Monday, May 22, 2006

Valparaiso University head football coach Stacy Adams has released his 2006 football schedule, which will feature five home contests this year.

Adams, who is in his second year at the helm of the Crusader program, will see his team kickoff the campaign the same way they did in 2005, with a game at Wisconsin Lutheran on September 2. Valpo's home opener, against Trinity International, is set for a week later, on September 9.

The Brown and Gold will open Pioneer Football League play on September 16 at Morehead State as the PFL moves back to just one division this year. Each team will play the other seven schools throughout the 2006 regular season, with the champion determined by round-robin play instead of a league title game.

Valpo returns home for back-to-back PFL contests against Drake and Jacksonville to close out the month of September before venturing out on the road for three successive Saturdays. The September 30 game against the Dolphins is Valparaiso's annual Homecoming contest. A non-conference trip to region rival Saint Joseph's (Ind.) begins the stretch of games which also sees the Crusaders head to San Diego and Butler.

A Parents' Day contest against Davidson on October 28 marks Valpo's final home PFL game of the season before the Crusaders end league play the following weekend at Dayton. The 2006 regular season comes to a close at home on November 11 as the Brown and Gold hosts Aurora.

An opportunity for postseason play exists for the Pioneer Football League champion on November 18 at the inaugural Gridiron Classic. The PFL winner will face the champion of the Northeast Conference in the first of a two-year agreement to take place at the home of the NEC champion.

Valparaiso is coming off of a 3-8 season overall in 2005, including a 1-3 mark in PFL North Division play. The Crusaders finished fourth in the five-team PFL North.