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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell will kick off the 2016 football season Thursday night, September 1, at 7 p.m., taking on Bluefield College at Barker-Lane Stadium.
CAMEL NOTES
Campbell kicks off its ninth season of its modern era in 2016. The Camels returned to the gridiron in 2008. Campbell previously fielded a football team from 1925-50, breaking from 1940-45 due to World War II.
The Camels open under the lights on Thursday night for the third straight year, and fourth time in five seasons. Campbell took down visiting Pikeville 41-20 in its 2015 opener.
Since the re-birth of the Campbell football program, Campbell owns a 3-5 record in season-opening games. Campbell stands 4-4 in home openers since 2008.
Campbell ranked second in home game attendance (4,916) among PFL members in 2015. The top crowd in the program's modern history jammed Barker-Lane Stadium on Homecoming last year when a school-record 6,580 fans witnessed the Camels take on Morehead State. Campbell narrowly missed breaking the program record for average attendance (4,928 set in 2014).
PREVIEWING THE 2016 CAMELS
Campbell returns seven offensive and five defensive starters, as well as 32 total letterwinners from 2015.
The Camels ranked fifth in the nation in total defense in 2015 (279.3 per game), standing third in team sacks per game (3.55) and ninth in scoring defense (17.7). The team shattered program records for all three categories, adding single season marks for tackles for loss (85.0) and total sacks (38.0).
Running back De'Shawn Jones, the PFL's leading rusher in 2015 with a Campbell record 1,079 yards, as well as offensive linemen Brian Stryffeler and Laurin O'Briant were named to the 2016 Preseason All-PFL team. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jack Ryan also returns after being named the PFL's Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Scouting Bluefield College
Bluefield (0-1) is coming off a 24-20 loss in its Mid-South Conference (NAIA) opener vs. Pikeville last Thursday. Last season the Rams finished 1-10 overall and 0-5 in the Mid-South. Ordell Walker is in his seventh year overall as a collegiate head coach (26-39) and fourth at Bluefield (4-30).
NEW TO BARKER-LANE STADIUM in 2016
Campbell University Athletics has announced a number of initiatives designed to enhance the total fan experience at Barker-Lane Stadium for the 2016 season. Some of the highlights include a new, state-of-the-art HD videoboard, new concession options, a student tailgate area and a pedestrian tunnel under Highway 421, giving students and fans alike a safer way to get to Barker-Lane Stadium.
See more about what's new at Barker-Lane Stadium this season here.
TICKETS
With several ticket options available for the 2016 season, there are more ways than ever to watch the Camels live in person at Barker-Lane Stadium.
Purchase single game tickets for all six Campbell home football games start at just $7 and can be purchased through GoCamels.com, by phone at (910) 893-1459 or in person at the Campbell Athletics Ticket Office, located at the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. Full season tickets, as well as three-game mini-plans also remain available.
LISTEN TO CU FOOTBALL ON THE RADIO ALL SEASON ON 88.3 WUAW
Every Campbell Football game will air live on 88.3 WUAW, thanks to a partnership between Campbell University and Central Carolina Community College.
WUAW has an eclectic format that features contemporary hit radio (Top-40) and rock. The station serves all of Harnett County, with its signal extending approximately 35 miles to reach parts of Cumberland, Johnston, Lee, Sampson and Wake counties.
Each broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with the Bojangles' Tailgate Show. After the game, tune in for the Buffaloe Lanes post-game show for interviews with players and head coach Mike Minter.
WATCH EVERY HOME GAME ON THE CAMPBELL DIGITAL NETWORK
Again this season, live, HD-streaming video of every home football game will also be free and available on any device on Campbell Digital Network and GoCamels.com, the official web site of Campbell Athletics. Simply click on the video link on the CU Football 2016 schedule page and enjoy all six Fighting Camel home games on any mobile device. To watch the Camels' season opener vs. Bluefield, click here.
DILLON, MILHOUSE BECOME FIRST CAMELS IN NFL
Former Campbell standouts Greg Milhouse, Jr. and Daniel Dillon began their first training camps in the National Football League. The pair became the first Camels to ever sign with NFL franchises following the draft in April.
Milhouse, who signed with the New York Giants, was a two-time All-PFL defensive lineman, including a First Team selection in 2015. He recorded 49 total tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks this season, posting at least one tackle for loss in 10 of 11 games.
Milhouse was a participant in the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Calif. and ranks among Campbell's career top-10 in sacks (7.5, seventh) and tackles for loss (17.5, fifth) after just two seasons, transferring from Appalachian State.
The defensive tackle helped the Camels rank fifth in the nation in total defense in 2015 (279.3 per game), standing third in team sacks per game (3.55) and ninth in scoring defense (17.7). The team shattered program records for all three categories, adding single season marks for tackles for loss (85.0) and total sacks (38.0).
Dillon, of the Arizona Cardinals, was Campbell's starting long snapper for the last four seasons, seeing action in 43 career games. He added seven tackles, forcing a fumble in 2013.
Dillon was Campbell's starting long snapper for four seasons, helping the Camels rank as one of the top special teams units in FCS. He made seven career tackles and forced a fumble in 2013.
Dillon and Milhouse were both released this week as NFL rosters were trimmed heading toward the close of the preseason.
BARKER-LANE STADIUM ADDS HD VIDEO BOARD
The best game day atmosphere in the Pioneer Football League is getting even better thanks to the installation of a new video board. The latest improvement at the facility is a state-of-the-art Daktronics video board that dominates the landscape at the North end of the facility. The new display measures 24 feet high by 42 feet wide with a 15HD pixel layout to provide excellent image clarity and contrast at wide viewing angles for the best view from any seat within the stadium.
Capable of variable content zoning, the display can show one large image or it can be divided into multiple windows to show any combination of live video, instant replays, game statistics and information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
Barker-Lane Stadium is ranked among the best in FCS College Football, with Stadium Journey rating the home of the Camels No. 16 of 125 FCS stadiums.
Stadium Journey raved Campbell's Barker-Lane Stadium as "FCS football at its finest" in the review. The 5,500 seat venue is the highest-ranked Pioneer Football League facility, topping Butler's "Butler Bowl" at No. 28. Barker-Lane Stadium was also tabbed best among FCS stadiums in North Carolina. Barker-Lane Stadium hosted a venue record 6,580 at CU's 2015 Homecoming game against Morehead State.
JONES, STRYFFELER, O'BRIANT NAMED PRESEASON ALL-PFL
Campbell running back De'Shawn Jones, as well as offensive linemen Brian Stryffeler and Laurin O'Briant have been named to the 2016 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League team.
Jones, who enters his senior season in 2016, topped the PFL in rushing with 1,072 yards, adding eight touchdowns a year ago, when he ran for 100-plus yards four times on the way to First Team All-PFL honors. The junior, who is already Campbell's all-time rushing leader (1,991), reset his own CU single game school record with 201 yards in a three TD performance at Davidson.
In his first season at Campbell after transferring from Wingate, Stryffeler earned Second Team All-PFL honors on the offensive line. O'Briant, meanwhile, picked up an honorable mention all-conference nod. Both started all 11 games for the Camels and helped Campbell record more than 350 yards of total offense seven times this season, leading the PFL in rushing offense (1,956).
FINE LINE
Campbell's six losses in 2015 came by a total of 28 points, an average of 4.7 points per game. CU's five PFL setbacks were decided by a total of 18 points (3.6 per outing).
UP NEXT
Campbell plays at Chowan next Saturday (Sept. 10) at 6 p.m. before hosting Presbyterian Sept. 17 (6 p.m.).
