The University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan aren’t the only games in town for college football anymore, or at least they won’t be by 2010, when Concordia University plans to kick off a program.

“We’ve been looking at this for a number of years,” said Concordia athletic director Ben Limback. “We’re in a great location, so we think it’s going to be a great draw for those students in high school that want a chance to still play, but maybe they didn’t get that Division I offer from U of M or Eastern Michigan.

“I think those kids that have the dreams to play football when they’re little kids, to go to the Big House, and then they realize when they get to high school that hey, I’m not going to get to the Big House; they can come on over here to the little house and have a chance to play.”

A coaching search is under way. A hiring deadline hasn’t been identified, but Limback said he’d like to have someone in place by Jan. 1.

Limback said a budget and five-year plan has been laid out, but he declined to provide details. The blueprint includes efforts to build an on-campus football stadium. The athletic department is exploring contracts with area high schools for an immediate game-day venue.

“We’re going to have to campaign to raise money, but we think it’s going to open up a completely different donor base,” said Limback. “The interest in football here is high, and we feel like we can help embrace that.”

Concordia, an NAIA affiliated school, is in the process of applying for membership in the Mid-States Football Association. The goal of the university is to operate as a club program next season and become a varsity program by 2011. Related sports on the docket for addition are competitive cheerleading and competitive dance, which would help the university stay in compliance with Title IX.

University president Chuck Winterstein spoke of the benefits he thought football will bring to Concordia in an announcement published on the university’s Web site.

“Football adds to the overall college experience for our students,” Winterstein said. “It builds relationships with the community and our alumni base. Unlike any other sport, football has a connecting power. We are very excited to this program getting off the ground.”

Pete Cunningham covers sports for annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2561 or by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com.