ATHENS, Ohio – The first visit ever to Peden Stadium by a team from the Big Ten Conference highlights the 2003 Ohio Football schedule, announced today by Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh. For the first time since 1981, the Bobcats will play six home games, including a date with Minnesota and a homecoming matchup with the Mid-American Conference’s newest contender, the University of Central Florida.

“We are very pleased that Ohio fans for the first time will have the opportunity to watch our Bobcats compete with a Big Ten opponent, along with the best of the MAC, within the beautiful confines of Peden Stadium”, said Boeh. “It has been our charge and goal to upgrade the quality of our non-conference football schedule, both home and away, and the 2003 dates certainly reflect our commitment to that end.”

The season starts with a Thursday night contest at Peden Stadium, the first of three straight non-conference games. The opener is set for Aug. 28 when the Bobcats host Southeast Missouri State. The game will be part of Communiversity Day, an exciting new partnership between the University and the Hocking Hills area. Ohio hits the road the following week for a visit to Big 12 member Iowa State, a program that has played in bowl games following each of the past three seasons. The following week, Minnesota heads to Athens, marking the first time in school history that Ohio has hosted a member of the Big Ten. The Sept. 13 contest with the Golden Gophers is part of Football and Cheerleader Alumni Weekend.

Mid-American Conference play begins with cross-over games on back-to-back weekends. The Bobcats host West Division foe Western Michigan on Sept. 27 as the highlight of both Parents' Weekend and Hall of Fame Weekend. The Bobcats travel to Northern Illinois to start October before entertaining the league’s newest member, UCF, for the first time. The Oct. 11 contest against the Knights will serve as the centerpiece for the university's Homecoming celebration.

The Bobcats hit the road for two straight weeks in mid-October, first at Kentucky on the 18th, then at Buffalo on the 25th. Ohio returns to Athens for Band Day against Kent State on Nov. 8, then travels to Akron the following week. The home schedule concludes on Nov. 22 when rival Miami comes to town. The RedHawks' visit will be celebrated as Green & White Club Day and will be the final home game for the Bobcat Class of 2003.

The schedule concludes with the annual Holzer Medical Center “Battle for the Bell” as Ohio meets archrival Marshall. That contest is scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.

“This is the kind of schedule that enhances our recruiting and exposure,” said Ohio head coach Brian Knorr. “Our program embraces the challenge of playing three BCS teams, especially when it means we can bring those sorts of teams to Peden Stadium.”

Game times have not yet been set. Season ticket renewal forms will be available in April. Single-game tickets will go on sale in June. For more information, please call the Ohio Athletics Ticket Office at 740-593-1300 or 1-800-575-CATS.



2003 Ohio Football Schedule

August
28 (Th.) SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (Communiversity Day)

September
6 at Iowa State

13 MINNESOTA (Football/Cheerleader Alumni Weekend)

27 WESTERN MICHIGAN* (Parents’ Weekend/Hall of Fame Weekend)

October
4 at Northern Illinois*

11 UCF* (Homecoming)

18 at Kentucky

25 at Buffalo*

November
8 KENT STATE* (Band Day)

15 at Akron*

22 MIAMI* (Green & White Club Day)

28 (Fri.) at Marshall*