Future W K U Opponents Announced

MeanGreen61 · April 27, 2007

FUTURE WKU FOOTBALL OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED

Bowling Green, Ky. -- Numerous future Western Kentucky University football opponents were revealed Friday at the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce's monthly breakfast, including home-and-home deals that will see a pair of schools from Bowl Championship Series (BCS) leagues visit L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field.

"I am thrilled with the quality home-and-home non-conference football schedule we have been able to so quickly solidify since the Board of Regents took action in November 2006 to transition WKU football to the highest level of intercollegiate football competition," Dr. Wood Selig, the school's Director of Athletics, stated. "We have some of the biggest and most storied names in college football history coming to Bowling Green and the renovated Smith Stadium. I would dare say fall Saturday's in South Central Kentucky will never be the same again given the line-up of non-

conference and conference opponents scheduled to visit WKU during the next decade."

The Hilltoppers will play host to Indiana in September 2010 while Iowa State is slated to visit in September 2015. WKU will also have non-Sun Belt Conference home games against Ball State in 2008, Bowling Green in 2010, Miami (Ohio) in 2011, Navy in 2013, and Army in 2014 and '16.

In addition to beginning the 2007 campaign at defending national champion Florida, WKU will also play contests at Alabama (2008 and '12) and Nebraska (2010). Other non-league road games include trips to IU in 2008 and '10, Iowa State in 2012 and '14, Miami (Ohio) in 2008, Army in 2013 and '15, and Navy in 2014.

With eight Sun Belt contests every fall beginning in 2009 -- four at home and four on the road -- WKU will play four non-conference games each season under the NCAA's 12-game limit. Beginning in '09, the goal will be to schedule six home and six away contests, including two non-conference home and two non-conference road games rounding out each season's league schedule.

"It is exciting for our players and staff to see the energy and interest in WKU Football continue to grow," said Hilltopper head coach David Elson. "Scheduling is just another example of how I-A football is going to have a tremendous impact on our program, school and community."

"Our scheduling philosophy will continue to be aggressive," added WKU President Dr. Gary Ransdell. "We are scheduling with the intent of winning and becoming bowl eligible in any given year."

The 2008 schedule, which currently includes 11 games, has the Toppers playing six SBC opponents -- Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and North Texas will visit Bowling Green while WKU will travel to Arkansas State, Florida International and Troy.

Beginning in 2009, when WKU is eligible to win the Sun Belt championship and compete in a bowl game, it will have league home games against ASU, FIU, Louisiana-Lafayette and Troy in odd years and will face FAU, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee and North Texas in home conference contests in odd years.

"Our fans share this sense of excitement and enthusiasm for our future given their purchase and commitment to date of over 3,000 new football season tickets for 2007," Selig said. "This figure is exceptionally strong given the fact it is so early in our 2007 sales process and without the

knowledge of these future non-conference opponents. We anticipate this strong growth in sales to only increase throughout the spring and fall.

Ticket information for WKU football can be obtained by contacting the athletic ticket office at 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. Individuals interested in club seats or reserved seats in the new West grandstand currently under construction can contact the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation at 270-745-8880. Of the 800 Club Level seats scheduled to be available beginning in 2008, over 100 have been sold as the HAF begins the sales process for these premium seats.

NT80 · April 27, 2007

I first thought by the title we were going to play Bowling Green of the MAC, but I see now we will play IN Bowling Green, Ky. Those are some good home OOC games WKY already managed to get: Iowa State, Indiana, Army, Navy. And to be scheduling out to 2015 is impressive to. Wish we could see more of our future schedules. Maybe it depends on our future stadium situation. Does size matter? :whistling1: