Aug. 28, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' football team will open its 2006 campaign with a 6 p.m. game against Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Saturday, Sept. 2, at Shelton Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Pointers 38-12 in the season opener last year in Stevens Point in the inaugural meeting between the two teams.

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

In the Polls

The Cowboys were picked 11th in the preseason D3football.com poll. Don Hansen has the Cowboys at No. 26.

Season and Home Openers

The Cowboys are 11-4 in season openers under Jimmie Keeling and are 42-21-4 all-time in the season lid lifter. In home openers the Cowboys have won 10 in a row, are 13-3 under Keeling and 44-22-3 all-time in the home opener.

The Head Coaches

The game will feature a pair of veteran head coaches. HSU head man Jimmie Keeling is in his 17th season and has a 139-35 record. John Meich is 117-62-2 in his 18th season as the Pointers' leader.

Winningest Team in Texas

In a national story that ran by the Associated Press, Hardin-Simmons has been named the Winningest Team in Texas since 1990. The Cowboys are 135-39 in 16 years under coach Jimmie Keeling. HSU has won seven games or more for 14 straight years.

About UW-Stevens Point

The Pointers are coming off a 4-6 season, but do return 20 starters, including 10 on offense and seven on defense, along with three specialists. UWSP will run a multiple offense under offensive coordinator Keith Turner and will base out of a 4-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Jerry Olszewski. The offense is based around third-year starting quarterback Brett Borchart.

Welcome Back

The Cowboys will return two major players to the lineup that were out of the lineup for various reasons last season. Reggie Robinson sat out the year with shoulder surgery and is back after an All-American campaign in 2004 when he had 12 sacks. Jordan Neal earned a rare sixth year of eligibility when he was injured in the second game of the year.

Just Short

The Cowboys dropped its season finale to Texas Lutheran, 37-32, and with that they lost a chance to win the American Southwest Conference for the third straight year. The Cowboys played the last three games of the year with its third quarterback after the first two on the depth chart were sidelined with season-ending injuries.

On the Air

The Cowboys will be on Gospel 90.5 FM and have the same radio team of Al Pickett and Phil Ashby for the third straight year. Games also can be heard on the internet at www.hsuathletics.com.

Preseason Projections

The Cowboys have been picked by the leagues coaches and media to place second in the American Southwest Conference behind defending champion Mary Hardin-Baylor. Howard Payne, East Texas Baptist and Texas Lutheran round out the preseason top five. Jordan Neal was named the ASC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Will Galusha earned ASC Preseason Special Team Player of the Year honors.

Around The Country

The Cowboys have not been afraid to put any team on their schedule since Jimmie Keeling was hired as the head coach and especially since joining Division III. Playing the best has been a priority in the pre-conference slate. This will be the fifth time since 1999 the Cowboys have opened the season against a team from Wisconsin. They also have 2004 national champion Linfield lined up for a home-and-home series and have played California teams Menlo, Chapman and Azuza Pacific in the Division III era.

The Stars At Night Are Big and Bright

HSU has not played a lot of games at night, and have played just one night game at Shelton Stadium. This season both Cowboy non-conference games will be played at night at Shelton Stadium. HSU opens the season Sept. 2 against Wisconsin-Stevens Point and will host 2004 national champion Linfield College on Sept. 16. Both games are at 6 p.m.