Mavericks add non-conference opponent to round out eleven game schedule
Michelle Bishop
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Sports
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That was until coach Pat Behrns was able to secure a non-conference game with East Central University of Ada, Okla.
"It's been very elusive," Behrns said. "It's been something that we've been unable to do now for about five years. So fortunately we did get connected with East Central and got a home game."
UNO will pay East Central $20,000 for the contractual game according to the athletic department. But, the Mavs won't be required to make a return trip the following season.
"The good thing about it is it's a regional game with a Lone Star Conference team," Behrns said. "They're in our region and it's a very highly respected conference so one way or the other it will help us."
After UNO faces East Central on Aug. 27, they will hit the road for another non conference game against the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Sept. 5.
The game will be the first between East Central and UNO; the Tigers finished 3-8 last season. The Mavs handed UNK a 49-21 loss last season; the Lopers finished 7-4 overall.
UNO traditionally opens the season with UNK, but that game has come after UNO has sat idle the opening week of the season for the last few years.
"We probably had too much time from the time we started practice till the time we played an actual game," Behrns said. "Football practice is kind of fun, but it's not a lot of fun. You'd rather play games, so I think the quicker you can get ready and get practicing to play a game and know who your opponent is, the better off you are."
The Mavs open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play with two of the three teams that beat them last year. Truman State visits Sept. 12 and then UNO travels to face NCAA Division II runner-up Northwest Missouri State on Sept. 19. The game at Northwest is the first of three straight on the road for the Mavs.
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