SEVEN HOME GAMES HIGHLIGHT 2004 SOUTHEASTERN LA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

3/1/04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: SOUTHEASTERN SPORTS INFORMATION, 985-549-2142, 507-1891

FOOTBALL: SEVEN HOME GAMES HIGHLIGHT 2004 SOUTHEASTERN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

HAMMOND – A school-record seven home games highlight the 2004 Southeastern Louisiana football schedule released today by university officials.

The Lions' seven contests scheduled for Strawberry Stadium eclipse the previous high of six home games set last season. According to Director of Athletics Frank Pergolizzi, both the home and road schedules set up well for Lion fans.

“The seven home games are certainly a bonus for our fans and it is our intention to give them every opportunity to see what an exciting product our coaches and players put on the field,” remarked Pergolizzi. “It also sets up well for fans who wish to travel with our team on the road as all but one road game is within reasonable driving distance."

With full football-playing Southland Conference membership to begin in 2005, the Lions once again scheduled with that fact firmly in focus. The ’04 schedule comes flavored with a solid field of SLC institutions with three in the first four games including two road tests. The schedule also boasts nine games against I-AA competition, up from the eight I-A and I-AA games scheduled last year.

Following an opening game against Division II Arkansas-Monticello at Strawberry Stadium on September 4, the Lions visit SLC power McNeese State (Sept. 11) and Texas State (Sept. 18) in back to back weeks. The final game against a SLC member follows as Sam Houston comes to Hammond Sept. 25.

“We’re very excited about our schedule and we’ll once again play basically one-half of a Southland Conference slate,” replied second-year head coach Hal Mumme. “Last year was a great learning experience for our players who were introduced to the high-level of competition in the SLC. We grew a lot as a team through last season and started to put things together towards the end of the year. With the majority of our team returning, we’ll look to continue that trend as we begin 2004."

The Sam Houston game begins a stretch of six straight home contests for the Lions who won’t play away from Strawberry Stadium during the month of October.

Southwestern Athletic Conference member Mississippi Valley State visits Hammond Oct. 2 with Northern Colorado, which briefly cracked the top-25 last season, coming to town Oct. 9. Following an open week, the Lions host St. Mary ’s (Calif.) Oct. 23 and close the month with Alcorn State on Oct. 30.

The Lions close the season with two of three games on the road beginning with a Nov. 6 return trip to take on Jacksonville University. Southeastern hosts NAIA member Texas College Nov. 11 in the lone Thursday night game on the schedule before wrapping up the 2004 slate with a trip to North Carolina to take on Gardner-Webb Nov. 20.

2004 Southeastern Louisiana Football Schedule

Sept. 4 Arkansas-Monticello Home
Sept. 11 McNeese State Away
Sept. 18 Texas State Away
Sept. 25 Sam Houston State Home
Oct. 2 Mississippi Valley State Home
Oct. 9 Northern Colorado Home
Oct. 16 Open
Oct. 23 St. Mary’s (Calif.) Home
Oct. 30 Alcorn State Home
Nov. 6 Jacksonville Univ. Away
Nov. 11 Texas College Home
Nov. 20 Gardner-Webb Away



Dart Volz
Assistant Athletics Director, Media Relations
Southeastern Louisiana University
dvolz@selu.edu
985-549-2142
985-549-3773 (fax)