GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE 2101 Providence Park -- Suite 200 -- Hoover, AL 35242 Phone (205) 991-9880 -- Fax (205) 437-0505 http://www.gulfsouthconference.org Nathan N. Salant, Esq--Commissioner Contact: Michael Anderson, Assistant Commissioner for Media and Public Affairs August 25, 2009--Week 1 2009 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE FOOTBALL RELEASE NINE SQUADS KICKOFF 2009 GSC FOOTBALL SEASON

Birmingham, AL—The 2009 Gulf South Conference Football season hits the ground running this week with nine teams kicking off their respective slates. Teams can ill afford a slow start to the season as eight of this week’s games are classified as “in-region.” The season begins on Thursday night and includes four non-conference road contests. The GSC and Lone Star Confer- ence square off three times: Arkansas-Monticello at Tarleton State, Arkansas Tech at Northeastern State and Henderson State at Southeastern Oklahoma State. West Alabama completes the night going to NAIA rival Belhaven. Saturday’s action includes five games. No. 4 Delta State continues the GSC/LSC matchups, traveling to Texas A&M- Kingsville. Southern Arkansas hosts No. 6 North Alabama in a non-league battle versus the league’s two new head coaches (SAU’s Bill Keopple and UNA’s ). No. 12 Valdosta State hosts Newberry and Harding entertains Missouri-Southern, while West Georgia rounds out the schedule, going to Wingate. 2009 GSC STANDINGS Conference Overall Team W L Pct. For Opp. W L Pct For Opp. Streak Arkansas-Monticello 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-1 Arkansas Tech 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *W-1 #4 Delta State 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-1 Harding 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-5 Henderson State 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-1 #6 North Alabama 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-1 Ouachita Baptist 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *W-5 Southern Arkansas 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *W-1 #12 Valdosta State 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-1 West Alabama 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 *L-2 West Georgia 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 **L-14

National rankings are from the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll (released every Tuesday) *--Streak carried over from last season; **--Streak dates back to 2007

THIS WEEK’S GAMES Thursday, August 27 UAM @ Tarleton State, 7:00 pm ATU @ Northeastern State, 7:00 pm HSU @ Southeastern Oklahoma State, 7:00 pm UWA @ Belhaven, 7:00 pm

Saturday, August 29 UWG @ Wingate, 12:30 pm #4 DSU @ Texas A&M-Kingsville, 6:00 pm Missouri-Southern @ HU, 6:00 pm Newberry @ #12 VSU, 6:00 pm #6 UNA @ SAU, 7:00 pm

All times Central; GSC Teams in ALL CAPS

2009 GSC Football Weekly Release 1 www.gulfsouthconference.org 2009 GSC FOOTBALL--THE WEEK AHEAD Week 1 THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH Arkansas-Monticello (0-0) @ Tarleton State (0-0), 7:00 p.m. Memorial Stadium, Stephenville, TX Press Box Phone: (254) 968-9173 Series: UAM leads 2-1-0 Last Meeting: @ UAM 39, TSU 32 (1992) Arkansas-Monticello journeys west to Stephenville, Texas, seeking its second straight season-opening victory. UAM and host Tarleton State battle after a 17-year halt in the series. The Boll Weevils own a 2-1 edge over TSU, claiming the last two meetings after losing the inaugural battle in Monticello in 1978. Arkansas-Monticello is 1-0 at Memorial Stadium, posting a 35-21 win in 1991, followed by a 39-32 home triumph in 1992. UAM has performed well on the road the past two seasons, winning six of its last seven with its lone loss coming at North Alabama in 2008.

Arkansas Tech (0-0) @ Northeastern State (0-0), 7:00 pm Doc Wadley Stadium, Tahlequah, OK Press Box Phone: (918) 931-2946 Series: Tied 19-19-3 Last Meeting: @ ATU 22, NSU 3 (2008) The all-time series lead is up for grabs when Arkansas Tech travels Northeastern State in the 42nd meeting. The squads seek to break a 19-19-3 tie, but ATU has the momentum after reeling off six in a row versus the Riverhawks. The Wonder Boys have won three in a row at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, dating back to 2003. Arkansas Tech posted a 20-13 triumph the last time it stepped into Doc Wadley Stadium in 2007 and added a 22-3 home victory in 2008. ATU has opened its season with a win the past five seasons.

