Gameday: ECSU

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, has finally arrived. It’s been 278 days since a disappointing 17-16 loss to North Dakota to end last season. There’s only seven more hours until kickoff now though, and the Bears and their fans are looking for improvement over last year’s 5-7 season.

Winning game one is obviously crucial to that goal. Elizabeth City State University is a D2 school. I think many FCS schools don’t have the same respect for D2 schools like most of us do, having just been there five years ago. However, I think some UCA fans aren’t expecting much of a contest tonight either. We saw last year that if the team doesn’t come out and play well, even “lower-level competition” can keep things close for far longer than you’d like.

Enough editorializing. Everyone should be able to see things for themselves starting tonight at 7 p.m. Yes, that even means people who live an hour away and get off at 5 p.m. You should be there too.

Here’s some previews for our game and some that include a look at the SLC matchups for the weekend. If you’ve found other stories online, please let me know or add them in the comments.:

• Huge challenge for Vikings
  

  Elizabeth City State faces its toughest test in years tonight when it takes on Central Arkansas. Not only will the Vikings be far away from home, they will be playing on just four days rest, fresh off a 15 1/2-hour bus ride and facing a Football Championship Subdivision opponent for the first time since 2005.

  Despite encountering long odds versus a team with nearly three times the amount of scholarship players, the Vikings (1-0) have goals heading into the game that are far beyond just getting a pay check for being willing to play there and coming home healthy.

• Bears on prowl for game action (subscription link)
• Guarantee games on docket for most SLC teams