PEMBROKE – Five home games, including an early-September matchup against region nemesis Fayetteville State, as well as a Homecoming battle with Catawba in late October, highlight the 10-game 2016 UNC Pembroke football schedule released on Monday afternoon by athletics department officials.
Season tickets for the 2016 season will go on sale on March 1 and can be purchased for $100. More ticket information can be obtained by visiting http://www.uncpbraves.com/Tickets. Tickets can also be purchased by printing a mailable order form.
"We are always excited to release our schedule because it gives our fans something to look forward to," said head coach Shane Richardson. "There is a balance of teams from different conferences, and that brings great credibility. We have a saying that we go by, 'It's How We Play, Not Who We Play.' We're focused on our daily habits to prepare for all 10 of those in the fall. We're excited and look forward to a challenging and exciting 2016 season."
For the fourth-straight season, the Braves will open up the schedule with three opponents from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The Black & Gold will open up next year's campaign on September 3 at Winston-Salem State, before opening up the home portion of the slate the following week (Sept. 10) against Fayetteville State in the eighth annual Two Rivers Classic under the lights of Grace P. Johnson Stadium. The stretch against CIAA schools will wrap up with a road contest at Shaw on September 17.
The athletics department will welcome UNCP parents and families back to campus on September 24 when the Braves take on North Greenville in another evening kickoff, but will then hit the road for two games in early October. UNCP first travels to central Alabama on October 1 to battle Tuskegee, and then heads to northwest North Carolina on October 8 to lock horns with Lenoir-Rhyne.
Robeson County schools students, teachers and administrators are invited to attend the October 15 matchup against Kentucky Wesleyan as part of Robeson County Schools Day at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, while the Black & Gold will celebrate Homecoming the following week by taking on Catawba. A late-October trip to Institute, W.Va., will mark the final road game of the regular season for UNCP who closes out its home schedule two weeks later (Nov. 12) against Concord.
"I know that our team and our fans will be amped, not just for the home slate of games lined up at Grace P. Johnson Stadium, but for how competitive the overall schedule will be," said director of athletics Dick Christy. "Once again, we will get to prove ourselves against some of the best programs in the southeast. Getting to play two teams that have played in the national title game in the past five years and two more teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs last year will certainly have our players excited as well."
The Braves will open up spring practice on March 14, and will play their 10th annual Black & Gold Spring Game on April 14 at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and admission is free.
2016 Football Schedule (HTML)
2016 Football Schedule (Printable)
