Football schedule now set
The missing pieces in Georgia State’s football schedule are in place.
The Panthers will play Clark Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 2. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 1, but the Falcons are also scheduled to play a preseason game on that date, assuming the NFL solves its work-stoppage and the season begins.
The Panthers will play St. Francis, an NAIA school from Joliet, Ill., in place of Lambuth, which closed. The game will be Nov. 5 at the Dome.
The Fighting Saints went 7-4 last season. They averaged 30.8 points per game and allowed 23.5.
Here is the schedule:
2011 GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
All Dates Subject to Change. Times TBA.
Sept. 2 CLARK ATLANTA (GEORGIA DOME)
Sept. 10 OLD DOMINION (GEORGIA DOME)
Sept. 17 at Jacksonville State (Jacksonville, Ala.)
Sept. 24 at Houston (Houston, Texas)
Oct. 8 MURRAY STATE (GEORGIA DOME)
Oct. 15 at South Carolina State (Orangeburg, S.C.)
Oct. 22 SOUTH ALABAMA (GEORGIA DOME – HOMECOMING)
Oct. 29 at UTSA (San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 5 ST. FRANCIS (GEORGIA DOME)
Nov. 12 at West Alabama (Livingston, Ala.)
Nov. 19 CAMPBELL (GEORGIA DOME)
– Doug Roberson, AJC
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74 comments Add your comment
Panama
June 6th, 2011
3:17 pm
Now if we can just get back on the front page
GSU Rocks
June 6th, 2011
3:17 pm
Can’t wait for football season! Go Panthers!
GStateBen
June 6th, 2011
3:25 pm
Out muscled by the Falcons but will not be by the other Panthers.
If Clark scores, I’ll be mildly disappointed. Seriously. They still don’t have an OL or QB.
We Ready!
Jee S. You
June 6th, 2011
3:36 pm
So if the lockout continues, and there is no Falcons game on Thursday, we still go on Friday?
Need to get a package toghether for UGA/Boise fans.
Georgia State Football Adjusts Schedule | Panther Talk
June 6th, 2011
3:43 pm
[...] SB Nation Article AJC Blog Link [...]
jweaver
June 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
Moving the game to Friday instead of Thursday should help draw more UGA/Boise fans to the game. I prefer a Friday game to a Thursday game, just hope the students show up.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
3:52 pm
The Friday game is now official regardless of what the Falcons and NFL do. It’s going to be a Big 3 college football weekend in Atlanta
Fire Rodney Ho
June 6th, 2011
3:59 pm
I just blue myself. Bill Curry for Jesus
VSU Alumnus
June 6th, 2011
4:20 pm
Ummm…….St. Francis? A NAIA school from Illinois? Valdosta State has an open date on Nov.5. I’m speechless.
jsm
June 6th, 2011
4:28 pm
Really? If Valdosta was available, yes, that would have been a much better opponent.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
4:36 pm
Our RB Coach is an alumnus.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
4:54 pm
St. Francis?? What is the point of having games at the dome if we are not going to make attempts to fill it? These games are NOT going to draw the crowds we need.
jsm
June 6th, 2011
5:01 pm
Exactly.VSU would have a lot more local interest. Some of VSU’s fans would have made the trip and I’m sure there are some VSU alumni in Atlanta.
Curry might have made a big scheduling goof here!
Debbie Downer
June 6th, 2011
5:10 pm
So we were forced to reschedule our home opener by our landlord. Additionally we’re playing not one, not two, but three sub-D1 schools. One of those three is on the road and another is a replacement of yet another sub-D1 school. And our starting QB is suspended for the first four games. This is not lining up as an exciting second year for us.
itsmeagain
June 6th, 2011
5:23 pm
Speak for yourself DD. What did you want or expect? Each game vs an FBS school? Or maybe even FCS schools? Eitherway, let us not get ahead of ourselves, this is still the second year, meaning that we WILL lose games that we feel we should not, and we WILL make mistakes we feel are unforgivable. Let’s just hope that these things are limited to so few that we come out on top.
