Students campaign to start club football team
Club Football’s Secretary Matt Scott (left), Vice President and Treasurer Caleb Wright and President Caleb Hudson pose at The Rock. This Fall will mark the first season of Club Football in App State history.
March 15, 2019
*Editor’s note: Earlier this story stated that there had never been a club football team at App State. This is incorrect, as there was a team from 1985-2006, according to App State Club Sports. This has been corrected.
Twenty-three sports are listed on App State’s club sports website, including major sports like baseball and basketball as well as lesser known sports like equestrian and Ultimate Frisbee, but there hasn’t been a club football team since 2006. A group of students thought that needed to change, and the team plans to play its inaugural season in the fall.
App State is known for football. The success of the varsity program has led to an impressive fan base, uniting many people to support their Mountaineers.
“One of the biggest things we want to do is just feed that football culture,” said sophomore economics major Caleb Wright, who is vice president and treasurer of the club football team.
The club football team is still in its early stages, but the club executives have come up with a plan. Like all club sports at App State, any student who pays dues and meets academic requirements can join, and the team will compete against other schools’ club teams. Dues will range from $500- $600 depending on which helmet the player chooses. Included with dues are a helmet, shoulder pads, a girdle, a jersey and travel expenses.
The executives hope they can use Kidd Brewer Stadium for home games when the varsity team is on the road. This will give the community the opportunity to support the team and get their football fix when the varsity team isn’t at home.
“I mean obviously we’re very much a football school,” Wright said. “Our whole exec. board is always out at the games, always looking for anything football. We’re always into it. We wanted to fill that gap and basically give people something to do when App has away games.”
It wasn’t hard for sophomore finance and banking major and club president Caleb Hudson to come up with the idea of a club football team.
“When you love football or a sport that much, you have that drive. You want to keep playing it,” Hudson said. “Having played in high school, I was just like, ‘Dang, I really miss it.’”
For a sport as popular as football, it’s safe to say that Hudson is not alone in his desire to continue playing. The majority of high school football players don’t play at the collegiate level, but that doesn’t mean they lose their love for the game.
Other students, like sophomore international business major Ike Easterbrook, might have missed their chance to play football in high school and have another chance to play organized football at a competitive level.
“When I first heard about the club football team, I was stoked about it,” Easterbrook said. “It’ll help me stay in shape and to go play some football with a good group of guys will definitely be cool. I didn’t play in high school, but I wish I had.”
The first interest meeting was held on Feb. 19 and the executive board plans to hold another meeting at a later date. The executives will post updates to @AppStateClubFootball on Instagram.
Michael "Go Slow" Gorenflo • Feb 7, 2021 at 10:28 am
My year playing “Black Death” ASU Club Football in 1988-89 (after leaving the ASU Golf Team as a Senior to enjoy my last year more) was one of the best decisions I made in college. My teammates quickly coined me “Go Slow” (a title well earned by my lack of speed)…and I made several new friends (while further cementing friendships with others). At 6’3″ and about 300lbs, I am confident I was the only DT/K around. I really enjoyed the travel to away games and the daily practices…but I especially Loved the WINNING! We went undefeated, and smiled/laughed/partied all the way to the Championship. Game. It is my hope Black Death will return to App State, so that new generations of Clubbers can have memories like I made with my friends.
Tudd Dean • Mar 24, 2019 at 12:55 pm
The club sports council was formed because we the Club Football team, along with Ski Club, Ultimate Frisbee and Rugby had no sponsorship of any kind by the university. I presented Dr. McIntyre, then Chancellor of Student affairs, material about club sports in our state and the country. Club Football began in 1970, in N.C with teams at UNC N.C State, East Carolina and Central Piedmont Community College and grew to 12 teams before ASU joined in 1978. Duke, Lenior Rhyne, Clemson, Davidson, Western Piedmont CC, UNC Wilmington, UNC Greensboro just to name a few were in the League. Your yearbooks from 1978 on, have Club Football spreads, as well as your archives of your paper. Highlight was a team that raised $34,000 and flew to Zurich Switzerland and on to Innsbruck Austria for exhibition games with their respective teams…there’s quite a history if ASU Club Football.
Tudd Dean • Mar 24, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Club football started at ASU in 1978…I coached and played…The Black Death made playoffs every year till it was dropped by administration…and won 10 of the Magus Trophy. I had two time coached the team and we had one great team after another…like Terry said, do the research and you’ll get the facts right.
Rob Griffin • Oct 18, 2021 at 7:58 am
Amen Tudd! Long time, no see! Hope you’re doing well!
Terry Oliver • Mar 15, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Class of 1989
Club football was alive and kicking in the 1980s. Article incorrect that we’ve never had a team before. Check archives of your newspaper. I’m actually quoted in there. Hope they can bring it back!!