2010 schedule

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU Bearcat head football coach Keith Allen has announced the 2010 schedule, which features a slew of familiar opponents along with some new faces as well. The Bearcats open their third season as an independent with a pair of former MIAA foes in Central Missouri and Truman. After traveling to Warrensburg to open last season, the Bearcats will host the Mules on Saturday, August 28 at 6 p.m. at Plaster Stadium.

SBU will travel to Kirksville to take on the Bulldogs of Truman State on September 4 at 7 p.m. The 'Cats and 'Dogs haven't met since 2007, SBU's final year in the MIAA. Following that, the Bearcats will host a pair of NAIA squads in Bacone (Okla.) College on September 11 and William Jewell College on September 18. WJC is in its second year of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II. SBU closes out the month of September with a visit to NAIA Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma on September 25 at 6 p.m.

The Bearcats open the month of October seeing blue with back-to-back road contests at the Urbana (Ohio) Blue Knights on October 2 and the Lincoln (Mo.) Blue Tigers on October 9 in Jefferson City. SBU and Urbana will meet for the first time ever. Lincoln had been a member of the MIAA from 1970 to 1999 and rejoins the MIAA this season but will not play an MIAA schedule until 2011. After a bye on October 16, the Bearcats finish off their home schedule with games against Central State (Ohio) University and former SBU assistant coach E.J. Junior on October 23 and Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College on October 30. The October 23 date will also be homecoming for the Bearcats.

The final month of the 2010 campaign for the Bearcats starts with a trip to Cape Girardeau and FCS member Southeast Missouri State on November 6. SBU fell to SEMO in overtime in 2008 in their last meeting. The Bearcats close the regular season at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on November 13.

"We're excited about the schedule," said fourth-year coach Keith Allen. "It has some quality teams. This is the fifth year in a row we'll play an FCS (I-AA) school. We're looking to continue building on the success of the last few years."

The Bearcats are coming off a 6-5 year, their first winning season since 2001. After starting 0-4 playing one of the nation's toughest D-II schedules, SBU closed the season winning six of their last seven games. The Bearcats return several key pieces, including senior quarterback and Harlan Hill candidate Steve Gachette. Gachette,  who owns 16 school records, was a regional finalist for the 2009 Harlan Hill Award, which honors the nation's top Division II player. Also back for the 'Cats will be WR Charles Johnson, RB Thad Everson, DB Anthony Wiggins, DT Ino Vitale and DE Casey Smith.

The Bearcats will open their spring practice schedule on Monday, March 29. The 15 NCAA-allowed practices will conclude on Saturday, April 24 at 2:30 p.m., with the annual Purple and White spring game at Plaster Stadium. Earlier that day, Bearcat football will host their third annual SBU Football Golf Outing at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club. For more on the SBU Football Golf Outing, contact Keith Allen.