Henderson State (0-0) @ Southeastern Oklahoma State (0-0), 7:00 pm Paul Laird, Durant, OK Press Box Phone: (580) 745-2807 Series: HSU leads 13-6-0 Last Meeting: SEOSU 17, HSU 8 (1989) Week 1 Henderson State travels to Southeastern Oklahoma State, as the schools meet for the 20th time after a 20-year layoff. HSU begins the season on the road for the fourth consecutive season. The Reddies have won two of the last three meetings against SEOSU, but the Savage Storm recorded a 17-8 victory in the last meeting in 1989. HSU has won three straight on the road dating back to 2008, while SEOSU ended 2008 with four consecutive victories.

West Alabama (0-0) @ Belhaven College (0-0), 7:00 p.m. H.T. Newell Field, Jackson, MS Press Box Phone: Not available Series: Tied 2-2-0 Last Meeting: @ UWA 49, BC 12 (2008) West Alabama seeks to take its first-ever series lead over NAIA rival Belhaven when it travels to Jackson, Mississippi. UWA is 2-2 versus BC, dropping the first two games in 1999 and 2001 before winning the final two in 2002 and 2008. The Tigers earned a 41-14 win at Belhaven in 2002 and posted a 49-12 triumph at home a year ago. The Blazers recorded a 16-6 home win in the first-ever matchup in 1999. West Alabama has won six of its last seven contests against non-GSC teams with its lone loss coming at Samford two years ago.

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2009 GSC Football Weekly Release 2 www.gulfsouthconference.org 20092007 GSC GSC FOOTBALL--THE FOOTBALL--THE WEEK WEEK AHEAD AHEAD (cont.) Week 1 SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH West Georgia (0-0) @ Wingate (0-0), 12:30 pm Irwin Belk Stadium, Wingate, NC Press Box Phone: (704) 233-8289 Series: 0-0-0 Last Meeting: First meeting West Georgia starts its season on the road for the second year in a row, facing in-region foe Wingate for the first time ever. UWG seeks to put the brakes on a five-game losing skid in season openers. Wingate is the Wolves’ first Division II opening opponent in two seasons after UWG lost to Division I-FCS Samford in 2007 and 2008. West Georgia will have plenty of motivation after going winless last year and holding 14-game losing streak dating back to 2007.

No. 4 Delta State (0-0) @ Texas A&M-Kingsville, 6:00 pm Javelina Stadium, Kingsville, TX Press Box Phone: (361) 593-2593 Series: 0-0-0 Last Meeting: First meeting Two-time defending GSC Champion No. 4 Delta State opens its 2009 campaign, traveling to in-region foe Texas A&M- Kingsville for the school’s first ever meeting. DSU starts its season on the road for the seventh time in eight seasons, building a 3-3 record in those previous contests. The Statesmen have won four straight on the road dating back to a year ago.

Missouri Southern (0-0) @ Harding (0-0), 6:00 p.m. First Security Stadium, Searcy, AR Press Box Phone: (501) 279-4071 Series: MSSU 3-2-0 Last Meeting: @ MSSU 45, HU 31 (2008) Harding has revenge on its mind when the Bisons host in-region rival Missouri Southern State in the sixth consecutive meeting versus the squads. HU opened the series with wins in 2004 and 2005, only to see MSSU grab a 3-2-0 series lead via three straight victories. The rivals return to Searcy for the first time since 2006 and each school has notched a win in First Security Stadium. Harding earned a 45-27 victory in 2005 and MSSU took a 30-27 decision in 2006. Last year’s setback to the Lions was HU’s first season-opening loss in seven seasons.

Newberry (0-0) @ No. 12 Valdosta State (0-0), 6:00 p.m. Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta, GA Press Box Phone: (229) 245-3779 Series: VSU leads 1-0-0 Last Meeting: VSU 14, @ NC 9 (2008) No. 12 Valdosta State opens the season at home for the third year in a row, hosting in-region foe Newberry College. VSU has won 11 consecutive non-conference regular season games, led by a 14-9 victory at NC in 2008. This year’s matchup marks the Blazers’ 11th versus a South Atlantic Conference foe and just the third regular season contest. VSU is 6-4-0 all-time against the SAC, including a 24-20 win over Carson-Newman in the 2008 NCAA Playoffs.

