Football | 4/5/2017 11:03:00 AM

Monday, April 03, 2017

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University Football Coach Kelley Lee has announced a ten-game schedule for the upcoming 2017 season. The Greyhounds are headed into the fall season with momentum after their second consecutive trip to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl and a strong recruiting class.

In his first season as head coach of the Hounds, Lee has an extremely competitive schedule ahead of him, which includes the typical Lone Star Conference slate. Eastern opens the season at home against NCAA Tournament participant, Southwest Baptist.

"We kick it off right with a Thursday Night home game against a Great Lakes Valley Conference Champion Southwest Baptist team, which finished 10-2 last fall and advanced to the NCAA DII Playoffs," Lee said. "It was crucial we were able to add another non-conference game with West Liberty University in West Virginia after Oklahoma Panhandle State dropped out of the LSC. This got us to 10 NCAA DII games which gives us the opportunity to compete for a spot in the NCAA DII Playoffs."

In their second season at the new on-campus Greyhound Stadium, ENMU is set to host five games. In addition to the opener they host league games against Angelo State (Sep. 23), University of Texas of the Permian Basin (Oct. 7), Texas A&M-Kingsville (Oct. 28), and Midwestern State (Nov. 11).

The Hounds also have their hands full in 2017 with five road contests. The first road game comes against cross-state LSC rival, Western New Mexico (Sep 9). Eastern also visits Texas A&M-Commerce (Sep. 16), West Texas A&M (Sep. 30), Tarleton State (Oct. 14), and West Liberty (Nov. 2).

"All in all the 2017 schedule shapes up to be one of the most competitive schedules we've ever had at ENMU with four of the 10 teams making the NCAA Division II post season last fall," Lee said. "We are definitely excited about having five home games at Greyhound Stadium. I know our players really look forward to the new tradition of the Greyhound Dog Walk and the fan interaction it facilitates.  We had an electric environment for last fall's home night games and we are trying to build on that by playing all five home games at night this year.  We are returning nine starters on Offense and eight on Defense, and will be relying on those battle tested young men to help us go out there week in and week out and play great football."