WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University’s Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan has announced the team’s 2014 schedule, the Hawks’ first season as a member of the Big South Conference.
Monmouth will open at home for the first time since the 2011 season when it hosts Delaware State during a first-time matchup between the two teams. The Hawks also will host games against longtime foe Wagner, Columbia and Big South opponents Charleston Southern and Gardner Webb. In all, MU will play four games against first-time opponents, three of which come via the Big South.
“Our schedule is both a challenging and exciting one,” Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan said. “We are thrilled to be joining the Big South Conference and look forward to a competitive nonconference schedule as well. We have an exciting home schedule lined up, including a member of the Ivy League for the second consecutive year coming to Monmouth Stadium.”
The Hawks open the season at home on Aug. 30 for just the fifth time in school history when Delaware State comes to Monmouth Stadium. The game will be the first meeting between MU and DSU.
Monmouth has the first of two open dates on Sept. 6, but Callahan has not ruled out the possibility of adding a 12th game there.
The Hawks welcome longtime rival Wagner College on Sept. 13 in a matchup between teams that have played every year since 1993, the first year of Monmouth football.
Monmouth heads to the road on Sept. 20 with a trip to Pittsburgh to face former NEC rival Duquesne. The Hawks will then travel across the state to Bethlehem for the fourth time to take on Lehigh. The three-game road swing continues on Oct. 4 a Monmouth faces former NEC rival Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa. The Duquesne and Robert Morris games will fulfill the obligation of a home-and-home series that began in West Long Branch last season.
Monmouth wraps up its nonconference schedule on Oct. 11 when it hosts Ivy League opponent, the Columbia Lions, for the second straight season. Last season the Monmouth defense was dominant in a 37-14 victory.
A bye week comes Oct. 18, right before the Hawks begin the Big South portion of the schedule. MU football history will be made on Oct. 25 as Monmouth heads to Clinton, S.C., to face Presbyterian College in its first Big South Conference game. The following weekend on Nov. 1 Monmouth will host its first Big South Conference game when Charleston Southern visits West Long Branch. The Buccaneers, led by Big South Coach of the Year Jamey Chadwell, set a program record for wins with a 10-3 record in his first season.
The tough stretch continues for the Hawks as they face two familiar opponents in 2013 Big South Co-Champions Liberty and Coastal Carolina in back-to-back weeks on Nov. and Nov. 15, respectively.
The 2014 regular season wraps up at home on Nov. 22 against Big South opponent Gardner Webb.
All times are yet to be announced and dates are subject to change due to television scheduling. The Big South Conference recently reached a seven-year deal with ESPN networks to broadcast select games. Streaming video will be available on the Big South Network for free and on Hawkvision.
Monmouth was an independent in 2013 and finished 6-6 during the first season the Hawks played a 12-game regular schedule.
2014 Monmouth Football Schedule
Aug. 30 – Delaware State at home
Sept. 6 – Open date
Sept. 13 – Wagner at home
Sept. 20 – Duquesne at Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sept. 27 – Lehigh at Bethlehem, Pa.
Oct. 4 – Robert Morris at Moon Twp. Pa.
Oct. 11 – Columbia at home
Oct. 18 – Open date
Oct. 25 – Presbyterian at Clinton, S.C.
Nov. 1 – Charleston Southern at home
Nov. 8 – Liberty at Lynchburg, Va.
Nov. 15 – Coastal Carolina at Conway, S.C.
Nov. 23 – Gardner Webb at home