No. 6 North Alabama (0-0) @ Southern Arkansas (0-0), 7:00 pm Wilkins Stadium, Magnolia, AR Press Box Phone: (870) 235-4117 Series: UNA leads 8-4-0 Last Meeting: @ UNA 57, SAU 14 (2008) For the fourth year in a row, Southern Arkansas and No. 6 North Alabama play a non-conference game versus a GSC rival. The teams face off in that capacity in each squad’s season opener for the second straight season after UNA collected a 57-14 home win in 2008. UNA is 8-4-0 all-time versus the Muleriders, thanks to seven consecutive victories. The Lions are 3-2 at Wilkins Stadium, claiming the last three games after SAU won the first two. New head coaches Terry Bowden (UNA) and Bill Keopple (SAU) each seek to start their respective tenures with a win.

#GSC#

2009 GSC Football Weekly Release 3 www.gulfsouthconference.org 2009 GSC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK Week 1 AFCA TOP 25 GSC COACHING RECORDS (as of 08/17/09) Listed below is a list of won-lost records for the 11 current 1. Grand Valley State 14. Central Washington GSC head coaches for their careers and at the helm of GSC 2. Northwest Missouri State 15. Ashland programs. 3. Minnesota-Duluth 16. Central Oklahoma 4. DELTA STATE 17. Minnesota St.-Mankato Coach, School Career GSC 5. Abilene Christian 18. Tuskegee Gwaine Mathews, UAM 13-31 13-31 6. NORTH ALABAMA 19. Albany State Steve Mullins, ATU 76-51 76-51 7. Pittsburg State 20. West Chester Ron Roberts, DSU 20-4 20-4 8. California (PA) 21. Edinboro Ronnie Huckeba, HU 7-12 7-12 9. Carson-Newman 22. Glenville State Scott Maxfield, HSU 23-18 23-18 10. Chadron State 23. Tusculum Terry Bowden, UNA 111-53-2 0-0 11. West Texas A&M 24. Fayetteville State Todd Knight, OBU 63-96-2 63-96-2 12. VALDOSTA STATE 25. Central Missouri Bill Keopple, SAU 0-0 0-0 13. Bloomsburg , VSU 22-4 22-4 Others Receiving Votes: Catawba (N.C.), 70; Southern Connecticut Bobby Wallace, UWA 112-128-1 93-57-1 St., 49; Michigan Tech, 42; Wayne St. (Neb.), 41; Texas A&M-Commerce, Daryl Dickey, UWG 28-25 0-10 38; Tarleton St. (Texas), 37; Indiana (Pa.), 35; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 33; Augustana (S.D.), 30; Colorado School of Mines, 30; Nebraska-Omaha, CHASING GSC RECORDS 28; Washburn (Kan.), 22; Wayne St. (Mich.), 21; Nebraska-Kearney, 20; Valdosta State wide receiver Cedric Jones enters his Missouri S&T, 19; Arkansas-Monticello, 17; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 15; Southeastern Oklahoma St., 12; Wingate (N.C.), 11; North Carolina- senior season within striking distance of a couple of GSC Pembroke, 10; Missouri Western St., 6; Seton Hill (Pa.), 6; Charleston records. Jones has 225 career receptions which is just 22 shy (W.Va.), 5; American International (Mass.), 4; Arkansas Tech, 4; East of the record, while his 2,633 yards receiving is 1,105 away from Stroudsburg (Pa.), 4; Midwestern St. (Texas), 3; Western Oregon, 1. the top spot. Harding kick returner Zac Ross currently has 61 career D2Football.com Top 25 kickoff returns which is 33 returns short of the GSC record. He (as of 08/16/09) also has 1,455 kickoff return yards which is 593 yards shy of 1. Grand Valley State 14. Central Washington league mark. 2. Northwest Missouri State 15. Chadron State 3. DELTA STATE 16. Tuskegee 4. Minnesota-Duluth 17. Minnesota State 5. NORTH ALABAMA 18. Tusculum 6. Abilene Christian 19. Catawba 7. Pittsburgh State 20. West Chester 8. VALDOSTA STATE 21. Edinboro 9. California (Pa.) 22. Indiana (Pa.) 10. Carson-Newman 23. Nebraska-Omaha 11. Bloomsburg 24. Texas A&M-Kingsville 12. West Texas A&M 25. Wayne State 13. Ashland Others Receiving Votes Missouri Western, Central Missouri, Albany State, Nebraska-Kearney, Michigan Tech, Colorado Mines, Saginaw Valley, Washburn, Seton Hill, Central Oklahoma, Tarleton State, American International, Wayne State (Mi), Mars Hill, Arkansas-Monticello, Hillsdale, Newberry, Midwestern State, Wingate, Southern Connecticut, UNC Pembroke, Mesa State, East Stroudsburg, Arkansas Tech, Glenville State

