April 18, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team has inked a two-year non-conference deal with Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has completed its 2005 and 2006 schedules.

The Cowboys will open its season with the Pointers on Sept. 3 in Stevens Point. UWSP has been consistently in the top tier of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Last season the Pointers were 6-4 on the year but tied for second in the WIAC.

"We always like to schedule a strong non-conference game to get us prepared for what we will see in conference play," said HSU head coach Jimmie Keeling. "We have played Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wisconsin-Stout in the past and they were big, physical teams that try to wear you down. We expect the same from Stevens Point. It will be a challenge, but we are glad to have a quality opponent for our non-conference game."

The ability to play a game on the road this season evens out the Cowboy schedule for the next two years, with five home games and five road games.

"We need to play on the road to keep our schedule balanced," said HSU Director of Athletics John Neese. "UW-Steven Point has a strong athletic program that has enjoyed tremendous success on the national level in many of their sports. When our women's basketball team played there in the sectionals two years ago, UWSP was a great host and we look forward to returning to their campus."

The Sept. 3 season opener is the earliest in school history. The previous earliest game was Austin College in 1991 on Sept. 7.

Hardin-Simmons' five home games will be Louisiana College, Howard Payne, East Texas Baptist, Mary Hardin-Baylor and Austin College. The Oct. 15 game against ETBU will serve as homecoming.

The Cowboys won the American Southwest Conference last season and went 10-1 on the year.

September 3 at UW-Stevens Point, 1:00 17 Louisiana College, 2:00 24 at Mississippi College, 2:00 October 1 Howard Payne, 2:00 8 at Sul Ross State, 1:00 15 East Texas Baptist, 2:00 22 Mary Hardin-Baylor, 2:00 29 at McMurry, 8:00 November 5 Austin College, 2:00 12 at Texas Lutheran, 2:00