GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College has added an 11th game to its 2011 schedule as the Pioneers will face perennial NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national contender Georgia Southern on Sept. 10th announced TC Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach Frankie DeBusk.
It will be the inaugural meeting between Tusculum and the Eagles and will be played at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.
Georgia Southern posted a 10-5 record, while advancing to the NCAA FCS national semifinal game, where they were eliminated by Delaware. The Eagles finished the season ranked sixth in the nation.
Postseason success isn't new for Georgia Southern as the Eagles have won six NCAA FCS national championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000).
As the starting quarterback at Furman, DeBusk personally kept it from being seven national titles as his 1988 Paladin squad defeated Georgia Southern 17-12 in the national championship game (Dec. 17, 1988), played in Idaho.
Tusculum has enjoyed success against the higher divisions of late. Since Coach DeBusk's arrival at Tusculum in 1998, the Pioneers have posted a 9-4 record against NCAA FCS programs, including 2-0 against Southern Conference teams, including a 17-3 win over Elon in 2003 and last year's 54-30 victory at Western Carolina.
The Pioneers (6-5 in 2010) led the nation in passing offense this past season, led by Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist Bo Cordell.
Tusculum will open the 2011 season on Sept. 3rd as the Pioneers host West Georgia. In all, Tusculum will host five home games in 2011, including West Georgia (Sept. 3), Catawba (Sept. 24 - Homecoming), Lenoir-Rhyne (Oct. 15), Mars Hill (Oct. 29) and Wingate (Nov. 12 - Senior Day). TC's six road contests include: Georgia Southern (Sept. 10), North Greenville (Sept. 17), Brevard (Oct. 1), UNC Pembroke (Oct. 8), Newberry (Oct. 22) and Carson-Newman (Nov. 5).
Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn. and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA, is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of 10 colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- TC -
2011 Tusculum Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 3 WEST GEORGIA TBA
Sept. 10 at Georgia Southern TBA
Sept. 17 at North Greenville TBA
Sept. 24 CATAWBA* (Homecoming) TBA
Oct. 1 at Brevard* TBA
Oct. 8 at UNC Pembroke TBA
Oct. 15 LENOIR-RHYNE* TBA
Oct. 22 at Newberry* TBA
Oct. 29 MARS HILL* TBA
Nov. 5 at Carson-Newman* TBA
Nov. 12 WINGATE* (Senior Day) TBA
Nov. 19 Start of NCAA Playoffs
* South Atlantic Conference Game
Home Games in BOLD
