to play 11 games in ’04

By

ADAM DAIGLE

LORMAN &045; It’s a new rule from the NCAA that has the 2004 Alcorn State schedule just a little different from recent seasons.

Alcorn officials unveiled the fall campaign on Wednesday with two noticeable differences &045; a season-ending game with Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home instead of the Capital City Classic with Jackson State and the absence of the contest with Delta State.

The rule from the NCAA, Alcorn athletic director Robert Raines said, does not allow Division I programs to play during the final week of August.

The Braves opened the season in 2003 and 2002 with Arkansas-Pine Bluff but will now face the Golden Lions at home Nov. 27 following the annual Cap Classic in Jackson Nov. 20.

The Braves will instead open their 11-game season Sept. 4 at Grambling before playing in the Chicago Classic Sept. 11 against North Carolina A&T.;

&uot;That had been an August game for us the last couple of years,&uot; Raines said. &uot;The first game of the year has not been the first Saturday in September. They’re not going to waive a request prior to that date. We had to find a mutually open week for both of us, and we couldn’t find one. The only one available was after the Capital City Classic.&uot;

The new mandate also put on hold the Braves’ plan of facing Division II Delta State. The two schools agreed on a contract to play home and home during the fall after Delta State opted not to agree to play neighboring Mississippi Valley State.

Whether that game is scheduled in 2005 remains to be seen.

&uot;Initially we had agreed upon that August date,&uot; Raines said. &uot;We were trying to get involved into a Classic situation. Then we both found out we couldn’t play in August anyway. Division I and I-AA can’t play in August, but I think Division II can. There is an opportunity (in 2005). My schedule is pretty much set &045; 99 percent set.&uot;

The 2005 schedule &045; like 2004 &045; will include just two opponents from outside the Southwestern Athletic Conference since NCAA rules are calling for teams to go back to 11-game schedules.

The Braves will likely play in the Chicago Classic in 2005 and host NAIA Langston University, a historically black institution in Langston, Okla., for their two non-conference contests. Teams will not be permitted to play 12-game schedules until 2008.

This fall the Braves’ two non-conference contests will be North Carolina A&T in Chicago at Soldier Field and a road date against Southeastern Louisiana Oct. 30 in Hammond. The Classic game will be a big draw for the Braves with the number of alumni currently residing the Chicago area.

The Braves also have a handful of players who hail from that area, including senior defensive end Michael Howleit.

&uot;We have a large alumni contingency there,&uot; Raines said. &uot;We have competed in that Classic in 1998 and 1999. We played Grambling one year and Virginia State another year. Football is big in Chicago, and when HBCUs come together to play in that area, it’s always a big show. Not only because of football, but because of the bands.

&uot;We will have a lot of people attending. The A Club is talking about getting a package together to go up on a train. We’re going to have a good following from here to Chicago.&uot;

The game will be the first Classic game for the Braves since playing Hampton in the Whitney Young New York Urban League Classic.

The remainder of the schedule includes regular opponents from seasons past &045; Sept. 25 at home against Alabama State, Oct. 9 at Prairie View A&M, Oct. 16 at home against Texas Southern for homecoming and Oct. 23 at home against Southern.

The Braves will then play three straight road games &045; Oct. 30 at Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 6 at Mississippi Valley.