2012 Alabama State Football Schedule

A nationally-televised season opener and the opening of the new on-campus football stadium on Thanksgiving Day highlights the 2012 Alabama State University football schedule.
 
The Hornets will play five games in Montgomery, four of them at Cramton Bowl prior to the inaugural game in New ASU Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22 vs. Tuskegee in the 89^th Turkey Day Classic.
 
In addition to the 71^st State Farm Magic City Classic in Birmingham, one of nine Southwestern Athletic Conference games, Alabama State will open the season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney vs. Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, Sept. 2 in Orlando, Fla. in a nationally televised game (kickoff TBD) on one of the ESPN family of networks.
 
“I'm very excited about our 2012 schedule,” said 6^th-year head coach Reggie Barlow, coming off posting an 8-3 campaign in 2011 which included a 7-2 mark in conference play. “To be able to open on national television against Bethune-Cookman is a good way to start the season.  The conference schedule will bring excitement and is a challenge as it is every year. The final regular season game against Tuskegee on Thanksgiving Day to open our new stadium will be something we all will remember. It should be a fun year.”
 
Alabama State will play its home opener Sept. 8 vs. Mississippi Valley State, before travelling to face defending SWAC Champion Grambling State on Sept. 15. The Hornets will return home Sept. 22 to host the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and end the month at Alcorn State on Sept. 29.
 
October will bring back-to-back home game games, as the Hornets will host Texas Southern on Oct. 6 and Jackson State Oct. 13. Following an open date on Oct. 20, Alabama State will take on arch-rival Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic at historic Legion Field on Oct. 27.
 
The Hornets will play consecutive road games to open November, with contests at Prairie View A&M Nov. 3 and at Southern Nov. 10. Following an open date, ASU will open its new on-campus football stadium in the 89^th Turkey Day Classic vs. Tuskegee on Nov. 22.
 
The 2012 SWAC Championship game is set for Dec. 8 in Birmingham.