Football releases 2009 schedule
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Sports
SBU Bearcat head coach Keith Allen has released the 2009 football schedule. The 11-game regular season slate includes a road trip to an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent, some former MIAA foes and several tough holdovers from the 2008 schedule.
The Bearcats open the 2009 campaign with a short trip to Warrensburg, where they'll battle the Central Missouri Mules at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27. Game two will be a week later on Thursday, Sept. 3 against another former MIAA opponent, when the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State come to Plaster Stadium for 6 p.m. contest.
The month of September continues with two straight road games. SBU will visit Harding in Searcy, Ark., on September 12 and then travel to FCS member Southern Illinois on September 19. This is the fourth straight season that SBU has played an FCS (formerly I-AA) opponent, following Missouri State in 2006, and Southeast Missouri in both 2007 and 2008. September closes for the Bearcats on the 26th, with their first 2009 afternoon game (1:30 p.m.) at home versus Kentucky Wesleyan.
October opens with a visit to Edmond, Okla., and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on October 3. SBU Homecoming is October 10, with a 2:00 p.m. kickoff with NAIA Southern Nazarene. Another home contest follows on October 17 against Northeastern Oklahoma State. SBU closes the month with road stops at Ouachita Baptist on October 24 and St. Joseph's Indiana on October 31.
SBU closes the regular season on Nov. 7 at home against Missouri S&T, in a matchup of former conference rivals. SBU left the MIAA in football to compete as an independent in 2008 while the Miners did the same in 2005, before later joining the Great Lakes Football Conference.
"I think we've upgraded our schedule just like we've upgraded our team," said Head Coach Keith Allen. "We removed two NAIA teams and replaced them with Central Missouri and a very competitive Southern Nazarene squad. We also replaced SEMO with Southern Illinois, and the Salukis were a FCS playoff team last year. It's a good balance of home and away and day and night games. Our schedule is tough right from the start, but that will make us better. We're always working hard to improve."
The 2008 SBU Bearcats finished 5-6 overall in their first year as an independent team. Last year's squad set numerous school records including most points, most offensive yards and most passing yards in a season. This year's group returns several key players, including QB Steve Gachette, WR Johnnie King, LB Jarred Schumpert and DB Tyrin Holt.
The Bearcats open the 2009 campaign with a short trip to Warrensburg, where they'll battle the Central Missouri Mules at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27. Game two will be a week later on Thursday, Sept. 3 against another former MIAA opponent, when the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State come to Plaster Stadium for 6 p.m. contest.
The month of September continues with two straight road games. SBU will visit Harding in Searcy, Ark., on September 12 and then travel to FCS member Southern Illinois on September 19. This is the fourth straight season that SBU has played an FCS (formerly I-AA) opponent, following Missouri State in 2006, and Southeast Missouri in both 2007 and 2008. September closes for the Bearcats on the 26th, with their first 2009 afternoon game (1:30 p.m.) at home versus Kentucky Wesleyan.
October opens with a visit to Edmond, Okla., and the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on October 3. SBU Homecoming is October 10, with a 2:00 p.m. kickoff with NAIA Southern Nazarene. Another home contest follows on October 17 against Northeastern Oklahoma State. SBU closes the month with road stops at Ouachita Baptist on October 24 and St. Joseph's Indiana on October 31.
SBU closes the regular season on Nov. 7 at home against Missouri S&T, in a matchup of former conference rivals. SBU left the MIAA in football to compete as an independent in 2008 while the Miners did the same in 2005, before later joining the Great Lakes Football Conference.
"I think we've upgraded our schedule just like we've upgraded our team," said Head Coach Keith Allen. "We removed two NAIA teams and replaced them with Central Missouri and a very competitive Southern Nazarene squad. We also replaced SEMO with Southern Illinois, and the Salukis were a FCS playoff team last year. It's a good balance of home and away and day and night games. Our schedule is tough right from the start, but that will make us better. We're always working hard to improve."
The 2008 SBU Bearcats finished 5-6 overall in their first year as an independent team. Last year's squad set numerous school records including most points, most offensive yards and most passing yards in a season. This year's group returns several key players, including QB Steve Gachette, WR Johnnie King, LB Jarred Schumpert and DB Tyrin Holt.
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