UNO Privateers football
The club sports teams represent the University of New Orleans. While the club teams may not compete on the NCAA level and are not formally associated with the athletics department, the student participants are still given permission by the school to keep the namesake of the school.
The football team officially operates under the UNO Department Of Recreation and Intramurals. The club football team participates in the Midwestern Club Football Conference.
UNO Club Football
Club Football History
- In 1965, seven years after the founding of Louisiana State University at New Orleans, the first club football team was established. In its first year, the Privateers under head coach Robert Brown were defeated by cross-town rival, Loyola, in its first and only game of the season. Under new head coach Richard Blessing, the Privateers went 1-1 with its first victory coming over Spring Hill, and went 2-1 the following year.
- Coming off its first winning season in school history, Tom Gruber took over the program and recorded a 3-1 record with wins over Centenary, Spring Hill, and Loyola. The 1968 Privateer team won the South District Championship of the National Club Football Association and finished 8th in the final NCFA poll.
- Off of its best record in its short history, new head coach Dale Hoffpauir had big shoes to fill. Hoffpauir delivered with a 3-2-1 record in his first year with wins over Nicholls State, Loyola, and Spring Hill. The Privateers won its second consecutive South District championship and finished 4th in the final NCFA poll.
- In the team's final year, the Privateers finished their lengthy schedule 3-4. Despite the losing season, the Privateers won its third consecutive South District championship.
- In 1971, the NCFA folded and UNO dropped its club football program, fearing that it was not financially possible to sustain an intercollegiate football program.
- After countless attempts to revive the club football program, the club football team released its 2008 football schedule. Under head coach Andy Benoit, Jr., the UNO Privateer club football team played its first game in thirty-eight years at Tad Gormley Stadium against SIUE on November 8, 2008 in front of 3,707 fans. For the final game of the year, the Privateers headed up to Xavier University (OH) but were defeated 25-6.
Current Club Football Coaching Staff
- Head Coach / Def. Coordinator / LBs: Andy Benoit, Jr.
- Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Backs: Carl Pilie
- Offensive/Defensive Line Coach: Jeremy Lane
- Receivers / Tight Ends Coach: Christian Belteau
- Defensive Backs Coach / Special Teams Coordinator: Jonathan Sanders
- Special Teams Assistant / Sports Information: Ian Guevara
2008 UNO Club Football Season
In 2008 Andy Benoit, Jr. spearheaded the return of club football to UNO, playing two games. The Privateers lost both games, including a 30-14 home loss to SIU-Edwardsville in front of an estimated 3,707 fans in Tad Gormley Stadium. They also traveled to Cincinnati to take on club football powerhouse Xavier, losing that game 25-6.
The team generated excitement and served a vital part in efforts to support a student athletic fee that would have in turn give additional funding to the club football program while keeping afloat the Division I athletic department.
2009 UNO Club Football Season
The 2009 season was highlighted by an 19-3 opening game victory over Texas-Arlington in front of 2,280 fans at Tad Gormley Stadium. The Privateers got a taste of varsity scholarship college football in their first road contest of the season, and were on the receiving end of a 78-14 thrashing at the hands of the USCAA's Concordia College (Selma). UNO's most dominant victory came in the rematch against UTA in Arlington, where the Privateers scored 30 second quarter points en route to a 44-7 triumph.
After a vote placed the school's homecoming festivities at a UNO club football game for the first time, the Privateers concluded the home schedule by defeating Xavier (Ohio) 35-21 before an estimated 3,500 fans at Gormley.
2009 Privateer Football Schedule (Final Record: 5-3-0) |
Date |
09/19/09 |
9/27/09 |
10/03/09 |
10/10/09 |
10/17/09 |
10/24/09 |
11/07/09 |
11/14/09 |
Plans for the Future
- Following the resignation of then Athletic Director, Jim Miller, Chancellor Tim Ryan announced to interim Athletic Director Mike Bujol that club level football was on the table for an eventual elevation to varsity status. At the time, in an article in The Times-Picayune, Bujol remarked, "This is going to be a process, and I think we are going to have to look at it over a two- to three-year period."
Models of Football for Consideration
Models under consideration for the future of football per comments made on the NewOrleans.com message board and a study from 2000 include the following:
- 1) Remaining a club football program separate from the athletic department
- 2) Participating in non-scholarship Division I football
- 3) Participating in scholarship Division I football in what was formerly known as I-AA
- 4) Participating in scholarship Division I football as a member of the Sun Belt Conference