Courtesy: CCU Media Relations
CONWAY, SC – Coastal Carolina University has released its 2012 football schedule that features games with four teams that played in the postseason in 2011 and five teams ranked among the nation's top 30 in the final polls. Also, the Department of Athletics has entered a new partnership with TicketReturn, to make purchasing, tracking and sharing tickets much easier for Chanticleer fans.
"We feel this schedule is very challenging, especially our non-conference opponents," said Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek. "It would not surprise me if each of our first five opponents reaches the postseason. We will continue to schedule aggressively because the only way to put Coastal Carolina in a position to win championships is to face tough competition and build a resume worthy of postseason play."
First year head coach Joe Moglia and the Chanticleers will host North Carolina A&T on Sept. 1. Including a 31-14 win in Greensboro last season, the Chanticleers own a 3-0 all-time mark versus the Aggies.
Coastal will hit the road to face Furman on Sept. 8 in Greenville. The Paladins, who have won a Southern Conference record 12 league titles, were ranked 29th in the final national poll thanks to wins over Wofford and Appalachian State as well as scoring 32 points at Florida in the season finale. Last season, the Chants scored with 1:32 left in the game to claim a 30-23 decision over the Paladins in the teams' 2011 season opener at Brooks Stadium to give CCU a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.
The Chanticleers will return home Sept. 15 to host Eastern Kentucky for Family Weekend. This will mark the first meeting between CCU and the 2011 Co-Ohio Valley champions Colonels. Eastern Kentucky (7-5) was ranked 24th in the final poll, earned an at-large berth to the 2011 NCAA FCS playoffs and fell 20-17 to James Madison. The Colonels, who have won two OCV championships over the last four years, return running back Matt Denham, who finished third in the NCAA FCS in rushing (130.83 ypg).
Coastal will hit the road for the next two weekends before having an open date to prepare for the Big South portion of its schedule.
On Sept. 22, CCU will travel to Toledo, who was 9-4 last season and played in a bowl for the second consecutive year. The Rockets, who ranked sixth in the NCAA FBS in scoring offense, return perhaps the best quarterback-wide receiver combinations in the nation. Signal caller Terrence Owens ranked sixth in the NCAA FBS in passing efficiency while wideout Eric Page ranked second nationally in receptions, snagging 9.62 passes per game.
The following week, Coastal will travel to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State on Sept. 29. The three-time national champion Mountaineers were 8-4 and reached the NCAA playoffs for the seventh consecutive season in 2011. Coastal is 0-2 all-time versus Appalachian State with both losses coming in Boone, falling 30-3 in 2005 and 45-28 in the 2006 NCAA playoffs. In fact, since the start of the 2003 season, the Mountaineers have won 61 of 65 games played on their home turf at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Coastal begins its Big South schedule – hosting Stony Brook Oct. 13 as part of Hall of Fame Weekend. The Seawolves, who own a 4-0 advantage over Coastal all-time, posted a 9-4 record and finished 18th in the final poll. Stony Brook won its first-round NCAA playoff game, 31-28 versus Albany, before falling in round two to top-seed and national runner-up Sam Houston, 34-27. The Seawolves, who were the top scoring team in NCAA FCS last season, return quarterback Kyle Essington, who ranked second in the nation in pass efficiency, as well as running back Miguel Maysonet, who ranked eighth in rushing (125.62 ypg).
After a trip to VMI Oct. 20, Coastal returns to Brooks Stadium to face Liberty for Homecoming on Oct. 27. The Flames are coming off a 7-4 season and were ranked 25th in the final FCS poll.
Coastal closes the season with road games at Gardner-Webb (Nov. 3) and Presbyterian (Nov. 10) before playing its 2012 regular-season finale versus traditional foe Charleston Southern (Nov. 17). Prior to the kickoff versus the Buccaneers, Coastal will honor its 2012 senior class.
Coastal Carolina 2012 Schedule:
Sept. 1 Sat. NORTH CAROLINA A&T
Sept. 15 Sat. EASTERN KENTUCKY
Sept. 22 Sat. at Toledo
Sept. 29 Sat. at Appalachian State
Oct. 6 Sat. — O P E N —
Oct. 13 Sat. STONY BROOK *
Oct. 27 Sat. LIBERTY *
Nov. 3 Sat. at Gardner-Webb *
Nov. 10 Sat. at Presbyterian *
Nov. 17 Sat. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN *
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