hammer22
June 6th, 2011
5:25 pm
Yes, VSU should have been on the schedule instead of St. Francis.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
5:26 pm
I would have even liked to have seen Shorter come back.
jsm
June 6th, 2011
5:28 pm
Yeah, and 3 of those first 4 are against the toughest teams on the schedule. What could a player do to deserve a 4 game suspension? They’ll miss more than a 1/3 of the season. Between the suspensions and the St Francis game, this will be a dull season for GSU fans. It won’t augur well for GSU’s first year in CAA play.
itsmeagain
June 6th, 2011
5:29 pm
I agree going after the big boys is good, but it’s useless to just get pounded over and over. Playing easier teams allows the Panthers to learn how to win. Remember beating Shorter last year? The team then went and lost to a much easier team because they had no idea how to act over a big win. We need these easy teams. Lets get on with it.
Old GSU alum
June 6th, 2011
5:31 pm
I am just excited to have a “home team” to finally pull for and am excited about this first season on the gridiron. I am trying to not get my expectations to high for the inaugural game. Schedule is interesting. St Francis, Lambuth…same thing. We would have beaten either one of course, I would expect. Yeah, as long as we don’t lose to the NAIA school this first year I think I can live with that. Houston should be a fun trip.
jsm
June 6th, 2011
5:31 pm
@ Old GSU alum
Um….you know this is GSU’s SECOND season….right?
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
5:33 pm
@ Old GSU Alum no offense but where were you last year? The inagural tee shirts are at a deep discount right now. You are however a typical GSU FAN.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
5:42 pm
A couple of things, here 1) Most Division II schools only schedule 10 regular season games (Clark also will play 10 this years), 2) Although it would be great to be able to schedule some big name opponents in the Dome, we have to realize that this is only year 2 and we are an FCS (I-AA) Independent right now. This is why there are hardly any football independents anymore. With schools playing 8 in conference games it is more difficult than ever to find OOC opponents. This is especially true if you have to fill not 3 slots but rather 11. I know for a fact that our athletic department looked at every viable option in finding a replacement for 11/5. So I am sure they were quite aware of who had openings. The schedule will get better year by year and it’s an exciting time to be a Panther we have offered 39 or 40 kids already for 2012. The kids we’re offering for 2012 are also being offered by FBS (I-A) schools to give you an idea of the company we’re keeping. Some of our JUCO and I-A transfers are on campus this week enrolling and joining the team. Old Dominion is offering packages for folks in Norfolk to come down for our Sept 1oth game so we can expect a big crowd. Expect the same for South Alabama. In 87 days on Friday night we will not care who the opponent is. Go Panthers.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
5:47 pm
Hey Debbie thanks for living up to your name.
I for one cannot wait. 87 Days
9/2 The Encore
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
5:48 pm
I am going broke buying GSU gear. I am an alum, love the Panthers and don’t really care about who we play except however that Atlanta is a soft sports market and unfortunately if we are going to be able to maintain a team for the long-term we need to start drawing a fan base now. This schedule is not going to do that and unfortunately I suspect neither will it when we go to the CAA. Sorry to agree w/ Debbie but this is dissappointing.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
6:01 pm
Give it time and have some faith. Remember, the Colts moving vans left in the middle of the night without prior warning. I’ll leave it at that.
As for the gear, dont even go there. Neighbors wonder if I have anything but royal blue t-shirts. And just think, we switch from Adidas to Nike next month, so you can do it all over again.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
6:05 pm
Agreed, you are so glass half full, or should I say canal….lol
GStateBen
June 6th, 2011
6:06 pm
Coach Curry does not set the schedule. The athletic director does. Well said Panama.
We are ready for Panther football!
