PENSACOLA, Fla. - Ten years later, the memory remains fresh for UWF football coach Kaleb Nobles, recalling the first signature moment in the team's history.

Nobles was a transfer starting quarterback, getting ready to take the first snap on the first play of the first game in the Argos foray into collegiate football.

The Argos wowed in that inaugural game on Sept. 3, 2016 in Naples, beating Ave Maria University 45-0. Nobles completed 20 of 28 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns in a game that was halted for a couple hours at halftime due to a severe thunderstorm. When it resumed, it was the finish to a welcoming party. It led to the Argos making history at the NCAA Division II level, reaching that national championship game in 2017, then winning the title in 2019 with Nobles on the coaching staff.

The anxiety Nobles felt that day in 2016 is now in a different form as UWF makes its NCAA Division I debut on Thursday night at 6 p.m. against Southern Illinois, a well-established FCS (Football Championship Series) member, in a season-opener at Pen-Air Field. The game can be seen via livestream on ESPN-Plus.

"Things certainly have changed that's for sure," said Nobles, who enters his fourth season as UWF head coach. "Different mindset, different thoughts. Preparing for that first game that year is way different than what I'm thinking right now."

"A long bus ride (12 hours) to Ave Maria (that year). I remember that and getting there late at night and playing the next afternoon and (2 hour, 15 minute) rain delay."

"Things are definitely a lot different. A lot of construction going on, a lot of changes, a lot of real good things. But I think we can rely on the things we have done over the last few years to get everything started in the right way."

UWF sped up its plan to leap into Division I after getting an opportunity to join the United Athletic Conference in football, then the Atlantic Sun Conference in all other sports.

The construction of a football stadium at UWF has moved seating to one side and created logistical challenges that are natural with any work-in-progress venture.

"There are a lot of exciting things going on here and it's kind of what UWF is… we are a fairly young university, and there is a lot of growth going on here overall," Nobles said. "Not just the Division I jump, but we have a lot of buildings being built here. A lot of construction all the time that we have been able to watch every step of it happening."

The construction includes the makeover of UWF's football roster. There is a wide number of changes, especially among the offensive line and other areas with the transfer portal having great impact.

UWF began its preseason practices a week or so earlier on July 30, an option now that the Argos are Division I. One of the main focal points was at quarterback.

Marcus Stokes, a two-year starter, transferred to Memphis, after throwing for 3,297 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025. He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top Division II player.
Nobles said the Argos have settled on a starter, but it won't be revealed until the Argos take the field for their first offensive snap of the game Thursday.

"It's been good competition," he said. "We were trying to narrow it down. We do have a starter who we're rolling with, but it won't be public until about 6:03 (p.m.) on Thursday. This is my fourth quarterback as a coach, and it was a tough decision. A couple guys gave us a tough decision."

On the flip side, Southern Illinois brings in fifth-year senior D.J. Williams, a preseason All-American candidate in FCS and an NFL prospect. Williams is considered one of the nation's best FCS quarterbacks. He's proven proficient as a runner and passer.

"He's a dual threat guy," Nobles said. "A lot of people just label him as an athlete, but he can throw it and throw it a long ways. They (Salukis) do a great job and get him throwing to wide open receivers. The best way to stop a quarterback like that is disrupt his timing. We have to be ready to hem him up and not let him get loose."

Nobles knows UWF is now entering a whole new era. This is a huge leap in competition from Division II.

Southern Illinois has been to the FCS playoffs three times in the past 10 years and is used to competing against top-level Division I teams.

"Anxious," said Nobles, summarizing how he feels about the season-opener. "We have put in a lot of preparation since January and now you can get down to these last days and it's like, let's go play, let's go. And I have learned as a head coach that you think you know what you have as a team, but you really don't know until you play under a live scenario. We find out a lot better about our team and what they are made of. You think you know, but really you don't until you put (players) out there."

Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill, entering his 11th year at the school, agreed to make the trip to Pensacola and understood the construction zone at Pen-Air Field and the logistical challenges it would entail.

Nobles said he was grateful the Salukis agreed to play their season-opener on the road and become the opponent for UWF's historic first Division I football game.

"It's not easy to do a schedule this quick," Nobles said. "We were struggling to find opponents. We made some adjustments. We have now been signing a lot of contracts in the past couple months, because when you go to this level, you have to sign contracts way out in advance."

"We're excited. Ready to go. I know we're tired of hitting each other and I know (Salukis) are the same way."