JCSU Announces 2003 Football Schedule
Home Games to be played at New Complex

CHARLOTTE, NC - Johnson C. Smith University has announced its 2003 football schedule, including five home games, four of which will be played at the brand new $8 million Irwin Belk Complex.

Irwin Belk Complex

Stadium Entrance

The season opener will see the Golden Bulls taking on the Bears of Shaw University on September 6, at the Irwin Belk Complex on campus. The last time the Golden Bulls met the Bears was in 1979, defeating them 29-20.

The next two weeks feature first-time opponents, Western Carolina University and University of Charleston, West Virginia, both on the road. Western Carolina, a member of the Division I-AA Southern Conference (SoCon) posed a 6-5 overall record in 2002. The University of Charleston, West Virginia has resurrected football for the 2003 season, since it was discontinued in 1956.

On September 27, the Irwin Belk Complex gets to host another game, this time against Morehouse College. This will be the sixth meeting between the schools with Morehouse leading the way with a 1-4-1 record. However, in 1993, the last time the schools met, the game ended in a 14-14 tie.

The month of October commences the rigorous six-game conference run beginning with the Bulldogs of Bowie State University, on October 4. On October 11, all alumni, family and friends of the university will be in town for Homecoming 2003 vs. cross-town rival Livingstone College. This is always a historic game, since the two schools played each other in the first ever black college football game on December 27, 1892, in which Smith was victorious.

The next three games, St. Augustine's College, Fayetteville State University and Winston-Salem State University will have to wait until 2004 to play in Smith's new complex, as Smith plays on the road for three consecutive weeks.

Rounding out the regular season is a visit by the Eagles of North Carolina Central University, who come into town on November 8.