Monmouth University’s Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan has announced the team’s 2012 schedule.
Monmouth, which will be celebrating the 20th year of Division I FCS football, will take on a non-conference schedule that includes a rematch with NCAA quarterfinalist Lehigh University, a home game against future NEC member University of Rhode Island and the team’s first contest against Ivy League opponent Cornell.
“We are excited for the challenge of the 2012 schedule,” said Callahan. “Lehigh’s Goodman Stadium offers a great atmosphere to start the season. We are looking forward to the rematch with URI and the first ever meeting against Cornell.”
Monmouth opens the season for the second straight season against Lehigh, a team which has won 10 games in back to back years.
The following weekend, MU welcomes future Northeast Conference member University of Rhode Island to Kessler Field for the first time in history. The Rams were 3-8 last season in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Conference but two of those wins came over nationally-ranked Delaware and William & Mary. The Hawks fell to the Rams 27-24 in the 2008 season opener in Kingston.
The quest for Monmouth’s sixth NEC Title begins against conference rival Wagner in Staten Island on September 15. The visiting team has won seven out of the eight contests in the series and it should be noted that MU was a perfect 5-0 on the road in 2011. Monmouth hosts Sacred Heart on September 22, a team which the Hawks have won eight of the last nine meetings against.
Monmouth’s open date comes at the middle of the season before the team plays its final non-league game of the 2012 season against Cornell. The October 13 game will be the first between the Big Red and the Hawks and will be the first time in 20 seasons that MU has faced a team from the Ivy League.
MU owns a winning record against the four of the final five opponents of the 2012 season, beginning with Bryant, a team that went 7-4 last season. The Hawks then travel to Pittsburgh to play defending co-champions Duquesne on October 27.
The Hawks are home for back to back games for the only time all season as they open up November by hosting Central Connecticut State on November 3 then host Saint Francis on Senior Day on November 10. The Hawks wrap up the 2012 season back in Pittsburgh against Robert Morris.“There is a great deal of parity among the teams in the Northeast Conference,” said Callahan. “Every game is important as each of the league’s nine teams are competing for the conference’s automatic berth in the FCS Playoffs.”
The Hawks were 5-6 overall last year, including a 4-4 mark in Northeast Conference play.
All times are still yet to be announced and dates are subject to change due to television scheduling.
2012 Football Schedule (Date | Opponent (Conference) | Place | Time)
9-1 | Lehigh (Patriot League) | Bethlehem, P.A. | TBA
9-8 | Rhode Island (Colonial) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
9-15 | Wagner (NEC) | Staten Island, N.Y. | TBA
9-22 | Sacred Heart (NEC) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
9-29 | Albany (NEC) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
10-6 | OPEN DATE
10-13 | Cornell (Ivy League) | Ithaca, N.Y. | TBA
10-20 | Bryant (NEC) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
10-27 | Duquesne (NEC) | Pittsburgh, P.A | TBA
11-3 | Central Conn. State (NEC) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
11-10 | Saint Francis, PA (NEC) | West Long Branch, N.J. | TBA
11-17 | Robert Morris (NEC) | Pittsburgh, P.A. | TBA
