ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State University Golden Rams have unveiled their football schedule for the 2015 season, ASU Athletics Director Dr. Richard H. Williams and interim head coach Dan Land announced Wednesday afternoon. Highlighting the nine-game slate is a game with a familiar non-conference opponent, seven SIAC conference games, two classics, and matchups with three teams that made appearances in the 2014 NCAA Division II football playoffs."Albany State has generated a challenging schedule that will provide a lot of excitement during the 2015 season," said Williams. "Our Golden Rams are making great preparations, and they are ready to deliver some solid football action this season."
Land believes the competition is stiff, but he believes Albany State will benefit from the tough tasks on his team's schedule.
"To get better as a team during the course of the season, it's important to play against good programs," Land said. "All the teams on our schedule have good coaches, good players and winning attitudes. "We have a tough schedule, but we'll definitely put in the hard work this offseason and prepare for each of them."
The Golden Rams, who finished their 2014 season at 7-3 and lost to Tuskegee in the SIAC Championship, will kick off the season on September 5 in Albany, Georgia against the Valdosta State University Blazers. Valdosta State, a member of the Gulf South Conference, went 8-2 and made the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. Last year, ASU lost to the VSU 38-10.
Albany State will open SIAC play and continue a rivalry when it faces the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on September 12 in the 2nd Annual White Water Classic in Phenix City, Alabama. Tuskegee, who made an appearance in the 2014 NCAA Division II Playoffs, finished last year with a 9-2 overall record and defeated the Golden Rams 47-41 in the 2014 SIAC Championship game. The Golden Tigers also beat ASU in 20-12 in last season's classic. The Tuskegee game is the first of two West Division crossover games.
Albany State returns on September 19 against the Stillman College, who finished the 2014 season at 5-6. The Tigers, a member of the SIAC West Division, last played the Golden Rams in 2010 when Albany State won 44-5.
ASU has another early season road test scheduled for September 26, as the Golden Rams travel to Cleveland, Mississippi to face the Delta State Statesmen. Gulf South member DSU, 9-1 in 2014, made the second round of the 2014 NCAA playoffs.
After an open date, the Golden Rams will visit Fairfield, Alabama to face the Miles College Golden Bears. Albany State defeated the SIAC West Division opponent 14-7 in last season's meeting in Albany. The Golden Bears finished the 2014 season with a 6-4 record.
The Golden Rams will take on four SIAC East Division opponents beginning Oct. 17. They will battle with the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College as part of the university's annual homecoming celebration. Albany State defeated Morehouse 31-14 in the 2014 contest. The Maroon Tigers were 6-4 last season.
Albany State will then journey to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Clark Atlanta University Panthers on October 24. ASU beat CAU 30-7 in route to the Panthers' 3-7 overall record.
Albany State will return to the friendly confines of Albany State University Coliseum on October 31. ASU will host the Benedict College Tigers. The Golden Rams defeated Benedict 40-14 in last year's meeting, and the Tigers finished with a 4-6 overall record.
The two biggest rivals in the SIAC, Albany State and Fort Valley State University, will close its regular seasons in the 26th Annual Fountain City Classic on November 7 at the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia. The Golden Rams defeated the Wildcats (6-4 overall last season) 32-21 in the 2014 classic game. The FCC is touted as one of the biggest and best HBCU football classics in the nation.
The winners of the SIAC East and West divisions will play for the 2015 SIAC Championship game. The site, date, and time will be determined at a later time.
For more information about the Golden Rams 2015 football schedule, contact Stan McCormick at (229) 420-7013 or stanley.mccormick@asurams.edu.
Albany State Golden Rams 2015 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Place Time
9/5 Valdosta State University Albany, GA 7 p.m.
9/12 Tuskegee University Phenix City, AL 3 p.m.~
9/19 Stillman College* Albany, GA 7 p.m.
9/26 Delta State University Cleveland, MS 2 p.m.
10/3 OPEN
10/10 Miles College* Fairfield, AL 4 p.m.~
10/17 Morehouse College* ** Albany, GA 2 p.m.
10/24 Clark Atlanta University* Atlanta, GA 2 p.m.
10/31 Benedict College* Albany, GA 2 p.m.
11/7 Fort Valley State Univ.*# Columbus, GA 2 p.m.
11/14 SIAC Championship TBA TBA
*SIAC Game
**Homecoming
#Fountain City Classic
~Central Time
Dr. Arthur N. Dunning, Interim President
Dr. Richard H. Williams, Athletics Director
Stephanie Harrison-Dyer, Assistant Athletics Director
Dan Land, Interim Head Coach
Steve Smith, Anthony Kelly, Uyl Joyner, Bokowski Daniels, Chris Henderson, Assistant Coaches
Stan McCormick, Sports Information Director
Phone: (229) 420-7013
Fax: (229) 434-7049
Email: stanley.mccormick@asurams.edu
Facebook: ASU Ram Nation
Twitter: @ASUGoldenRams
Instagram: asu_ram_nation
COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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