Panama
June 6th, 2011
6:14 pm
I am, because I do not just read about GSU football every now and then. So i have done the research. Take a look at who South Florida, Central Florida or Florida International played in their first 3 years. Take a look at South Alabama’s Year 2 (2010) schedule. We’re talking about schools that are or in the case of South Alabama will be FBS. The scheduling philosophy we’re employing is that 1/3 of the teams you should beat easily, 1/3 should be as good as you but winnable and 1/3 should be tough games that are tests. If you notice last year, we didnt play any prep schools or JUCOS like some schools *cough South Alabama cough*. The point is that most startups do not have a Top 10 FBS and Top 5 FCS on their schedule in year one. In fact nobody but us ever has. It probably gave an inflated opinion to fans to start off like that. We’re still playing a very tough schedule. Sept 10 through Sept 24 is murderers row, especially with two road games back to back. Then we get SC State and South Alabama back to back in October. Add to that that we have a target on our back because of our coach’s profile and because of where we play. So al those other “little schools” will be playing us like it’s their Super Bowl (remember Lambuth and Campbell last year?).
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
6:36 pm
Yes, unfortunately I remember Lambuth very well. I too read constantly about GSU, in fact I am on the blogs everyday. I am also a season ticket holder both for Football (the huddle) and Basketball, went to the Spring game, every away game last year, the PAC Golf outing, the signing day celebration and call into Newstalk every week during the coaches show(both basketball and football). I will be at every game this year(home and away) and agree about our philosophy but I also know that schools like USA and ODU have a much better fan base than us. I simply wanted the bigger named or more geographically local schools here to get folks excited about the program.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
6:41 pm
I’ll be there at all of them. Have you seen UTSA’s future schedule? Just not sure why our bar has been set so low?
Panama
June 6th, 2011
6:42 pm
Like I said, filling 11 dates is not easy at all. And believe me they tried for bigger names. Thems the breaks. The more important thing now is for us to make sure we have people going to Houston, San Antonio and Charleston. We also need to make sure that we have great student turnout at home, ESPECIALLY against Old Dominion and South Alabama. Both of those fan bases made a big show of their “home field advantage”. We need t let them feel what a Third Down feel s like in front of 35k in The Concrete Jungle.
Paddy
June 6th, 2011
6:51 pm
Old Dominion U. will be their toughest test. They actually travel fans to this game, a 9 hour drive from Norfolk. ODU and GSU started football only one year apart. But there is no comparison in how these two team have marketed themselves. They have sold out their season tickets (9,750) all three seasons and have sell outs in all their home games (15,000) total capacity. Hampton Roads is rather small compared to greater Atlanta. You be the judge of what commuter school has done the best job!
Panama
June 6th, 2011
7:03 pm
Apples and Oranges. What is the competition in Norfolk? NFL? MLB? NBA? BCS-AQ? Nope, Minor League Baseball. There is a reason why Villanova (Philadelphia), UMass (Boston) and UTSA (San Antonio) are all moving up. Their (ODU) capacity and season tickets sold all three years are 19,782 and I am embarrased that I know that without having to look it up. We didnt do bad though; #10 nationally in FCS attendance in year one with UGA and GT in the same town.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
7:28 pm
Doug,
We want back onto the front page.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
7:29 pm
Paddy, I agree. I think our marketing effort sucks!! We had a great opportunity with our schedule last year and we really dropped the ball. Hell, ESPN who was supposedly “following” us used the wrong logo during the Alabama game that made us look stupid. Furthermore, look around town, I have seen three Auburn billboards, four UGA and at least two for GT, NONE for Georgia State. Heck, I’ve seen Columbus State, KSU and UWG. UWG also has a pretty good TV add campaign. Furthermore, Auburn sent our a great promo video to their Alum touting their Iron bowl win. I have’nt seen a single email form either the Alumni Assoc or PAC that promotes our great season last year. Oh, and where is the innagrual video we bought last November. It was supposed to be out in January.
go southern
June 6th, 2011
7:36 pm
When GSU win in double digit ( more that 10 games total) call us, we will love to play you guys…
Panama
June 6th, 2011
7:44 pm
@Go Southern…Sam Baker will not schedule us. Ask him.
