Football approved as an OU club sport

The new football club was approved in October 2012. The team will compete in the fall 2013 season, with the schedule beginning in September and concluding in mid-November. The National Club Football Association (NCFA) is a club football league in which college club football teams compete using most NCAA football rules. The Football Club at Oakland University is in the Great Lakes East conference of the NCFA, competing against club football teams including Wright State, Ohio State, Miami University (OH), and UM-Flint club teams.

"We had 80 players initially interested in joining the new OU football club," said club adviser Nic Bongers. "Since the players are paying for their own equipment and the team's travel/game expenses out of their own pockets, it has been a challenge overcoming the costs of a new club. We are aiming to have 30-40 players on the roster for the first game. We recently started paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as we look for corporate sponsorship and philanthropists willing to support and help jump-start our new club." According to the NCFA rules, up to three faculty and staff may play on the roster. The team currently has an e-Learning staff member and an Engineering faculty playing for the Football Club at Oakland University.

The first glimpse of the team can be seen at the inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday, September 7 on the home football field. Other club sports will also participate in this event. Home games will be played at the Auburn Hills Civic Park football field, west of Squirrel Road. Home games are free admission and will have a theme for fan involvement. The first club football game will be against UM-Flint at Atwood Stadium in Flint on September 21.

For more information on OU's new football club, please "Like" their Facebook page. Click on the events tab for schedule, locations, kickoff times, and game themes.