GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College football team has released its 2012 schedule announced TC director of athletics and head coach Frankie DeBusk.

The Pioneers will play an 11-game schedule, which includes five home contests and a seven-game South Atlantic Conference slate. Seven of the 11 teams on the 2012 schedule finished with winning records a year ago, including five with seven or more victories.

Tusculum's non-conference slate looks to be a formidable one as its four opponents posted a combined 33-13 record.

The Pioneers open the season Sept. 1 as they make the 378-mile trip to the University of Urbana, located in Urbana, Ohio. It will be the fourth meeting between Tusculum and the Blue Knights as the Pioneers have won all three previous encounters. Urbana had a banner season in 2011, posting an 8-3 record and winning the Great Lakes Football Conference title. The Blue Knights ended the season with a six-game winning streak.

Tusculum will make a second-straight 300-mile jaunt the following week as the Pioneers take on the University of West Georgia on (Sept. 8). It will be the second meeting between Tusculum and the Wolves, with the Pioneers posting a season-opening 20-10 win last year in Greeneville. West Georgia went 6-4 this past season and finished tied for second in the Gulf South Conference. Amongst its victories includes a win over eventual NCAA Division II Region Champion Delta State.

Tusculum will open at home on the evening of Sept. 15 as the Pioneers host NCAA national quarterfinalist North Greenville University. The Crusaders enjoyed their best season in school history with an 11-3 record and advanced to the NCAA regional championship game. NGU, who is entering its second-year of a schedule-alliance with the South Atlantic Conference, finished the season ranked No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll. Tusculum leads the all-time series 2-1, with that only loss coming in a 27-7 setback to the Crusaders last year on the road.

The Pioneers will open league play on Sept. 22 at Catawba College for the 17th meeting between Tusculum and the Catawba Indians. It will be a historic contest as it will mark the first time in series history that the two squads have squared off against each other at night. Catawba edged the Pioneers, 23-21 in last year's meeting in Greeneville as the two teams tied for sixth place in the final SAC standings.

Tusculum will host Brevard College on Sept. 29 for Homecoming. The Pioneers lead the all-time series 6-3, with the Tornados posting a 41-24 win against Tusculum last season.

On Oct. 6, UNC Pembroke makes its inaugural trip to Greeneville to face the Pioneers. The Braves went 8-3 in 2011 and won five of its last six games, including a 58-38 shootout victory against Tusculum in the first meeting between the two programs.

Tusculum returns to conference play on Oct. 13 for a road outing against SAC co-champion Lenoir-Rhyne University. The Bears captured its first league title since 1994, posting a 7-3 overall record, including 6-1 in league play. The Pioneers handed L-R its only conference defeat of the season in a 26-25 thriller at Pioneer Field. It will be the 16th meeting between the two schools with TC owning a 10-5 lead in the series that began in 1924.

Newberry College comes to Greeneville on Oct. 20 for the 14th meeting between the Pioneers and the Wolves. Football fans are traditionally treated to an exciting game when these two programs square off. Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by seven points or less, including last year's 42-41 victory by the Wolves as Newberry tied for third place in the league. Tusculum leads the all-time series 8-6.

On Oct. 27, the Pioneers will make the short trip over Sam's Gap to face cross-mountain rival Mars Hill College in the 29th renewal of the second oldest active rivalry for Tusculum. The Lions captured a share of the SAC title last season, going 8-3, including a 47-37 win in Greeneville, snapping a 13-year losing streak at Pioneer Field. The Lions earned the program's first-ever NCAA postseason berth and ended the year ranked 19th in the nation. Tusculum owns a 16-10-2 lead in the series that started in 1922.

The second oldest football rivalry in the State of Tennessee will be played again on Nov. 3 when Tusculum and Carson-Newman College meet at Pioneer Field. The Eagles are coming off a 5-6 campaign for the program's first losing season in 32 years as C-N finished fifth in the league. Carson-Newman posted a 35-27 win over Tusculum last season in a game that saw only seven points scored by both teams in the second half. This year will mark the 42nd meeting in a series that began in 1904.

The Pioneers will close out the regular season on Nov. 10 as they travel to Wingate University. Tusculum posted an impressive 38-20 home win over the Bulldogs in last year's season finale as Wingate tied for third place in the conference.

The NCAA Division II Playoffs begin on Nov. 17, culminated with the national championship game on Dec. 15 at a site yet to be determined.

- TC -

2012 Tusculum College Football Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time
Sept. 1 at Urbana Urbana, Ohio Noon
Sept. 8 at West Georgia Carrollton, Ga. 2 p.m.
Sept. 15 NORTH GREENVILLE GREENEVILLE 6 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Catawba* Salisbury, N.C. 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 BREVARD* (Homecoming) GREENEVILLE 2 p.m.
Oct. 6 UNC PEMBROKE GREENEVILLE 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Lenoir-Rhyne* Hickory, N.C. 2 p.m.
Oct. 20 NEWBERRY* GREENEVILLE 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Mars Hill* Mars Hill, N.C. 1 p.m.
Nov. 3 CARSON-NEWMAN* (Senior Day) GREENEVILLE 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Wingate* Wingate, N.C. 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 17 NCAA Division II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Nov. 24 NCAA Division II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 1 NCAA Division II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 8 NCAA Division II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 15 at NCAA II Championship To be determined TBA

* South Atlantic Conference Game
All Times Eastern and Subject to Change
Games broadcast locally on WSMG 1450 AM and TusculumPioneers.com
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