© 2024 | WUWF Public Media
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
850 474-2787
NPR for Florida's Great Northwest
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UWF Argos Make University History With First Football Game

Dave Dunwoody
Credit Dave Dunwoody, WUWF Public Media
West Florida lines up against Ave Maria, in the Argonauts' first-ever football game.

As you probably know by now, the newly-minted UWF football team routed Ave Maria University 45-0 on Saturday. But this was more than just a game, it was history. 

Many of the 200 or so UWF supporters made the 11-hour trip from Pensacola to Ave Maria University, about 20 miles east of Naples, for the Argonauts inaugural game. Before kickoff, they took part in another college football tradition: tailgating. 

Enjoying the sun was George Birch of Clearwater, whose grandson J.J. Lewis is a freshman wide receiver on the Argonauts’ practice squad.

“My grandson had six offers,” Birch said. “To me, if you enroll in a football program go to a new program, you’ve got a chance to play. I said ‘Give yourself a chance, go out there and show the coach what you’ve got.” 

Across the way were tents set up by the UWF Alumni Association. Brett Barrow is national alumni president, and says he’s hearing a lot of excitement from Argonauts around the country.

“We’ve conducted numerous network events in other markets outside Pensacola,” said Barrow. “And without question, the most excitement and the most number of questions are coming around football.”

UWF President Judy Bense started the clock to football running in 2011. At the alumni tent, she said getting the team onto Ave Maria’s Gyrene Field is the product of a five-year plan. 

“And now we’re in year five,” said Bense. “We’ve got the money, it’s our money and we’ve got a beautiful field. We’ve got great coaches. But it was very planned it cost a little more but we had a little cushion.”

Prior to taking the field, Argos Head Coach Pete Shinnick addressed the 63 players suited up for the game in white uniforms with blue and green trim and blue helmets.

“Have a blast out there,” Shinnick told the players. “We are living the dream right now, we are starting football at the University of West Florida, and you were there – you were a part of it.”

Running back Tim Bellinger scored the first of his two touchdowns – and the first-ever for Argonaut football in the second quarter. There were a lot of firsts, including the first weather delay, two hours and 15 minutes, as heavy thunderstorms moved through the Naples area at halftime.

After the game, West Florida Athletics Director Dave Scott was already looking ahead to next Saturday, and the home opener against Missouri S&T at Fetterman field. 

“It was great to see the excitement, and I think next weekend in Pensacola is going to be something like we’ve never seen in Pensacola,” said Scott. “Just the enthusiasm for football is going to be great.”

Also looking to next week is Coach Pete Shinnick who, like all other coaches, feels that the team can improve a bit before lining up against the Miners.

“Very pleased with our effort [but] we turned the ball over three times – not pleased about that. [It’s] something that we definitely got to work on,” Shinnick said. “We’ve got to get better in some areas to prepare for them. But we’re really looking forward to playing at Blue Wahoos Stadium.”

Missouri S&T is also coming off a blowout victory on Saturday, 62-14 over Bacone College

It is said that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That first step for West Florida football was taken on Saturday.