BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell University football team will return to the practice field on Wednesday, March 26 for the start of 15 spring practices. The team will practice every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until the first spring football game on April 19.

Campbell, which is fielding its first football team in over 50 years, opens the 2008 season with a home contest against Birmingham-Southern on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. Campbell in preparation for the season announced that football will open spring camp on March 26.

The team will practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. starting on March 26 through April 18. All practices are open to the public to view and get a sneak peak of the 2008 Camels. CU will also host Saturday practices. The first Saturday practice on March 29 starts at 10 a.m. with every following Saturday practice beginning at 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. Saturday practices are expected to feature more scrimmages, live action and showcase skills learned during the week. All football practices will be held at either the practice turf field at the football stadium or the old practice field on-campus. Those interested in attending can inquire on the day of the practice to find out which facility is in use on that particular day.

On April 19, CU will host an organized uniformed scrimmage starting at 1 p.m. at Campbell Football Stadium, a structure being built across the street from campus on Highway 421. The game will be played as close to a real game situation as possible with 12-15 minute quarters and the offense and defense competing against each other. The game is expected to allowing the team to continue to refine the skills they began to learn in the fall in anticipation for the start of the season in August.

Campbell announced on April 7, 2006 that it was resuming its football program as a non-athletic scholarship member of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Head football coach Dale Steele was then brought into the fold to build and shape the program on June 15, 2006. The Camels held their first practice of the new era on August 27, 2007. Campbell was accepted as a member of the Pioneer League, a non-athletic scholarship league in the FCS, on Dec. 5, 2007.

CU's football program will host the Earl Smith Golf Tournament on April 18, 2008, a day before the spring game, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The tournament will be Captain's Choice and cost $75 per person at Keith Hills Country Club. Prizes will be handed out for longest drive, closest to the pin and 1^st and 2^nd place.

2008 Football Practice Schedule Dates

A Brief History Campbell Football

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.

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

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 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.