Bucs Announce 2012 Football Schedule

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A long awaited rematch with a cross town rival, a trip to Illinois and homecoming contest against an in-state foe highlight the 2012 Charleston Southern football schedule, as announced on Monday by head coach Jay Mills. 

“I’ m excited about the variety of experiences our young men get the opportunity to have playing football at Charleston Southern,” said Mills, who will enter his tenth season at the helm of the Bucs.  “Our first game in school history against a Big Ten opponent - I believe will motivate and excite every team member.   We also have our biannual trip to New York City, which is not only a great opportunity to take on a quality conference opponent but a fantastic cultural and educational experience as well.  In addition to that, we look forward to renewing a cross-town rivalry that has been dormant for five seasons.”

The Bucs will kick off the 2012 season across town at the Citadel on September 1.  It will be the eighth all-time match up (including JV squads) between the Buccaneers and the Bulldogs, whose history started back in 1991.  CSU fell by a score of 10-9 in just its fifth game ever.  The Bulldogs lead the series 5-2, with CSU picking up wins in 1992 by a score of 35-55 (JV) and 2006 when they downed the Bulldogs 38-35.  The two teams last met in 2007.   Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. for that match up.

Coach Mills and company will return to Buccaneer Field for their home opener on September 8 when they will host the Jacksonville Dolphins.   The two teams have met seven times prior to the 2012 season, with CSU leading the series at 5-2.  However, it was the Dolphins who won last season’s match up 37-30.    Jacksonville last traveled to Charleston in 2005, when the Buccaneers came away with the 16-10 victory.

The Buccaneers will then head north for to face their lone BCS opponent in the University of Illinois.   The two teams will meet on September 15 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.  It will be the first time in program history that CSU will face the Fighting Illini and also marks the first time Charleston Southern will face a school from the Big Ten. 

CSU will then travel to Rome, Ga., on September 22 to face Shorter University.  A Christian university of about 3,800 students, Shorter carries 25 athletic programs at the NAIA level.  The Hawks, who play in the Mid-South Conference, lost in the 2011 league title game to No. 14 Bethel College.  

The 2012 Big South season will open with the Buccaneers’ biannual trip to New York, where they will head to Long Island to face Stony Brook University on October 6.  After the trek north CSU will host three consecutive home games, starting with a conference tilt against VMI on October 13.

The Bucs will host in-state for Presbyterian on October 20, which will also serves as the University’s annual Homecoming celebration.  They will round out the home stand when they host Edward Waters College on October 27.  EWC returns Charleston for the first time in three seasons, as the two teams last faced each other at Buccaneers field in 2008 when CSU picked up the 48-6 win.    The Bucs also took a 47-0 victory from the Tigers during the 2006 season.

Conference play will resume on November 3 when Charleston Southern travels to Virginia to face perennial Big South title contender Liberty.  The following weekend, November 10, the Bucs will host their annual Senior Day festivities as they close out their home slate with a tilt against Gardner-Webb.   For the ninth time in school history, CSU will wrap up the season in Conway, S.C., when they take on the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina on November 17.

Times for the remaining five road games are to be determined.  All games at Buccaneer Field are slated for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff; however schedules are subject to change due to television broadcasts.