Athletics Score Big at Campbell University
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College football was a lot different when Campbell University – then a junior college – last fielded a team in 1950.
But all that changed in 2008, when the Fighting Camels returned to the gridiron.
It was in August 2008 when 5,000 football fans packed Barker-Lane Stadium to see Campbell University play its first game in nearly 60 years.
The Camels compete in the Pioneer Football League, a Division I non-scholarship league, against universities such as Butler, Davidson, Drake, Jacksonville, Morehead State and San Diego.
“In 2007 and 2008, we constructed an excellent football stadium that has a field house, locker rooms, offices and meeting rooms, and we will continue to add onto the stadium in phases,” says Stan Williamson, director of athletics at Campbell University. “The Fighting Camels didn’t have a good first season record-wise in 2008 [1-10], but we will be better in 2009. The main thing is that football is back at Campbell U, and it’s just part of the overall athletic excitement currently taking place throughout the campus.”
That excitement includes the second phase of construction at Barker-Lane Stadium that will begin following the 2009 season. Plans include adding more spectator seating along with a permanent press box.
“As for other athletics, we are also designing a new running track for this campus and have future plans for upgrades to our soccer, softball and baseball facilities,” Williamson says. “And we are still most proud of our Keith Hills Country Club championship golf course, which makes Campbell University one of the few campuses in the United States that has a 36-hole golf course.”
The university also opened the $34 million John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center in late 2008. It is being used primarily for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling, and features a student fitness area, a football team weight room and academic classrooms for the university’s exercise science curriculum.
“Before the convocation center, we had a gymnasium that was built in 1950 and had only 954 seats, making it one of the smallest basketball arenas in all of Division I sports,” says Haven Hottel, director of communications and publications for Campbell University. “In comparison, the new center has seating for 3,100 spectators for athletic events and can host 5,000 people for concerts and special events. We already packed the place in May 2009 for graduation ceremonies.”
The convocation center houses the Gilbert Craig Gore Arena, which is used for sporting events, concerts, graduations and other special events, and the facility also features the R.P. Holding Sr. Student Fitness Center that has state-of-the art exercise equipment and a climbing wall.
The McCall Practice Gym, four concession stands and a designated seating section for season-ticket holders are also on site.
University officials expect both Barker-Lane Stadium and the Pope Convocation Center to benefit not only Campbell athletes and students but also residents of Bules Creek and Harnett County.
“Having modern facilities such as the stadium and the indoor center will do wonders for our recruiting efforts,” Williamson says. “Many more student-athletes will want to enroll here because of what Campbell University now has to offer.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
