UNCP announces 2008 football schedule
Black and Gold to be tested early against Davidson and Wingate

By Brad Crawford
Assistant Sports Editor

Highlighted by the Black and Gold’s first-ever home game under the lights at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick announced the 2008 football season schedule on April 16.

Next season’s 10-game slate features eight rematches against teams from last season and an open date in late October which could be filled in the next couple of months by athletic department officials.

The Braves will try and even the series at one apiece in pivotal early-season matchups against Davidson and Wingate.

UNCP will look to improve on last season’s 4-7 record as the Black and Gold open on the road at Brevard on Aug. 30.

Brevard is playing in its second full season of intercollegiate football and finished 2-9 in 2007.

Under the lights
A week later, the Braves knock helmets with the Davidson Wildcats in a special 6 p.m. kickoff time Sept. 6.
It will be the first night game on UNCP’s campus.

After a home contest with Jacksonville on Sept. 20, UNCP hits the road for three straight weeks against Lane, Webber International and West Virginia Wesleyan Sept. 27-Oct. 11.

Lane will be UNCP’s longest traveling distance between the three opponents, stretching 670 miles to Jackson, Tenn.
Lane joins Brevard as first-time opponents to the Black and Gold’s 2008 schedule.

UNCP wraps up the 2008 campaign with three home games in four weeks against Edward Waters, North Greenville and Concord from Oct. 18-Nov. 8.

The Black and Gold’s game against Edward Waters on Oct. 18 will be marked by homecoming as the Braves will try to improve to 2-0 in two seasons during the weekend festivities.

Season tickets
UNCP will have 2,500 permanent seats at Grace P. Johnson Stadium in 2008. Of the 2,500 seats, only 1,500 will be located on the east side of the stadium.

The west side seats will be restricted to only UNCP students and visitors.

Demand for tickets is expected to be high after all five home games sold-out last season.

According to UNCP Director of Athletics Dan Kenney, the athletic department has set aside a number of reserved tickets on the east side for UNCP faculty and staff at reduced prices.

Braves Footballl Schedule

(Home games in all caps)

At Brevard Aug. 30 7 p.m.

DAVIDSON Sept. 6 6 p.m.

At Wingate Sept. 13 1 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE Sept. 20 1 p.m.

At Lane Sept. 27 7 p.m.

At Webber Intnl. Oct. 4 1 p.m.

At West Va. Wesly. Oct. 11 1 p.m.

EDWARD WATERS Oct. 18 1 p.m.

Open Oct. 25 -

CONCORD Nov. 1 1 p.m.

NORTH GRNVL. Nov. 8 1 p.m.