jerrick Hall (defensive line), Art Link (defensive coordinator / defensive backs), Landon Mariani (passing game coordinator / quarterbacks) and Oscar Olejniczak (offensive line / running game coordinator) named assistant coaches.

June 2, 2007

Campbell hosts A Day for the Camels: Touchdown 2008, including a golf tournament, banquet, reception and silent auction. Guests include Mike Minter (Carolina Panthers), Greg Warren (Pittsburgh Steelers) and keynote speaker Coach Fisher DeBerry (Air Force).

August 28, 2007

Coach Dale Steele and the Fighting Camel staff continue preparation for the 2008 season by conducting the first official football practice at Campbell in more than 50 years. More than 100 players participate.

October 20, 2007

Nearly 2000 spectators are on hand for a two-hour intra-squad scrimmage as part of Homecoming / Parents' Day ceremonies on campus.

November 17, 2007

The Fighting Camels will wrap up their 2007 fall practice season with an intra-squad scrimmage at Lee Senior High School in Sanford, N.C.

December 5, 2007

Campbell University accepts an invitation to join the Pioneer Football League and begin competition in 2008. The University releases the 2008 game schedule.

August 30, 2008

Campbell University will host Birmingham Southern at Buies Creek, N.C., in its first football game on the NCAA Division I-AA non-scholarship level.