June 27, 2008

ASU Releases 2008 Football Schedule

By ASU News Services Staff

The Alabama State University Hornet football team, coming off a 5-6 2007 season under first-year head coach Reggie Barlow, released its 2008 football schedule. The 10-game regular season features three home games, three classics and four road games.

Beginning Aug. 30, the Hornets travel to Tallahassee, Fla., and take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M University (3-8 in 2007). They go to Daytona Beach, Fla., on Sept. 6 and face the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University (5-6). On Sept. 20, the team will travel to Birmingham to take on the Blazers of the University of Alabama in Birmingham (2-10).

The Hornets kick off conference play Thursday night, Sept. 25 in the home opener against Mississippi Valley State University, a game that will be broadcast on ESPNU. They head back on the road to Prairie View, Texas, on Oct. 11 to take on the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University.

ASU and Alabama A&M University will meet at Legion Field Stadium on Oct. 25 in Birmingham for the 67th Annual Magic City Classic, which also is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU.

Back on the road, the Hornets will travel to Alcorn, Miss., on Nov. 1 to face the Braves of Alcorn State University. The following week, Nov. 8, the Tigers of Jackson State University visit Cramton Bowl in Montgomery for ASU's annual Connection Day.

Southern University and Alabama State University will match up in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile for the 35th Annual Gulf Coast Classic, Saturday, Nov. 15.

ASU will celebrate Homecoming on Nov. 27, when the Hornets meet the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University in the nation's oldest black college football classic, the 86th Annual Turkey Day Classic in Cramton Bowl.

"This is a good money-making schedule"said Ron Dickerson, ASU's Interim Athletic Director. "We're very pleased with the revenue this can produce for us. Travel is going to hurt some with fuel prices where they are. But these are all good games that we couldn't pass up."

The television games and the guaranteed payouts have helped offset some of the disappointment over the schedule containing just three home games.

"Next year, we'll have six or seven home games,"said Dickerson. "Coach Barlow is very excited, as we all are, about playing at home and on national TV. We've done what we can to make this season profitable and enjoyable for fans."