CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Johnson C. Smith University Department of Athletics has released their 10-game football schedule for the 2013 season. JCSU concluded last season with a record of 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA; their second consecutive winning season since the 1972-73 seasons.
The Golden Bulls will change up their annual routine of playing the Commemorative Classic at the end of the regular season and switch the game to the opener. JCSU opens the year on Saturday, September 7th against Livingstone College at Charlotte Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in this CIAA divisional clash. Johnson C. Smith is 4-0 since branding this contest as the Commemorative Classic in 2009; including a 57-6 routing to finish the 2012 year.
The following week, JCSU will stay in Charlotte but move to their home stadium of the Irwin Belk Complex. The Golden Bulls will face Bowie State University on Saturday, September 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the annual Eddie C. McGirt Classic. This will be the 23rd meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1981. The Bulldogs won the last meeting 14-13 in Charlotte during the 2006 season. JCSU holds a narrow 12-10 advantage in this matchup. This contest will not count towards either team's conference standings.
JCSU will play a third consecutive week in Charlotte and a second game in the Irwin Belk Complex. The Golden Bulls will take on the Wildcats of nearby Davidson College on Saturday, September 21st at 2:00 p.m. This will be the fourth all-time between JCSU and Davidson. Johnson C. Smith won the first meeting 18-15 in Memorial Stadium during the 1989 season. Davidson avenged the loss the following season (1990) with a 17-7 victory on the Wildcats' home field. JCSU lost the tiebreaker 35-7 during the 2011 season in Davidson. The annual Festi-Bull celebration will take place during pre-game from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m.
The Golden Bulls' cross divisional games will be against Virginia State in Petersburg, VA on September 28th and then Lincoln (PA) in Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Complex on October 5th. JCSU has edged the Trojans by a touchdown in the last two meetings; both at home. The Lions won a shoot-out last year (55-53) on their home field for one of the two CIAA losses for JCSU.
Divisional play will start against the defending two-time CIAA Champions Winston-Salem State on Saturday, October 12th at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC at 1:30 p.m. The Rams will be hosting the Golden Bulls as their homecoming opponent. JCSU will return to Charlotte for back to back divisional home games versus Fayetteville State (October 19th) and Shaw (October 26th).
Johnson C. Smith will host Homecoming 2013 on October 26th against the Bears of Shaw University at 1:00 p.m. on McGirt Field at the Irwin Belk Complex. JCSU has topped Shaw in their last two meetings, including a 35-20 win last season as the Bears' homecoming opponent.
The regular season will come to a close after a November road schedule of Saint Augustine's University and Central State University. JCSU will play the Falcons on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:30 p.m. in Raleigh, NC and then travel to Wilberforce, OH to challenge the Marauders of CSU on November 9th at 1:30 p.m.
The 2013 CIAA Football Championship will take place on November 16th at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.
2013 JCSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
9/7 Livingstone College$ (Commemorative Classic), Charlotte Memorial Stadium 1PM
9/14 Bowie State (McGirt Classic), Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
9/21 Davidson College, Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
9/28 @Virginia State$, Petersburg, VA, 3 PM
10/5 The Lincoln University$, Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
10/12 @Winston-Salem State$, Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC 1:30 PM
10/19 Fayetteville State$, Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 2 PM
10/26 Shaw University$ (Homecoming) Irwin Belk Complex, Charlotte, 1 PM
11/2 @Saint Augustine's University$, Raleigh, NC, 1:30 PM
11/9 @Central State University, Wilberforce, OH, 1:30 PM
11/16 @CIAA Football Championship#, Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
BOLD: Home Games
$ CIAA Conference Game
# Conference Championship Game, Teams To Be Determined
COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION