Azusa Pacific University will celebrate a historic moment on Sept. 19 as the Cougars take the field against the Whittier College Poets. After a six-year hiatus, thousands of APU students, families, faculty, staff, and area fans will fill the newly renovated stands of Cougar Stadium to celebrate the return of APU Football. Welcoming back the gridiron action on campus marks a vibrant new era for Cougar Athletics, as APU begins competition in NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
For head football coach A.J. Parnell, who spent the past year recruiting student-athletes and building a Christ-centered championship culture, game day represents the culmination of immense vision and hard work. All 102 student-athletes on APU’s football team are eager to step onto the field and set the tone for this new era. “Over the past year, it has been incredible to see APU Football reestablished,” Parnell said.
The anticipation surrounding the matchup has fueled an extraordinary wave of excitement among students and alumni who are thrilled to return to campus for the game and APU’s Homecoming weekend. Gary Pine, athletic director, expects the contest to draw a historic crowd to Cougar Stadium. “We anticipate it will be the largest attended athletic contest in the venue’s 40-year history,” Pine said. “Many alumni from across California and the West Coast will be present for the return of Cougar football at homecoming. I can’t wait to welcome them back!”
Cheering the Cougars on from afar will be three notable APU alumni: Christian Okoye ’86, Dave Canales ’03, and Spencer Danielson ’12. Okoye, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” set 14 school records before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and becoming their all-time leading rusher and the 1989 AFC Offensive Player of the Year. After playing wide receiver at APU, Canales worked his way through the NFL coaching ranks and serves as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. After leading the Cougars as a standout linebacker, Danielson joined APU’s coaching staff before becoming the head coach of Boise State’s nationally ranked football program.
This game represents a truly momentous achievement in collegiate sports, as dozens of universities have cut their football programs in recent decades. APU is one of only two California universities to add a football program since 1994. Ironically, the other institution is Whittier, which is also relaunching its football program this year and serving as APU’s inaugural home opponent.
The revival of Cougar Football coincides with APU’s strategic transition from NCAA Division II to Division III. The program’s return was propelled by a $1 million anonymous gift, which fully funded initial startup costs, essential player equipment, coaching salaries, and first-year operations.
Fans attending the matchup will experience major enhancements at Cougar Stadium. Upgrades include a state-of-the-art FieldTurf Vertex CORE playing surface, a 15.5 x 27.5-foot Daktronics high-definition video scoreboard, and beautified stands wrapped in APU’s signature brick red.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PST on Sept. 19, at Cougar Stadium on APU’s East Campus (901 E Alosta Ave, Azusa, CA 91702). Media are invited to cover the landmark matchup. Credentials, sideline access, and interview requests can be coordinated through APU’s Department of Marketing, Communication, and Engagement. Contact Nathan Foster, public relations manager, at [email protected] or (626) 815-5405 for more information.
More than 400 student athletes compete in Azusa Pacific University’s 20-sport intercollegiate athletics program. APU has become a model for collegiate athletic success in terms of student impact, integrity, and leadership, with 48 national championships.