Virginia Union University will kick off the 2019 football season with a match-up with former CIAA rival Hampton University at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton, Va.
The Panthers then open the home season at 1:00 p.m. on September 14 against Lenoir-Rhyne University in historic Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.
“Our 2019 schedule offers our fans 5 home games, that should get everyone excited,” said VUU Head Football Coach Dr. Alvin Parker.
This season will mark the first meeting between VUU and Hampton in 25 years, with the two teams last meeting in 1994.
“We are excited to open up with a team the caliber of Hampton University, it gives our players and coaches a chance to perform on a different stage,” said Parker. “We are looking forward to the challenge of what playing a FCS team brings.”
Lenoir-Rhyne finished 12-1 last season and was a perfect 7-0 in the South Atlantic Conference.
“They are a very solid, well coached ball club,” Parker said. “Experience has taught me that playing playoff level teams in non-conference games gets you ready for the conference and post-season. Playing against a top 10 D2 team on Hovey Field will definitely be something our guys will get up for”
VUU will open the CIAA regular-season against Winston-Salem State University at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, at Hovey Field in Richmond. Other home games feature Johnson C. Smith University on September 21, Chowan University on October 19 and Elizabeth City State University on November 2.
Homecoming will be held on Saturday, October 19, against Chowan.
“The last eight weeks will provide us with some strong CIAA competition,” Parker said. “The conference is always an arms race and you have to hit your stride at the right time. The conference has gotten stronger every year, and the competition in the northern division is at an all-time high”
VUU 2019 Football Season:
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
Sept. 7 at Hampton Hampton, VA 6:00 p.m.
SEPT. 14 LENOIR-RHYNE HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m.
SEPT. 21 JOHNSON C. SMITH HOVEY FIELD TBA
SEPT. 28 WINSTON-SALEM STATE* HOVEY FIELD 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Livingstone* Salisbury, NC TBA
Oct. 12 at Lincoln (PA)* Lincoln University, PA TBA
OCT. 19 CHOWAN* (Homecoming) HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 26 at Bowie State* Bowie, MD TBA
NOV. 2 ELIZABETH CITY STATE* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 P.M.
NOV. 9 at Virginia State* Petersburg, VA TBA
NOV. 16 CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP TBA TBA