INDIANAPOLIS --- To accommodate a national television audience, the South Atlantic Conference football opener between Tusculum College and Wingate University has been moved to Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field on the Tusculum campus.

The Tusculum/Wingate contest will be part of a six-game television package for the 2009 season announced NCAA Division II and CBS College Sports. The game, which was originally slated for Saturday, Sept. 26, will now kickoff Thursday night for the prime time audience at 8:05 p.m. (EST).

Both programs are coming off successful seasons. The Pioneers posted a 9-4 record winning four of their last five outings to capture TC's second South Atlantic Conference title in school history. Tusculum also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA II Playoffs, advancing to the Final 16. TC finished the season ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

Wingate posted an 8-3 record and finished tied for fourth in the SAC. The Bulldogs jumped out of the gate winning its first seven games of the 2008 campaign, including a thrilling 37-33 victory over Tusculum in a contest that came down to the final play of the game.

It will be the 14th meeting between the Pioneers and Bulldogs, with Wingate leading the all-time series 8-5. The two programs have met each year since 1996.

Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk, the 2008 SAC and AFCA Region Coach of the Year, returns 20 starters from last year's squad, including 2009 Preseason All-Americans John Gregory (punter), Jarrell NeSmith (tight end, Russellville, Ala.) and Ryan Tallent (receiver).

"We are very excited about having the opportunity to represent Tusculum College and the South Atlantic Conference in the televised football game against Wingate University," said DeBusk. "The game will be between two great institutions from one of the best Division II conferences in the country. We feel privileged to have this opportunity for our student-athletes to be viewed by a national audience with a chance to showcase the Niswonger Sports Complex, the Tusculum campus and the Greeneville community."

"This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase not only two of the top football programs in the league, but the entire South Atlantic Conference," said Commissioner Patrick Britz. "We would like to thank the NCAA and CBS College Sports for selecting this game and providing such great exposure for these student-athletes, schools and the SAC."

Tusculum will have a tall chore ahead of them in replacing All-American quarterback Corey Russell. Russell smashed the school and SAC record books in 2008 as he accounted for a nation's best 49 touchdowns (37 pass, 12 rush). While the Tusculum quarterback will be new in 2009, nearly the entire group of receivers returns. Tallent, a 5-10, 200-pound rising senior from Maryville, Tenn., established a pair of school records in 2008 with 92 receptions, including nine touchdowns. He also posted 989 receiving yards on the year. Also back in the receiving corps is a rising senior Nate Binder (Maidstone, Ontario, Canada) who led the SAC in receiving yards per game (78.7 ypg).

On defense, the Pioneers return five starters. Gregory, a 6-2, 210-pound native of Ooltewah, Tenn., finished third in the nation in punting average booting 43.52 yards per kick, which also established a new school single season record that lasted since 1941.

Wingate coach Joe Reich welcomes back 10 starters on defense and six starters on offense in 2009. Bulldog redshirt jun