Norfolk State opens 2010 football season at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The BIG EAST Conference and Rutgers University announced the 2010 football schedule Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights play seven home games next season and have four games already set to be televised on ESPN or ABC. Rutgers opens the season Thursday, September 2 vs. Norfolk State at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights go on the road in week two of the season for their first visit to Florida International on Saturday, September 11.

Norfolk State was slammed 59-0 in their initial meeting with the Scarlet Knights in 2007. Hopefully, the 2010 game will be more than an easy "light scrimmage" for the State University of New Jersey this time around. The signing of this "money game" contract effectively takes Norfolk State University out of the running for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 7, 2010.

From our view, the likely candidate slips to the Morgan State Bears for the challenge. The MEAC's unnamed opponent will have to face the rebuilding Southern University Jaguars under first year Coach Stump Mitchell.

The NSU Spartans have not released their 2010 Football Schedule. But, we have been able to confirm the following dates for that schedule shown below. The MEAC home games will be Delaware State, Morgan State and North Carolina Central. The away conference games are at: Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Howard.

Norfolk State Spartans "Partial" 2010 Football Schedule
Sept 2, at Rutgers, Piscataway, N.J.
Sept 11, North Carolina A&T, Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA (Fish Bowl Classic)
Sept. 18, Virginia State, 6 p.m., Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA
Oct. 16 at Hampton , Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Battle of the Bay Classic)
Oct. 23, Florida A&M (homecoming), Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, VA

2010 Rutgers Football Schedule
Thursday, September 2 Norfolk State
Saturday, September 11 at Florida International
Saturday, September 25 North Carolina
Saturday, October 2 Tulane
Friday, October 8 Connecticut* (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 16 Army (New Meadowlands Stadium)
Saturday, October 23 at Pittsburgh*
Wednesday, November 3 at USF* (ESPN2, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, November 13 Syracuse*
Saturday, November 20 at Cincinnati*
Friday, November 26 Louisville* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)
Saturday, December 4 at West Virginia* (ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC)

*Denotes BIG EAST game

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