CLEVELAND – The defending Gulf South Conference co-champion Delta State University Statesmen will face one of the nation's toughest schedules next season with six away games and four home dates doting the 2011 slate. The season promises to be filled with high expectations for the national runners-up with 17 starters returning and one of Division II's top recruiting classes signed for next season.

“We're excited about the upcoming season, but it is certainly filled with challenges,” Ron Roberts, DSU head coach, stated. “We have a veteran club with a solid nucleus of talent returning to finish what we started last season.”

The Statesmen will open the 2011 campaign with four straight road games covering over 2,000 miles and three states. The season opener is set for Thursday, Sept. 1 at Northwestern Louisiana State. The two schools haven't met on the gridiron since the 2002 season. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, La.

DSU will travel to Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 10 to face perennial Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference power Fort Valley State University. The two southeast powers will kickoff at 6 p.m. inside Wildcat Stadium in Fort Valley, Ga.

The green-and-white will close the month of September with two trips into the Natural State against former Gulf South Conference members Arkansas Tech University and Henderson State University. DSU will face ATU on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Thone Stadium in Russellville, Ark. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The Statesmen and Reddies complete the September road junket on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Arkadelphia, Ark., at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. The game will mark DSU's first trip to HSU since 2006.

October jumpstarts an exciting month for the Statesmen with Pig Pickin' schedule for Saturday, Oct. 1 versus Ouachita Baptist University. The showdown between the former GSC foes will kickoff at 6 p.m. inside Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The game will culminate the day's festivities, including the annual BBQ competition.

Delta State returns to national spotlight on Thursday, Oct. 6, as the Statesmen host the University of Arkansas-Monticello in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and Cox Sports Southeast/Charter Sports will televise the game to over 20 million homes across the country.

The Statesmen will return to Florence, Ala., for the first time since falling to Minnesota-Duluth 20-17 in the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday, Oct. 15, as the University of North Alabama welcomes DSU to Braly Municipal Stadium. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m.

Traditional power and GSC foe Valdosta State University will travel to Cleveland the following Saturday, Oct. 22 for a clash with the Statesmen at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

The following Saturday, Nov. 5, Delta State will welcome the University of West Alabama to Parker Field-McCool Stadium for Homecoming. Festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. with kickoff slated for 4 p.m.
The regular season will close on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CST/2 p.m. EST at University Stadium. It will be the second straight trip to Carrollton, Ga., for the Statesmen.

Postseason play begins Saturday, Nov. 19 with the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship. The 2011 season concludes Saturday, Dec. 17 with NCAA Division II Football Championship Game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. ESPN2 will televise the event.

The complete schedule is below. Times and dates are subject to change due to the GSC's television contract.

2011 DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY STATESMEN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
9/1/2011 - Northwestern Louisiana State University - Natchitoches, La. - 6:00 p.m.
9/10/2011 - Fort Valley State University - Fort Valley, Ga. - 6:00 p.m.
9/17/2011 - Arkansas Tech University - Russellville, Ark. - 6:00 p.m.
9/24/2011 - Henderson State University - Arkadelphia, Ark. - 3:00 p.m.
10/1/2011 - Ouachita Baptist University (Pig Pickin') - Cleveland - 6:00 p.m.
10/6/2011 - University of Arkansas-Monticello (GSC-TV) - Cleveland – 7:00 p.m.
10/15/2011 - University of North Alabama - Florence, Ala. - 6:00 p.m.
10/22/2011 - Valdosta State University – Cleveland - 3:00 p.m.
11/5/2011 - University of West Alabama (Homecoming) - Cleveland - 4:00 p.m.
11/12/2011 - University of West Georgia - Carrollton, Ga. - 1:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. EST
11/19/2011 - NCAA Football Playoffs 1st Rd. - TBD
11/26/2011 - NCAA Football Playoffs 2nd Rd. - TBD
12/3/2011 - NCAA Football Playoffs Quarterfinals - TBD
12/10/2011 - NCAA Football Playoffs Semifinals - TBD
12/17/2011 - NCAA Division II National Championship - Florence, Ala.