@What
Youre comparing us to Auburn and UGA? You should look up their athletic budget vs. ours sometime. When we get to $77 million then we can talk about marketing. I have seen two GSU billboards. One on 75 South and one on I-16. I have heard of two others on the north side. As for ESPN I thought they used our GSU letter logo during the game Will have to check the DVR. At any rate, their coverage from the magazine cover through the Bama game did more for our profile than our previous 30 years of athletics has. We are on people’s radars and people are seriously talking about us as a move up, not just as a punchline. Our name after just one season is getting bandied about where Ga Southern’s is not, in conference realignment chatter. It’s a marathon, not a sprint guys. The best thing we cab do is make sure the PAC keeps getting more money and that we invite as many people as we can to football and basketball games.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
8:02 pm
I have a total of 6 season tickets for football and four for BB, I have donated over $60k this year alone. I believe I am entitled to my opinion.
What___The__F
June 6th, 2011
8:08 pm
BTW Panama, I have seen your profile pic on Panthertalk and you are totally HOT!!
OutSTATED
June 6th, 2011
8:43 pm
@What get a room. The schedule is set, move on. Panthers are going to have a great season.
GO PANTHERS!!
Coach Curry
June 6th, 2011
8:48 pm
Our guys are excited about the season, everyone is working hard and you bitches should just shut the hell up.
GSU = georgia STATE university
June 6th, 2011
8:50 pm
What____The___F, you’ve donated $60,000 to GSU Athletics this year alone? That’s unbelievable
GSURulez
June 6th, 2011
8:52 pm
Friday night is going to work out well. Can’t wait for the halftime step show!
PantherAlum
June 6th, 2011
9:16 pm
WHHHOOO!! I like Friday night better. Bring it on CAU let’s do this.
GO Panthers
Real GSU
June 6th, 2011
9:23 pm
6 x National Champions
PantherAlum
June 6th, 2011
9:25 pm
@ NOT real GSU
Go back to your cow college troll. The Real GSU is in the ATL.
GSWho
June 6th, 2011
9:29 pm
Southern haters should stay on their own site. Georigia State rocks, and is in a REAL town no matter what.
Go Panthers
Panama
June 6th, 2011
10:00 pm
Thank you outstated
Panama
June 6th, 2011
10:16 pm
@What
Yes I have seen UTSA’s future schedule. They are fortunate to be in the WAC from day one. (Just as South Alabama is fortunate to be in the Sun Belt from the get go)
FBS AQ schools will sign home and home and 2 home/1 away games with FBS non AQ schools like UTSA and South Alabama. FCS schools do not get FBS schools at home, even in a facility like the Dome.
Panama
June 6th, 2011
10:20 pm
Oh and a true fan, complaining about our current conference situation would know whose picture is on my profile.
GState08
June 7th, 2011
12:33 am
I think I like the Friday night game better than Thursday. Hope this season goes well.
mike
June 7th, 2011
9:05 am
this schedule is a joke is gsu 5A high school?
The REAL Mike
June 7th, 2011
10:01 am
@ mike, do your research son. Schedules great for 2nd year.
Panama
June 7th, 2011
10:46 am
We’re likely playing 2 or 3 FCS schools that will be ranked this season plus an FBS opponent that Phil Steele has at #21 in his preseason rankings…in year two.
For comparison:
South Alabama Year 2
Pikeville
Nicholls State
Edward Waters
Kentucky Wesleyan
Missouri A&T
Lamar
UC Davis
GSU
Henderson St
Arkasas-Monticello
South Florida Year Two
Slippery Rock
Valparaiso
Liberty
The Citadel
Elon
Western Kentucky
Hofstra
Charleston Southern
Cumberland
Georgia So
Morehead State
Notice that there were no FBS schools at all. USF lost the only three tough games they had (Western Kentucky, Ga Southern, Hofstra) as all three ended up in the final FCS Top 25 that year. Mind you that USF is the most successful start up to date and was actually ranked in their second year. And STILL our schedule is potentially tougher. USF and South Alabama did not play (will not play) their first FBS opponent until year 3. UTSA is playing Rice in Year 2. Rice! We have done it in in Year 1 and 2. We’ll play anyone any place any time.