2009 GSC Football Weekly Release 4 www.gulfsouthconference.org 2009 GSC TEAM SCHEDULES/RESULTS ALL TIMES CENTRAL GSC Games in BOLD $--GSC TV Game of the Week *--Homecoming ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO ARKANSAS TECH DELTA STATE BOLL-WEEVILS WONDER BOYS STATESMEN (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Aug. 27 @ Tarleton State 7:00 pm Aug. 27 @ Northeastern State 7:00 pm Aug. 29 @ Texas A&M-Kingsville 6:00 pm Sept. 05 @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4:00 pm Sept. 05 Incarnate Word 6:00 pm Sept. 12 @ Arkansas-Monticello 6:00 pm Sept. 12 Delta State 6:00 pm Sept. 10 $@ West Alabama 7:00 pm Sept. 19 Harding 6:00 pm Sept. 19 Henderson State 6:00 pm Sept. 26 Arkansas-Monticello 6:00 pm Sept. 28 @ Ouachita Baptist 7:00 pm Sept. 26 @ Arkansas Tech 6:00 pm Oct. 03 @ North Alabama 6:00 pm Oct. 01 $Valdosta State 7:00 pm Oct. 03 Ouachita Baptist 6:00 pm Oct. 10 Southern Arkansas 6:00 pm Oct. 10 @ West Alabama 6:00 pm Oct. 08 $@ West Georgia 6:00 pm Oct. 17 *West Georgia 6:00 pm Oct. 15 $@ North Alabama 7:00 pm Oct. 17 @ West Alabama 6:00 pm Oct. 24 @ Henderson State 3:00 pm Oct. 24 Southern Arkansas 3:00 pm Oct. 24 *Harding 3:00 pm Oct. 31 Delta State 6:00 pm Oct. 31 @ Arkansas Tech 6:00 pm Oct. 31 North Alabama 6:00 pm Nov. 07 @ Harding 2:00 pm Nov. 07 *West Georgia 4:00 pm Nov. 07 !Southern Arkansas 2:00 pm !--Boomtown Classic (@ El Darado, AR) HARDING HENDERSON STATE NORTH ALABAMA BISONS REDDIES LIONS (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Aug. 29 Missouri Southern 6:00 pm Aug. 27 @ Southeastern OK St. 7:00 pm Aug. 29 @ Southern Arkansas 7:00 pm Sept. 03 @ West Alabama 7:00 pm Sept. 05 @ McNeese State 7:00 pm Sept. 05 Carson-Newman 6:00 pm Sept. 12 Southwest Baptist 6:00 pm Sept. 12 North Alabama 6:00 pm Sept. 12 @ Henderson State 6:00 pm Sept. 19 @ Delta State 6:00 pm Sept. 19 @ Ark.-Monticello 6:00 pm Sept. 19 West Georgia 6:00 pm Sept. 26 North Alabama 6:00 pm Sept. 24 $Southern Arkansas 7:00 pm Sept. 26 @ Harding 6:00 pm Oct. 03 @ Southern Arkansas 7:00 pm Oct. 03 West Georgia 3:00 pm Oct. 03 *Arkansas Tech 6:00 pm Oct. 10 @ Ouachita Baptist 1:30 pm Oct. 10 @ Valdosta State 2:00 pm Oct. 08 North Greenville 7:00 pm Oct. 17 Valdosta State 6:00 pm Oct. 24 *Arkansas Tech 3:00 pm Oct. 15 $Delta State 7:00 pm Oct. 24 @ Ark.-Monticello 3:00 pm Oct. 31 @ Harding 2:00 pm Oct. 22 !@ Valdosta State 7:00 pm Oct. 31 *Henderson State 2:00 pm Nov. 07 $@ Ouachita Baptist 1:30 pm Oct. 31 @ Ark.