Virginia Union University will kick off the Dr. Alvin Parker era when the Panthers meet the Griffins of Seton Hill University in the 2018 football season opener at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, in Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.
The 2018 schedule boasts six home games, all to be played in Hovey Field on the VUU campus.
The Panthers will play host to Carson-Newman University in the 2018 Willard Bailey Classic before taking on Johnson C. Smith University in a non-conference match-up on Saturday, September 15, in Salem, Va.
"This will be a tough and challenging schedule as we face teams from the very formidable PSAC and South Atlantic Conference in non-conference games," said Parker. "These will be followed by tough CIAA team's week in and week out; we truly don't have a week to fall asleep".
VUU opens CIAA conference play on September 22 when it travels to Winston-Salem State University before returning home to face Livingstone College in the Lucille M. Brown Community Youth Bowl on September 29 and then facing Lincoln (Pa.) University on Homecoming on October 6.
"The CIAA has become an extremely competitive league from top to bottom," said Parker. "The league puts multiple teams in the playoffs on a yearly basis, we look to continue the CIAA's tradition of post-season play"
The Panthers play Bowie State at home on October 20 and will wrap up the regular-season on November 3 when they face arch-rival Virginia State University on November 3.
"Having six home games will be great for us and also great for the fans," said Parker.
Season football passes will go on sale May 1, 2018, for $100 each (a $25 savings over buying tickets individually).
2018 Football Season
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
SEPT. 1 SETON HILL HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m. (Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day)
SEPT. 8 CARSON-NEWMAN HOVEY FIELD 1:00 P.M. (Willard Bailey Classic)
SEPT. 15 Johnson C. Smith Salem, VA TBA (Mayor's Cup Classic)
SEPT. 22 at Winston-Salem State* Winston-Salem, NC 6:00 p.m.
SEPT. 29 LIVINGSTONE* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m. (Lucille M. Brown Community Youth Bowl)
OCT. 6 LINCOLN (PA)* HOVEY VIELD 1:00 p.m. (Homecoming 2018)
OCT. 13 at Chowan* Murfreesboro, NC TBA
Oct. 20 BOWIE STATE* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m. (Veterans Appreciation Day)
Oct. 27 at Elizabeth City State* Elizabeth City, NC TBA
NOV. 3 VIRGINIA STATE* HOVEY FIELD 1:00 p.m. (Senior Day)
NOV. 10 CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP TBA TBA
* = CIAA GAME