MONMOUTH FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2012 SCHEDULE

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University's Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan has announced the team's 2012 schedule.

Monmouth, which will be celebrating the 20^th year of Division I FCS football, will take on a non-conference schedule that includes a rematch with NCAA quarterfinalist Lehigh University, a home game against future NEC member University of Rhode Island and the team's first contest against Ivy League opponent Cornell. 

"We are excited for the challenge of the 2012 schedule," said Callahan. "Lehigh's Goodman Stadium offers a great atmosphere to start the season.  We are looking forward to the rematch with URI and the first ever meeting against Cornell."

Monmouth opens the season for the second straight season against Lehigh, a team which has won 10 games in back to back years. The Mountain Hawks, who have captured the Patriot League crown each of the last two seasons, have posted playoff wins in 2010 and 2011 and own a 2-0 record at Goodman Stadium against Monmouth. Lehigh finished the 2011 season ranked sixth in the FCS Coaches Poll.

The following weekend, MU welcomes future Northeast Conference member University of Rhode Island to Kessler Field for the first time in history.  The Rams were 3-8 last season in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Conference but two of those wins came over nationally-ranked Delaware and William & Mary. The Hawks fell to the Rams 27-24 in the 2008 season opener in Kingston.

The quest for Monmouth's sixth NEC Title begins against conference rival Wagner in Staten Island on September 15.  The visiting team has won seven out of the eight contests in the series and it should be noted that MU was a perfect 5-0 on the road in 2011.  Monmouth hosts Sacred Heart on Sept. 22, a team which the Hawks have won eight of the last nine meetings against. A road contest against defending NEC Champion Albany follows, with the Blue & White looking to get their first win since 2006 against the Great Danes.

Monmouth's open date comes at the middle of the season before the team plays its final non-league game of the 2012 season against Cornell. The Oct. 13 game will be the first between the Big Red and the Hawks and will be the first time in 20 seasons that MU has faced a team from the Ivy League.

MU owns a winning record against the four of the final five opponents of the 2012 season, beginning with Bryant, a team that went 7-4 last season.  The Hawks then travel to Pittsburgh to play defending co-champions Duquesne on Oct. 27.  Last season the Dukes owned the conference's best record at 9-2 en route to tying Albany for their first league championship.

The Hawks are home for back to back games for the only time all season as they open up November by hosting Central Connecticut State on 11/3 then host Saint Francis on Senior Day on 11/10.  The Hawks wrap up the 2012 season back in Pittsburgh against Robert Morris.  MU, who has won four games at Joe Walton Stadium, will be looking to snap a three-game skid against the Colonials.

"There is a great deal of parity among the teams in the Northeast Conference," said Callahan. "Every game is important as each of the league's nine teams are competing for the conference's automatic berth in the FCS Playoffs."

The Hawks were 5-6 overall last year, including a 4-4 mark in Northeast Conference play.

All times are still yet to be announced and dates are subject to change due to television scheduling.  

Monmouth will announce its newest recruiting class on Wednesday, February 1, 2011.  More information on that signing class can be found on www.GoMUHawks.com .  

2012 Monmouth Football Schedule