Alabama State releases 2006 football schedule

March 23, 2006

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama State has released its tentative 2006 football schedule, one that features four home games, three classics and the school's first-ever meeting with a Division I-A opponent.

Coming off a 6-5 season in 2005, the Hornets open the season on Sept. 2 at Troy University, ASU's first meeting against the Trojans since 2000 and the first time Bama State will play an opponent from the NCAA's highest football classification.

"Troy is obviously more than a worthy opponent," said ASU head coach Charles Coe, who is 24-12 in three seasons with the Hornets. "We're looking forward to the challenge of playing them in Troy."

While the Trojans present a formidable challenge, Coe knows his young team will need to get ready for its quest for a league championship, as the next nine games will come against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.

"It's always a challenge in the SWAC. We have a young football team that has some big shoes to fill," Coe said. "We've been fortunate enough to go to two of the last three championship games and we hope that we can get these guys in a position to do it again."

On Sept. 9, Bama State begins its home slate at Cramton Bowl against SWAC foe Texas Southern. The rest of the home schedule includes a visit from Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 16, a Nov. 11 matchup with Mississippi Valley State, and the season-ending Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee University on Nov. 23.

The 83rd Turkey Day Classic is one of three Classics on the ASU schedule. The Hornets will battle Jackson State in the 33rd Gulf Coast Classic at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. on Oct. 7. The 65th Magic City Classic, pitting the Hornets against last season's Eastern Division winner Alabama A&M, is scheduled for Oct. 28 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

The remainder of the Alabama State schedule features a slew of tough road games at Alcorn State (Sept. 23), Southern (Sept. 30), Prairie View A&M (Oct. 14) and defending SWAC champion Grambling State (Nov. 4).

"All of our road games are going to be tough. Even Prairie View went 5-6 last year with a young team. They're on the rise and they're hungry. Grambling State has won four championships and have been the team to beat. And Alcorn State came on strong at the end of last year," Coe said. "We're going to have our work cut out for us."

Times for all the games, as well as ticket prices, will be announced at a later date.

Front Page

Newsroom Index