MACOMB, Ill. - Six games at Hanson Field and a game at Big 12 Conference member Iowa State highlight the 2012 Western Illinois Football schedule. The schedule was announced on Wednesday (Dec. 21) by Dr. Tim Van Alstine, Assistant Vice President for Student Services/Director of Athletics. Finalized kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Western will again open on a Thursday night (Aug. 30), playing host to Butler (5-6 overall in 2011) in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The following week the Leathernecks face Hampton at Hanson Field as part of Family Weekend festivities. The Pirates finished last season 7-4, with two of the losses coming against FCS playoff teams. Western's only other meeting versus the Pirates came at Hampton in 2004, and this coming year's contest is the return half of the contractual home-and-home series.
The non-conference regular season closes out with a game at Iowa State on September 15th, also another first-time opponent. The Cyclones will represent the Big 12 in the Pinstripe Bowl next week.
With the addition of the University of South Dakota, Western and the Missouri Valley Football Conference will play an unbalanced schedule as the Leathernecks are not slated to play co-champion North Dakota State in 2012.
Western opens its MVFC schedule at Hanson Field versus Illinois State on September 22nd, which is also the Homecoming and Hall of Fame game. After a bye weekend Western will make consecutive trips to South Dakota, the first against the newest MVFC member Coyotes on October 6th. The Leathernecks then travel to South Dakota State on October 13th.
Following the two road games, Western returns to Hanson Field. Dads' Weekend is scheduled for October 20th against Indiana State, and Western hits the road again for a game at Missouri State on the 27th.
The Leathernecks play host to Northern Iowa (Nov. 3) and Youngstown State (Nov. 10) before closing out the regular season at Southern Illinois (Nov. 17). The Division I playoffs begin the following weekend (Nov. 24).
Van Alstine is excited about the upcoming football schedule and noted the importance of having an extra home game in 2012.
"Last year we averaged more than 8,000 fans per game at Hanson Field, and we drew great crowds the first three contests. Fans commented on how much they enjoyed the enhanced tailgating experience during 'Gameday at the Q', and the Macomb community benefits financially as well. We had to make the return trip to Sam Houston State and played our guarantee money game at Missouri, so we were limited to just five home games last year. Having Butler and Hampton travel to Hanson Field, in addition to the four MVFC games, we are excited about our 2012 home schedule," said Van Alstine. "This season we played the third-toughest schedule in Division I FCS, and we are the only team in the country to have faced both FCS national finalists during the regular season. In an 11-game schedule every game you can get at home is important. Butler nearly had a winning record last year, and Hampton will be another quality non-conference FCS opponent. We last played the Pirates in 2004 at their place, and we're looking forward to their return trip.
"Facing Iowa State for the first time will be a great experience for our student-athletes. Coach (Paul) Rhoads has turned their program around, making their second Bowl appearance in the last three years. Then right after that game we start conference play. We say it every year, but the MVFC is extremely tough from top to bottom. If we didn't have the upsets during the final week we could have had four or even five MVFC teams qualify for the playoffs this year instead of just two," said Van Alstine. "Head coach Mark Hendrickson, his staff and players have already put the disappointment from last season behind them, and they've been working hard to get this program back to the postseason."
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