-Monticello 6:00 pm Nov. 07 Arkansas Tech 2:00 pm Nov. 07 West Alabama 6:00 pm !--Televised on CBS College Sports Network OUACHITA BAPTIST SOUTHERN ARKANSAS VALDOSTA STATE TIGERS MULERIDERS BLAZERS (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Sept. 05 @ Texas College 7:00 pm Aug. 29 #6 North Alabama 7:00 pm Aug. 29 Newberry 6:00 pm Sept. 12 @ West Georgia 7:00 pm Sept. 12 @ Valdosta State 6:00 pm Sept. 12 Southern Arkansas 6:00 pm Sept. 19 Valdosta State 7:00 pm Sept. 17 $West Alabama 7:00 pm Sept. 19 @ Ouachita Baptist 7:00 pm Sept. 26 Delta State 7:00 pm Sept. 24 $@ Henderson State 7:00 pm Sept. 26 West Alabama 6:00 pm Oct. 03 @ Ark.-Monticello 6:00 pm Oct. 03 Harding 6:00 pm Oct. 01 $@ Delta State 7:00 pm Oct. 10 *Harding 1:30 pm Oct. 10 @ Arkansas Tech 6:00 pm Oct. 10 *Henderson State 2:00 pm Oct. 17 @ Southern Arkansas 2:30 pm Oct. 17 Ouachita Baptist 2:30 pm Oct. 17 @ Harding 6:00 pm Oct. 24 Southwest Baptist 1:30 pm Oct. 24 @ Delta State 3:00 pm Oct. 22 !North Alabama 7:00 pm Oct. 31 @ West Alabama 5:00 pm IOct. 31 @ Incarnate Word 2:00 pm Oct. 29 $@ West Georgia 6:00 pm Nov. 07 $Henderson State 1:30 pm Nov. 07 !Arkansas-Monticello 2:00 pm Nov. 07 Edward Waters 2:00 pm !--Boomtown Classic (@ El Darado, AR) !--Televised on CBS College Sports Network WEST ALABAMA WEST GEORGIA 2009 GSC-TV LIVE TIGERS WOLVES FOOTBALL GAME OF THE (0-0, 0-0) (0-0, 0-0) WEEK SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Date Opponent Time/Result Aug. 27 @ Belhaven 7:00 pm Aug. 29 @ Wingate 12:30 pm Setp. 03 !HU @ UWA 7:00 pm Sept. 03 Harding 7:00 pm Sept. 05 Lambuth 6:00 pm Sept. 10 ATU @ UWA 7:00 pm Sept. 10 $Arkansas Tech 7:00 pm Sept. 12 Ouachita Baptist 6:00 pm Sept. 17 UWA @ SAU 7:00 pm Sept. 17 $@ Southern Ark. 7:00 pm Sept. 19 @ North Alabama 6:00 pm Sept. 24 SAU @ HSU 7:00 pm Sept. 26 @ Valdosta State 6:00 pm Oct. 03 @ Henderson State 3:00 pm Oct. 01 VSU @ DSU 7:00 pm Oct. 03 Lambuth 4:00 pm Oct. 08 $Arkansas-Monticello 6:00 pm Oct. 08 UAM @ UWG *6:00 pm Oct. 10 Delta State 6:00 pm Oct. 17 @ Arkansas Tech 2:00 pm Oct. 15 DSU @ UNA 7:00 pm Oct. 17 Arkansas-Monticello 6:00 pm Oct. 24 *West Alabama 1:00 pm Oct. 29 VSU @ UWG *6:00 pm Oct. 24 @ West Georgia 1:00 pm Oct. 29 $@ Valdosta State 6:00 pm Oct. 31 *Ouachita Baptist 5:00 pm Nov. 07 @ Delta State 4:00 pm All games are played on Thursday nights; All Nov. 07 @ North Alabama 6:00 pm times are Central; !—Non-conference game; *— Tape delayed one hour

2009 GSC Football Weekly Release 5 www.gulfsouthconference.org