Feb. 3, 2006

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University football team will face an 11-game schedule that includes a game at Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference, in the first season under new head coach Tony Samuel.

The Redhawks will open the season at Austin Peay on Sept. 2 with the first home game on Sept. 9 against Missouri-Rolla.

Austin Peay is returning to scholarship football after playing the last few seasons as a non-scholarship member of the Pioneer League. The Governors will resume play in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2007. Southeast leads the series with the Govs 6-4. The teams last met in 1997.

Missouri-Rolla is a Division II school that used to play in the MIAA with Southeast when the Redhawks were Division II. The teams have not met since the 1990 season. Southeast leads the series 34-23-3.

Following the two non-conference games, Southeast will have an off week before opening OVC play at perennial I-AA power, Jacksonville State. The Redhawks annual Family Weekend game will be on Sept. 30 against Samford with homecoming scheduled for Oct. 21 against Eastern Kentucky. The final two home games will be on Nov. 4 in the Hall of Fame game against Tennessee-Martin and on Nov. 18 with the annual Senior Day game against Tennessee Tech.

The game with the Arkansas Razorbacks will be on Oct. 14 in Fayetteville, Ark. OVC road games are at Eastern Illinois, at Murray State and against Tennessee State at the Coliseum in Nashville.

"We're in the process of finding out as much as we can about the teams we will face next season," said Samuel who was named Southeast coach on Jan. 4. "I know the players are excited about playing at Arkansas. It is the ultimate challenge that will test the skill level of the players and coaches."