Tough Schedule Awaits UCO In 2011

5/17/2011 9:27:55 AM

EDMOND (May 17) – A daunting schedule that includes four consecutive road games to start the season will confront Central Oklahoma in 2011, with the Bronchos set to play a full 11-game slate this fall.

UCO, which will compete as an NCAA Division II independent this year before moving into the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2012, will play six of its first seven games on the road before finishing with four straight home contests.

The Bronchos will face one Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team, eight Division II squads and two Division II provisional teams. The 11 opponents had a combined 64-58 record last year, with seven of the teams finishing .500 or better.

Click here to see the complete schedule.

“It's definitely a difficult schedule and every team will face is a quality opponent,” UCO coach Tracy Holland said. “We're going to work hard to get ourselves prepared to play our best every week and we're looking forward to challenge.”

The Bronchos will open the 2011 campaign on Thursday, Sept 1 at three-time Division II national champion North Alabama, which went 9-4 last season in advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

UCO goes against a trio of former Lone Star Conference rivals the next three weeks, traveling to Southeastern Oklahoma on Sept. 10, Angelo State on Sept. 17 and Southwestern Oklahoma on Sept. 24.

The Bronchos make their Wantland Stadium debut on Oct. 1 against East Central with a 2 p.m. Homecoming contest before going on the road the next two weeks to play FCS member Cal Poly and future MIAA rival Washburn.

It will be UCO's first game against an FCS team since 2000, when the Bronchos lost a 38-31 overtime contest at Stephen F. Austin. Cal Poly finished 7-4 last year, while Washburn went 8-4 and won the Kanza Bowl.

UCO then finishes the season with four consecutive home games, starting with an Oct. 22 date against future MIAA foe Fort Hays State. The Bronchos will meet Black Hills State on Thursday, Oct. 27 before hosting Northeastern State (Nov. 5) and Lindenwood (Nov. 12) in the final two games.

UCO is coming off a 2-9 season.

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