Hammer22
June 7th, 2011
11:04 am
What___The__F,
Why aren’t you on Panther Talk?
What_The_F.
June 7th, 2011
11:42 am
No offense to GAStateBen but it’s weak. Appreciate the effort but don’t like the layout. I go on to see what the chatter is about but that’s all.
GSUAlumBaseball81
June 7th, 2011
11:55 am
Panama keep up the great work! To all the naysayers and Eagle trolls get a life! Cannot wait for the evening of 9/2 and will be in the Orange Lot Bleeding Blue in College Town doing the Panther boogey with Frenchy. To all GSU Alums and current students don’t make excuses be at the DOME “The Concrete Jungle” the night of September 2nd to cheer on your team. Procrastination is the Assassination of Success. Be a part of the NEW GSU!!! GO PANTHERS!!!
Panama
June 7th, 2011
11:59 am
Yep, layout. That’s my #1 message board criteria.
What_The_F.
June 7th, 2011
12:02 pm
Opinions are like A__Holes and this boards got one of them.
GSWho
June 7th, 2011
12:10 pm
@What,
Amen brother! Get a life Panama, sick of your know it all banter.
Panama
June 7th, 2011
12:22 pm
Just laying down facts for naysayers who dont know anything. Do some research. Last year it was the haters from other schools. This year we have the naysayer enemies within. Worse yet, uninformed naysayers. Did you expect an SEC or ACC schedule? I’m sorry but I am not going to sit by idly while people with no facts and no information disparage my school. Especially when others may read these silly complaints and take it as the gospel. You say that you gave $60k to the PAC and yet you were shocked about a schedule that except for the St Francis game most of us knew about 4 months ago? Some informed fan. Like I said, we need to get behind this schedule and make sure we get everyone we know to these games, home and away. THAT will determine where we are in 5 years.
GSWho
June 7th, 2011
12:33 pm
First of all I never said I was shocked. For someone who prides themselves on research why are you having trouble simply researching this site.
Hammer22
June 7th, 2011
12:35 pm
What_The_F.,
aholes are everywhere. But, to each its own.
GSWho
June 7th, 2011
12:36 pm
Additionally, I never said I donated to the PAC. Once again you are proving to be an unreliable source. Remember when you make an ASSumption, you make an ASS out of U and Umption.
PantherAlum
June 7th, 2011
12:41 pm
GSWho, Are you Panther98/What_The_F, The Real Mike and Coach Curry?
The REAL Mike
June 7th, 2011
12:44 pm
You never know what’s going on do you…..really
Coach Curry
June 7th, 2011
12:47 pm
I am sick and tired of you bitches I quit!!
Itsmeagain
June 7th, 2011
2:18 pm
@gswho
I think he was talking about @what
Panama
June 7th, 2011
2:31 pm
Lovely, people posting as other people. Only on the world famous ajc.com sports blogs. LOL
Panama
June 7th, 2011
2:31 pm
86 Days fellas
itsmeagain
June 7th, 2011
2:52 pm
I’m not really sure why there is so much hating going on here. It’s like a boy defending his little brother and his mother saying “no he really is an idiot”
WJB
June 11th, 2011
8:32 am
GO Panthers!!!!
Jee S. You
June 11th, 2011
11:58 am
@What: How could you not like the PantherTalk format? You mean you don’t like eight different mesage boards for what Tech’s Hive covers in two? (Damn those engineers and their efficiency!) What, you don’t like the default color scheme for profiles that puts white text on close-to-white blueish backgrounds making them near impossible to read? Come on…that stuff just adds character.