Albany State releases 2016 football schedule

ALBANY — Albany State released its 2016 football schedule last week and highlighting the nine-game slate is a game with a familiar non-conference opponent, six SIAC conference games, two classics, and matchups with three teams that made appearances in the 2015 NCAA Division II football playoffs.

“Albany State has generated a challenging schedule that will provide a lot of excitement during the 2016 season,” athletic director Richard Williams said. “Our Golden Rams are making great preparations, and they are ready to deliver some solid football action this season.”

Interim football coach Dan Land believes the competition is stiff but expects 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 Rams, who finished their 2015 season at 6-4, will kick off the season on Sept. 3 in a road game with the Valdosta State University Blazers. Valdosta State, a member of the Gulf South Conference, went 9-3 and made the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. Last year, ASU lost to the VSU 21-13 in Albany.

Albany State will open SIAC play and continue a rivalry when it faces the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on Sept. 10 in the 3rd Annual White Water Classic in Phenix City, Alabama. Tuskegee, who made an appearance in the 2015 NCAA Division II quarterfinals, finished last year with a 10-3 overall record and defeated the Rams 27-14 in last season’s classic. The Tuskegee game is the first of two SIAC West Division crossover games.

Albany State returns to action on Sept. 17 against Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla. The Fire program is a member of the Sun Conference that competes at the NAIA level. SEU finished with a 6-2 overall record last season.

ASU will play its first home game on Sept. 24. The Rams will host the University of West Georgia, who made a trip to the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2015. The Gulf South member recorded a 12-2 record last year.

Before an open date on Oct. 8, the Rams will host Miles College on Oct. 1. Albany State defeated the SIAC West Division opponent 29-16 in last year regular season meeting in Fairfield before losing to the Golden Bears 20-7 in the SIAC title game.

The Rams will take on four SIAC East Division opponents beginning Oct. 15. They will play at Morehouse, then return home for homecoming on Oct. 24 to face Clark-Atlanta.

Albany State will back on the road on October 29, travelling to play Benedict.

The two biggest rivals in the SIAC, Albany State and Fort Valley State University, will close its regular seasons in the 27th Annual Fountain City Classic on November 5 at the A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia.