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A pair of home games is at the top of the 2011 Incarnate Word football schedule before the Cardinals step up to Division I in the third week according to the lineup announced by the University.
“It is tough,” Coach Mike Santiago simply said about the 10-game schedule. “This is going to be really challenging,” he continued, “but as we said before we won't shy away from a challenge.”
The Cardinals open their third year of football with a non-conference game against East Central Oklahoma, the team which tied for first last fall in the old Lone Star Conference North Division. That opener is set for September 3 at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
Week two will give UIW its first taste of a consolidated, and perhaps tougher, Lone Star Conference. Eastern New Mexico comes to San Antonio for a September 9 date with Incarnate Word.
Next up for the Cardinals is the trip on September 17 to engage its first-ever Division I opponent. UIW will be at Lamar University which plays in the Southland Conference. “We hope Lamar and East Central will prepare us for the tough Lone Star schedule,” Santiago said.
If that challenge weren't enough by itself then the next week, September 24, the Cardinals continue their second year of Lone Star league play with a trip to West Texas A&M.
With the departure of five Oklahoma schools the 2011 version of the league will be one overall division. That means the seven members of last year's South Division return intact to be joined by the remaining two from the north, Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Commerce.
In 2010 those eight upcoming UIW opponents had a cumulative mark of 50-32 including an astounding 42-18 by the returning South teams. Three of the South teams—Abilene Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M--a year ago went to the Division II national playoffs while a fourth—Midwestern State—played in the Kanza Bowl.
In addition to the two opening games at home the Cardinals at Benson Stadium will entertain Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State.
