MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama has scheduled its first games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, announcing this month that the Jaguars will play at North Carolina State and at Kent State on consecutive Saturdays during the 2011 season.
South Alabama will visit NC State on Sept. 17, 2011, and Kent State on Sept. 24, 2011. Both games are part of two-for-one series with those schools.
A Full Division I Slate in 2011
The 2011 schedule will also include six other Division I opponents, four of them at home in Mobile. Lamar and UC Davis will complete home-and-home agreements with visits on Sept. 10 and Oct. 1, respectively. Tennessee-Martin will visit on Oct. 15, and Cal Poly will close the season in Mobile on Nov. 19.
Head coach Joey Jones, who is preparing for the program’s second season, said the schedule reflects the direction of the program.
“We feel like this is a great step forward for where we want to go,” Jones said. “Obviously, playing all of these Division I schools on the schedule in our third year will present a challenge. In the grand scheme of things, it’s about where we are going and preparing for a schedule that will feature pretty much all FBS opponents the following year.”
“Each year we want to step up the level of competition on our schedule – our kids and staff want to be challenged,” Jones said. “Certainly we will have some bumps along the way playing teams at this level, but it’s where we want to be and where this program is headed.”
2010 Home Kickoff Times
South Alabama will play seven home games in 2010 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The athletics department announced that all six Saturday home games will kick off at 4 p.m. The season finale, the lone Thursday night game, will be played Nov. 11 against Arkansas-Monticello with a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Travel Packages for First Road Games
The 2010 season will include the first road games in program history, and the university is offering travel packages for fans:
- Edward Waters, Sept. 25, Dothan: South Alabama’s first road game will be against Edward Waters in the Wiregrass Football Classic. A game ticket with tailgating costs $35, and a $78 package adds round-trip travel to the game.
- Lamar, Oct. 16: A three-day package includes round-trip transportation from the South Alabama campus, two nights at the MCM Elegante Hotel and Convention Center and a reception. Prices range from $75 to $475 depending on ticket costs, the number of paying travelers and room occupancy.
- UC Davis, Oct. 23: A three-day trip includes a two-night stay at the Embassy Suites Riverfront Promenade, among other features. The cost ranges from $260 to $375, not including airfare.
