GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College football team has released its 2011 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. Six of the 11 teams on the 2011 schedule finished with winning records a year ago, including five with seven or more victories.

Tusculum returns 15 starters from last season's 6-5 squad, including quarterback Bo Cordell, the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Cordell led the nation in passing last season and finished fourth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the NCAA Division II player of the year.

Tusculum will open the season on Sep. 3 when the Pioneers host West Georgia at the Niswonger Sports Complex and Pioneer Field. It will be the second meeting between TC and the Wolves and the first since 1996. West Georgia posted a 3-7 record in 2010 and is a member of the Gulf South Conference.

Pioneers will face perennial NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national contender Georgia Southern on Sep. 10. It will be the inaugural meeting between Tusculum and the Eagles and will be played 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).

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, going 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.

Tusculum will travel to Tigerville, S.C. on Sep. 17 when TC takes on North Greenville, who has entered into a schedule alliance with the South Atlantic Conference. It will be the third meeting between the Pioneers and Crusaders, but the first since 2002. NGU enjoyed one of its best seasons in school history, posting a 9-3 record last year, including wins in its last eight contests, including a victory over NCAA FCS Presbyterian. Tusculum leads the all-time series with NGU at 2-0.

The Pioneers will begin its 13th SAC campaign on Sep. 24 when they host Catawba for homecoming. The Catawba Indians lead the all-time series 10-5, but Tusculum posted an impressive 54-44 win in Salisbury last season. Catawba posted a 6-4 record in 2010, while finishing tied for third in the league.

Tusculum is back in action on Oct. 1 as the Pioneers take on Brevard for a road contest at a location they has yet to be determined. It will be the ninth recorded meeting as the Pioneers lead the series 6-2, including last year's 51-35 victory in Greeneville.

On Oct. 8, Tusculum steps away from conference play as the Pioneers make the 339-mile trek to UNC Pembroke for the inaugural encounter with the Braves. UNCP posted a 5-5 record last season, a year removed from making its first-ever NCAA II Playoff appearance.

Tusculum returns home on Oct. 15 for a league tilt against Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears posted a 7-4 record and finished tied for third in the SAC. It was LRU's first winning season since 1994 when the Bears went 8-2 and won the SAC Championship. Tusculum leads the all-time 9-5, but L-R has won the last two encounters, including 34-31 decision in Hickory, N.C. last year.

On Oct. 22, TC ventures to Newberry, S.C. to face the Wolves in the 14th meeting between the two programs. TC holds an 8-5 advantage in the series, with the Wolves posting a thrilling 63-56 win in last year's meeting. Newberry finished 4-6 overall a year ago.

Tusculum hosts cross-mountain rival Mars Hill on Oct. 22 in the 28th recorded encounter between the Pioneers and the Lions. TC leads 16-9-2 overall, but had its seven-year winning streak snapped in a 45-39 loss at Mars Hill. MHC went 5-6 overall and finished tied for fifth place in the SAC.

Tusculum travels to arch-rival Carson-Newman on Nov. 5 in Jefferson City. The Eagles went 7-4 last year, including a 49-48 win at Tusculum in one of the most thrilling games in the long-time series. It will be the 41st recorded meeting in the second oldest collegiate gridiron rivalry in the State of Tennessee. TC and C-N first met in football in 1904, only surpassed by the Tennessee/Vanderbilt series that began in 1896. Carson-Newman leads the all-time series 28-10-2.

The Pioneers host defending SAC Champion Wingate for "Senior Day" on Nov. 12 in Greeneville. Wingate enjoyed its best season in school history with a 9-3 record while advancing to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time ever.

The NCAA Division II Playoffs begin on Nov. 19, culminated with the national championship game on Dec. 17 at Florence, Ala.

Season tickets for the 2011 home campaign will go on sale later this summer. Visit the Tusculum athletic web site at www.tusculumpioneers.com for season ticket updates.

- TC -

2011 Tusculum College Football Schedule
Date Opponent Site Time
Sept. 3 WEST GEORGIA GREENEVILLE 1 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Georgia Southern Statesboro, Ga. 6 p.m.
Sept. 17 at North Greenville Tigerville, S.C. 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 CATAWBA* (Homecoming) GREENEVILLE 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Brevard* TBD TBA
Oct. 8 at UNC Pembroke Pembroke, N.C. 2 p.m.
Oct. 15 LENOIR-RHYNE* GREENEVILLE 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 at Newberry* Newberry, S.C. 4 p.m.
Oct. 29 MARS HILL* GREENEVILLE 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 5 at Carson-Newman* Jefferson City, Tenn. 1 p.m.
Nov. 12 WINGATE* (Senior Day) GREENEVILLE 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 NCAA II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Nov. 26 NCAA II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 3 NCAA II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 10 NCAA II Playoffs Campus Site TBA
Dec. 17 at NCAA Championship Florence, Ala. 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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