2011 Football Schedule

HAMMOND – Non-conference games against Football Bowl Subdivision members Tulane and Southern Miss, home dates with Savannah State and Texas State along with a rugged Southland Conference slate highlight the 2011 Southeastern Louisiana University football schedule that was released on Wednesday.

“We feel like it's a very challenging for us playing two Conference USA opponents in Tulane and Southern Miss,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “We're excited about having an FCS opponent in Savannah State coming to Hammond for our home opener.

“It will be a challenge for us playing three of the first four games on the road with two FBS games before opening Southland Conference play at McNeese State.”

Southeastern, which will play five games at home in 2011, will open the season for the second consecutive year against Tulane with the Sept. 3 meeting in the Louisiana Superdome the fourth between the schools since the Lions re-instated football in 2003.

The schools have met five times on the gridiron since 1949 with Tulane holding a 5-0 record. The Green Wave posted a 28-21 victory over Southeastern in 2005 in a game played at LSU's Tiger Stadium before rallying for a 35-27 victory in 2007 in New Orleans. The game will mark Southeastern's sixth trip to the Superdome since the building opened in 1975.

Southeastern will open its five-game home slate on Sept. 10 in its first-ever matchup against FCS member Savannah State, a new member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Lions will then return to the road for their next two games beginning on Sept. 17 at Southern Miss.

The game against USM, which finished 8-5 overall, will mark the 22nd meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1940, and will mark the second game since Southeastern resumed football. Both teams met in 2006 in Hattiesburg.

The Lions open Southland Conference play on Sept. 24 at in-state rival McNeese State before returning home to face Lamar on Oct. 1 in the annual Hall of Fame Game.

After an open date on Oct. 8, Southeastern will travel to face its most common opponent – Northwestern State – at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches. The in-state schools first began their gridiron rivalry in 1935 and will meet for the 55th time.

Southeastern will host Texas State, which is transitioning to the FBS level and will not count as a Southland Conference game, on Oct. 22 in Strawberry Stadium. The Lions have claimed the last two meetings in the series, including a 49-28 victory last season in Hammond.

After facing Texas State, Southeastern will travel to face league rival Central Arkansas on Oct. 29 in Conway, Ark., before facing Sam Houston State on Nov. 5 for Homecoming.

The Lions will close out their road schedule on Nov. 12 at defending league champion Stephen F. Austin before hosting in-state rival Nicholls State on Nov. 17 in the annual River Bell Classic.

The game with Nicholls – the only Thursday night game on the schedule – will mark the 21st meeting between the schools located 94 miles apart. The Colonels have posted a 12-8 record in the series with Southeastern's last win coming in the 2007 season finale.

Season ticket renewals will be sent out in early May. For information on season tickets, please contact the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY
2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Location Time
Sept. 3 at Tulane New Orleans, La. TBA
Sept. 10 SAVANNAH STATE HAMMOND 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss. TBA
Sept. 24 at McNeese State * Lake Charles, La. 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 LAMAR * (HOF) HAMMOND 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 OPEN DATE - -
Oct. 15 at Northwestern State * Natchitoches, La. 6 p.m.
Oct. 22 TEXAS STATE HAMMOND 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 at Central Arkansas * Conway, Ark. 6 p.m.
Nov. 5 SAM HOUSTON STATE * (HC) HAMMOND 7 p.m.
Nov. 12 at Stephen F. Austin * Nacogdoches, Texas 6 p.m.
Nov. 17 NICHOLLS * (Thursday) HAMMOND 7 p.m.

* - Southland Conference game
Home games in ALL CAPS and played at Strawberry Stadium (7,408)
(HC) – Homecoming; (HOF) – Hall of Fame Game
Dates and times are subject to change