An 11-game slate, highlighted by seven home dates, including two games in Houston, has been announced with the release of Prairie View A&M University’s 2006 football schedule.The 2006 schedule, announced by athletics director Charles McClelland, includes the most attractive home schedule in recent years, featuring two non-conference opponents. Edward Waters College will return to the schedule for the first time since 1965 and a new opponent, Concordia College, has been added.
“We are extremely pleased to have Edward Waters and Concordia become part of our non-conference football schedule,” said McClelland. “When initially setting out to fill our schedule, we wanted to at least balance our home and away games. Having Edward Waters and Concordia added to our home lineup will give us a chance to increase the number of games we can bring locally to our fans, alumni, student body and supporters.”
The 11-game schedule begins on Sept. 2 with the 22nd annual Labor Day Classic against arch rival Texas Southern in Houston.
Following the Labor Day Classic, Prairie View will have three consecutive home dates.
On Sept. 9, Prairie View will host Edward Waters College at Blackshear Field before returning to Houston to host Southern University on Sept. 16. The Panthers will return to campus on Sept. 23 for a game against Concordia College. Prairie View will close out the month of September with a trip to Dallas, Texas to face Grambling State in the annual State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas on the Sept. 30.
The Panthers begin October with a two-game home stand against Alcorn State on Oct. 7 and Alabama State on Oct. 14. After a weekend off, Prairie View will travel to Itta Bena, Miss. for an Oct. 28 match-up with Mississippi Valley State.
The final month of competition starts with the Panthers’ last home game when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff for homecoming.
Prairie View will conclude the season with two consecutive road trips. They will journey to Jackson, Miss. for a Nov. 11 meeting at Jackson State before closing out the regular season with a game against Alabama A&M on Nov. 18 in Huntsville, Ala.
“Last year we spent a lot of hours traveling to and from games,” said third-year head coach Henry Frazier III. “Traveling takes our players out of class and puts a lot of wear and tear on the body. This year’s schedule will not only reduce our travel hours, but more importantly, it will give those fans, alumni and students who can’t travel afar an opportunity to witness more exciting Panther football.