Hofstra University Director of Athletics Jack Hayes today announced the Pride's 2005 football schedule. The 11-game slate includes four opponents who received I-AA Championship Playoff bids last season and advanced to the championship quarterfinals.
The schedule is highlighted by an Atlantic 10 Football Conference game against 2004 I-AA National Champions, James Madison on Saturday, October 1 at James M. Shuart Stadium. The Dukes posted a 13-2 record in 2004 and defeated Montana 31-21 in the I-AA Championship game at Chattanooga's (TN) Finlay Stadium in December. Hofstra and Maine were the only two teams to face both of the I-AA finalists last season.
The Pride will open the 2005 season on the road for just the fourth time in Hofstra Head Football Coach Joe Gardi's tenure. Gardi, who will start his 16th year at Hofstra in September, will open the season on Saturday, September 10th at the University of Albany at 6 p.m. A week later on the 17th, the Pride begin their home schedule against Long Island opponent Stony Brook University. The two teams met last October with Hofstra posting a 61-21 victory on the road.
On September 24, Hofstra begins a three-game stretch against three I-AA Playoff opponents from last season. On the 24th, the Pride travel to Greenville, South Carolina to face Furman University. The Paladins were 10-3 and advanced to the I-AA Playoff quarterfinals in 2004 before dropping a 14-13 decision to JMU. The Dukes of James Madison will greet the Pride at Shuart Stadium on October 1st. The Blue Hens of Delaware, the 2003 I-AA National Champions, will face the Pride for the third consecutive year, this time on Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium in Newark on October 8. The Blue Hens, who were 9-4 overall and edged the Pride at Shuart Stadium 20-19 in 2004, also advanced to the I-AA Playoff quarterfinals last year before dropping a 44-38 double-overtime loss to William & Mary.
Hofstra will return home on Saturday, October 15th for Homecoming festivities against the University of Maine. The Pride and the Black Bears will be facing each other for the sixth straight year. Hofstra then hits the road for games at Richmond on October 22 and at Rhode Island on October 29 before returning home to Hempstead on November 5 against another A-10 foe and I-AA Playoff quarterfinalist, the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats were 10-3 last year.
Hofstra closes out the season with games against opponents from the state of Massachusetts. On November 12, the Pride travel to Boston to face Northeastern University. The University of Massachusetts Minutemen close out the Pride's 2005 regular season on November 19 at Shuart Stadium. The two teams will be meeting for the ninth consecutive year.
2005 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date | Day | Opponent (2004 Record) | Series | Time |
September 10 | Saturday | at University of Albany (4-7) | 9-2-0 | 6:00 p.m. |
September17 | Saturday | STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY (3-7) | 8-0-0 | TBA |
September 24 | Saturday | at Furman University (10-3) | 1-0-0 | 2:00 p.m. |
| | | | |
October 1 | Saturday | JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY (13-2) | 2-4-0 | TBA |
October 8 | Saturday | at University of Delaware (9-4) | 4-10-1 | TBA |
October 15 | Saturday | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE (5-6) | 7-6-0 | TBA |
| | (HOMECOMING) | | |
October 22 | Saturday | at University Of Richmond (3-8) | 3-1-0 | TBA |
October 29 | Saturday | at University of Rhode Island (4-7) | 15-4-0 | TBA |
| | | | |
November 5 | Saturday | UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (10-3) | 5-3-0 | TBA |
November 12 | Saturday | at Northeastern University (5-6) | 4-7-0 | TBA |
November 19 | Saturday | UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS (6-5) | 5-3-0 | TBA |
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