As seen in the Fall issue of DU Review magazine. 

 

Davenport University is giving fans a whole new reason to cheer with the addition of women’s flag football to its athletic offerings. The inaugural season begins in 2027, with games set to kick off in February.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association recognized flag football as an emerging sport at the 2026 NCAA Convention, and in June, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference became the first Midwest-based NCAA Division II conference to officially sponsor women’s flag football.

These announcements paved the way for women’s flag football to be adopted at collegiate athletic programs across Michigan, including at Davenport.

“I am excited to announce the launch of women’s flag football at Davenport University,” said Paul Lowden, Davenport’s executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “As one of the fastest-growing sports at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels, women’s flag football is a natural addition to our athletic offerings. We are proud to create new opportunities for female student-athletes to pursue their passion for flag football and create an environment for them to compete, grow, and succeed both on the field and in the classroom.”

For those unfamiliar with flag football, it’s a thrilling, edge-of-your- seat game. It has the same type of intensity as regular football, but it’s a 7-on-7 sport played on a 40-yard-by-80-yard field with 10-yard end zones. Games are divided into four 15-minute fast-paced quarters.

It’s a sport that has been going strong in many parts of the country for years and is surging in popularity in many Midwest states, like Michigan. Participation jumped in Michigan high schools from four pilot teams in 2023 to 80 teams across 15 leagues.

The National Football League’s backing and the sport’s debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics are fueling that interest.

The first championship game is expected to occur in spring 2028, with Purdue University Northwest, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Saginaw Valley State University, affiliate member Lewis University and Davenport vying for the title.

“Ryan brings more than a decade of extensive collegiate coaching experience and program-building experience that will be a tremendous asset in developing our women’s flag football program,” said Lowden. “With women’s flag football rapidly emerging as one of the fastest-growing sports, it was essential to find someone who not only understands the game but also has a strong grasp of the evolving landscape and opportunities within this sport.”

Adamovich said what impressed him most about Davenport was the university’s commitment to athletics and to making women’s flag football a success. “When I interviewed, Davenport had all of their ducks in a row,” he said. “They had a plan in place, and I was able to hit the ground running.”

For Adamovich, what he has before him is a blank slate to create a team and a program from the beginning, and he knows not many coaches get that kind of opportunity. “I’m a player-driven coach, and we will have a player-driven program. It won’t just be my vision,” he said. “It will also be the players’ vision. We get to turn the program into what we want, and it will be uniquely ours.”

Recruiting is one aspect of the job that Adamovich enjoys, especially building a team from the ground up. He will ultimately have room for 25 players on his team, of whom 18 are already locked in.

According to Adamovich, flag football is one of the most transferable sports, meaning anyone with an athletic background can play. “You don’t necessarily need playing experience. If someone has athleticism and can pick up the game quickly, there just might be a place for them on our roster,” he said.

He would like nothing more than for his team to be successful, but he also wants them to have fun while doing it. “Part of that is having our players guide the team just as much as I do. I’ll be looking to them to tell me what’s working and what’s not,” he said.

Adamovich said he plans to focus on technique and the mental aspect of the game, but also stressed that he will place great emphasis on academics, and that it needs to be the number one priority.

“I’m excited to join Davenport University and help build the Panthers flag football program,” said Adamovich. “It will be fun to create something special that supports our student-athletes both on and off the field.”

Samantha Meyer

Hometown: Chilton, Wisconsin

Major: Health and Human Services: Case Management

Favorite position: Rusher or linebacker

Most looking forward to: Developing on and off the field 

Samantha Meyer transferred to Davenport from Bryant and Stratton College in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She begins her Davenport journey as a junior in the Health and Human Services: Case Management program and looks forward to playing flag football for the Panthers.

While Davenport’s career-focused majors and the chance to play flag football initially drew her to campus, she is ready for all the new experiences that college life will bring.

“In addition to competing in flag football and earning my degree, I’m looking forward to meeting new people, making new friends and joining in on different campus activities,” she said.

Meyer is not new to football. She played tackle football in middle and high school and played flag football for two years at Bryant and Stratton College, where she also competed in wrestling.

While she appreciates the physicality of the game, she loves the social aspect most. “Flag football has allowed me to create lifelong friendships and memories with my teammates, and I don’t take that for granted,” she said.

While football is a traditionally male-dominated sport, Meyer said the evolution of flag football has provided women the opportunity to participate and excel. “Being a part of the first flag football team at DU is exciting, not just for me, but for the team and the university because it gives women another avenue to further their education and play collegiate sports,” she said.

Meyer asks one thing of faculty, staff and students, and that’s for them to come to a game. “I’d love it if the stands were full with people cheering us on,” she said.

 

Deishalee Pena Trinidad

Hometown: Kissimmee, Florida

Major: Biological Laboratory Science

Favorite position: Middle linebacker

Most looking forward to: Making connections with people from different backgrounds

Freshman Deishalee Pena Trinidad, originally from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, knew she would commit to play flag football at Davenport the minute she stepped foot on campus.

“When I first visited Davenport, I really liked the atmosphere and the overall feeling of the campus,” she said. “I could genuinely picture myself there. It was one of those situations where, when you know, you know.”

Trinidad has been playing flag football since the sixth grade, and her knowledge and love of the game have grown as much as the sport’s popularity. “When I started playing, I thought it would be a hobby, but it ended up becoming something I genuinely fell in love with,” she said.

Over the years, flag football has given Trinidad more than she ever expected. In addition to a platform from which to compete, it has given her unforgettable experiences, lasting friendships and precious memories. “Flag football has become such a meaningful part of my life. It’s crazy to look back at sixth grade me and realize that simply trying something new would eventually lead me here,” she said.

In terms of the sport exploding across the United States, Trinidad isn’t surprised at all. “I love that people are finally starting to realize how fun and competitive it is,” she said. “I also love that more people are realizing that football isn’t just a sport for men. Women can play too, and we can compete, have fun, and bring just as much energy and passion to the game.”

What’s more, Trinidad said she loves the community that surrounds flag football, noting the excitement and joy that comes from playing. “I love the rush, the adrenaline and the energy that the sport brings out of me. Every game has that feeling where you’re completely locked in, and nothing else matters in that moment. It’s competitive, exciting, and just genuinely fun,” she said.

Being one of the first players on the new sport’s roster at Davenport is an honor she doesn’t take lightly. “We are the building blocks of this new program, and we have an opportunity to create something that future Davenport athletes can be proud to be involved in,” she said.

While practice has just begun and the first game is months away, she’s more than ready to take the field. “We want that same kind of excitement and hype that you see at football games: the crowd, the energy and everyone coming together to support their team. We want to feel that at our games too,” she said.