March 28, 2018

Turner reveals challenging 2018 football schedule

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Turner released the Eagles’ 2018 schedule Wednesday, which features five home games and a match up with the reigning national finalist in week one.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Mike Turner released the Eagles' 2018 schedule Wednesday, which features five home games and a match up with the reigning national finalist in week one.

The Eagles open up their slate for 2018 on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at West Florida. The Argonauts lost to Texas A&M-Commerce in last year's NCAA Division II title game.

"That's a great environment down there," head football coach Mike Turner said. "We've got a football team that's got great expectations. If you've got great expectations, go play someone that's playing for the top. That's what we've done in playing a football team that played for a national title last year. They have a great program and a great coach. This will help us regionally and nationally win, lose or draw."

West Florida come to Mossy Creek for a game in 2019.

It marks the first year since 2011 that the Eagles don't open up their schedule at home. The Eagles play two straight road games to open the year for the first time since 2009 and just the fourth time in the last 30 years (2009, 1994 and 1989).

Week two takes Carson-Newman to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. for a one-year deal. The Panthers went 6-4 out of the CIAA last year. VUU is two years removed from an NCAA playoff appearance and a first-round loss to Slippery Rock. The Panthers have posted at least a .500 record or better each of the last three seasons.

These will be the first meetings ever for Carson-Newman with both West Florida and Virginia Union. Although the Eagles have faced off against West Florida head coach Pete Shinnick when he patrolled the sidelines at UNC Pembroke until leaving for Pensacola.

Week three opens up conference play with Wingate. The Eagles will face the defending SAC champs under the lights of Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday, September 15 at 7 p.m. The contest will be the first Saturday night game home game for Carson-Newman since 2003 when the Eagles thumped Guilford 41-0 on Sept. 6.

"You get the defending SAC champs and a playoff team," Turner said. "We need that home opener to be something special. We want it to be special for our players, our fans and our alums. There haven't been many years where we've played two on the road to start the year. So we need that game to be something great for our program."

A challenging September wraps up with road trips to Newberry and Catawba. The Eagles play four of their first five away from Burke-Tarr Stadium.

"This was the flop year," Turner said. "Last year, we got to play seven at home. This year, we had to work hard to get a schedule and play on the road some. We've got quality opponents on the road and our league will be as balanced as it has been. We've got expectations and great responsibility that goes with those expectations."

October is a bit more home-friendly for C-N. The Eagles start the month with three straight home games before heading to Tusculum in week nine. October 6 brings Limestone to town before the Eagles take on Mars Hill in week seven on Oct. 13. C-N wraps up its three-game homestand with a non-conference matchup against Virgina-Lynchburg in what will be the first ever meeting with the Dragons.

The Eagles finish up the year with senior day against Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 3 before making a lengthy road trip for a non-conference showdown at UNC Pembroke.

All of Carson-Newman's games will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network beginning one hour prior to kickoff with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

DATE	OPPONENT	STATUS
Aug. 30, 2018	at West Florida	7:00 PM
Sep. 08, 2018	at Virginia Union	1:00 PM
Sep. 15, 2018	Wingate *	7:00 PM
Sep. 22, 2018	at Newberry *	1:00 PM
Sep. 29, 2018	at Catawba *	1:30 PM
Oct. 06, 2018	Limestone *	1:00 PM
Oct. 13, 2018	Mars Hill *	3:00 PM
Oct. 20, 2018	Virginia-Lynchburg	1:00 PM
Oct. 27, 2018	at Tusculum *	1:30 PM
Nov. 03, 2018	Lenoir-Rhyne *	1:00 PM
Nov. 10, 2018	at UNC Pembroke	1:00 PM