The Davenport University football team had a solid season in 2022 but lived in the shadow of powerhouse teams Grand Valley State and Ferris State.

The Panthers lost to both teams in back-to-back weeks to end the regular season and then lost to Ferris State again in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. 

Davenport had opened the season with eight consecutive wins, before running into the two squads that have dominated the conference—and arguably Division II football—in recent years. 

Davenport finished the 2022 campaign with an 8-3 overall mark, which included the playoff loss. In Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, the Panthers were 4-2 and finished third in the standings behind GVSU (6-0) and Ferris State (5-1).

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The GLIAC again includes seven teams and returns three programs that finished with winning records in 2022. That includes Grand Valley State, which went 12-1 overall and claimed the GLIAC title with a 6-0 record.

GLIAC football action will be streamed live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including all of Davenport’s GLIAC games.

Here’s What To Know About Davenport University Football:

What Year Did Davenport Start Playing Football?

Davenport University fielded its first football team in 2016. 

The Panthers were 6-5 in their debut season under head coach Lou Esposito, who moved on to Western Michigan the following season.

Sparky McEwen took over for Esposito and has been at the helm ever since.

In their short history, the Panthers are 31-36.

In What Division Of College Football Does Davenport University Play? 

The Davenport University football team plays at the NCAA Division II level.

The team’s first year of action (2016) was spent playing in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

For the 2017 season, the Panthers got a new head coach and moved up to Division II.

How Many Times Has Davenport Football Made It To The Playoffs?

The young Davenport University football team made it’s first playoff appearance in 2022.

The Panthers finished their regular season with an 8-2 record (after starting 8-0) and 4-2 mark in the GLIAC. 

Though they finished third in the conference standings, the Panthers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Playoffs and played in Super Region 3.

In the opening round of the playoffs, Davenport faced conference rival and defending national champion, Ferris State.

The two had met a few weeks earlier in the regular season, a 28-7 Ferris State victory, and the playoff matchup ended in the Bulldogs’ favor, 41-7. Ferris went on to win the national title for the second consecutive year.

When Did Davenport Football Join The GLIAC?

The Davenport University football team joined the GLIAC in 2017 after spending its first year of varsity action in the NAIA.

Has Davenport University Football Ever Won The GLIAC title?

Davenport University has never won a GLIAC title. 

The Panthers were 4-2 in conference play a year ago and finished third in the conference behind Grand Valley State (6-0) and Ferris State (5-1).

Who Is The Davenport Football Head Coach?

In 2017, Sparky McEwen became the second head coach in Davenport University football history. He replaced Lou Esposito, who guided the team through its inaugural campaign in 2016, before moving on to Western Michigan.

McEwen immediately was tasked with helping Davenport transition to Division II play and a new spot in the GLIAC. There were some growing pains, however, as the Panthers were 1-10 overall and 0-9 in conference play, but McEwen was able to quickly turn things around.

In the seasons that followed, the Panthers were 6-5, 5-5 and 2-0, before struggling to a 3-8 mark in 2021.

Again, McEwen was able to turn things around. He led Davenport to an 8-3 performance in 2022 that included advancing to the playoffs for the first time in school history. The success helped earn him 2022 GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.

Before taking the top job at Davenport, McEwen spent five years coaching at rival Ferris State, his alma mater.

While a player for the Bulldogs, McEwen was a four-year starter, playing quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner (1987-1990). 

As a coach for Ferris State, he worked on the passing game, helped the receivers and worked as a pro and alumni liaison.

Between his playing days and coaching days at Ferris State, McEwen spent more than 10 years as a player and coach in the Arena Football League. He’d also spent time coaching at the high school level.  

Who Is Davenport Football’s Biggest Rival? 

Having only been around since 2016, it might be tough for Davenport University to claim a biggest rival just yet, but a couple of fellow GLIAC teams definitely have been thorns so far.

Davenport is 0-7 against Ferris State, including a loss in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Division II Playoffs. 

Davenport is 0-5 against Grand Valley State University, which won the GLIAC title last season, one game ahead of Ferris State.

On the other side of things, Davenport is 5-2 against GLIAC foe Northern Michigan, including a 27-24 overtime win in 2022.

Where Is Davenport University?

Davenport University is in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was founded as Grand Rapids Business College in 1866.

The school, known then as Valley City Commercial College, was facing potential closure, when a new teacher, Michael Davenport, arrived at the school and helped rally the staff. He helped the school grow and thrive. He helped lead the progress from 1910 until his death in 1959.

The school officially was named in honor of Davenport in 1924 – the Davenport-McLachlan Institute. In 1948, it was changed to the Davenport Institute. 

The footprint continued to grow, campuses were added and accreditation was achieved in 1976.

Under the leadership of Randolph Flechsig, who was president of the institution from 2000-2009, three regional colleges—Davenport College, Detroit College of Business and Great Lakes College—were brought together to form Davenport University (2000).

Notable Davenport University Alums

Politician Harry DeMaso, Nigerian doctor Ikenna Ihim, Dorothy Downton (former personal secretary to United States President Gerald Ford).

After the 2023 NFL Draft, Davenport wide receiver Sy Barnett was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, making him the first player in program history to receive an NFL contract.

During Sparky McEwen’s tenure, Davenport has sent a handful of players to the NFL. 

Brian Williams (Minnesota Vikings) and Derek Calloway (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) earned invites to NFL mini-camps in the spring of 2019.

Davenport Football Schedule 2023

• Sept. 2: Thomas More, noon ET
• Sept. 9: Bowie State, noon ET
• Sept. 23: William Jewell, noon ET
• Sept. 30: at Michigan Tech, 1 p.m. ET
• Oct. 7: Northern Michigan, 2 p.m. ET
• Oct. 14: at Wayne State, 6 p.m. ET
• Oct. 21: at University of Mary, 1 p.m. ET
• Oct. 28: Saginaw Valley State, noon ET
• Nov. 4: Ferris State, noon ET
• Nov. 11: at Grand Valley State, 1 p.m. ET