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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team will play five regular season home games in 2012, including a pair against traditional rivals Morehead State (Sept. 8) and Murray State (Nov. 10). Homecoming is slated for Oct. 13 against Austin Peay.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Colonels open the season on the road, this time at Purdue on Sept. 1. Purdue head coach Danny Hope previously served as head coach at Eastern Kentucky (2003-07) where he guided the Colonels to the 2007 OVC championship. Hope graduated from EKU in 1981 and was a part of the Colonels’ 1979 NCAA Division I-AA national championship team.

The following week, Eastern opens its home schedule against Morehead State (Sept. 8). The Colonels and Eagles last met on the gridiron in 2008.

EKU concludes its nonconference schedule on Sept. 15 in its first-ever meeting against Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers, who have earned trips to the NCAA FCS playoffs in 2006 and 2010, finished 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big South this past fall.

Family weekend is set for Sept. 22 when the Colonels open Ohio Valley Conference action against Jacksonville State. Eastern has won four of the last five meetings versus the Gamecocks, including a thrilling 52-48 win at JSU in November.

Back-to-back conference road games follow the Jacksonville State tilt before Eastern Kentucky returns to Roy Kidd Stadium on Oct. 13 for its Homecoming game versus Austin Peay. The Governors have not defeated EKU in Richmond since 1977, but did come away with a 23-17 win over the Colonels in Clarksville this past season.

On Oct. 20, Eastern Kentucky takes on 2011 OVC co-champion Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn. The Golden Eagles earned the league’s automatic playoff berth this year thanks to key victories over EKU and Jacksonville State.

Two of the Colonels’ final three games are at home featuring OVC foes Eastern Illinois (Oct. 27) and Murray State (Nov. 10). This will mark the 68th consecutive season Eastern Kentucky and Murray State have met on the football field. Both schools are original members of the Ohio Valley Conference which formed in 1948. The two teams have combined to win 29 OVC crowns.

Times for all games will be announced at a later date.

The Colonels (7-5, 6-2 OVC) earned a share of the 2011 OVC title and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the 20th time this season. Fans can reserve 2012 season tickets by contacting the EKU athletics ticket office at 859-622-2122.

2012 Eastern Kentucky University Football Schedule
Sept. 1 – at Purdue – West Lafayette, Ind.
Sept. 8 – Morehead State – Roy Kidd Stadium
Sept. 15 – at Coastal Carolina – Conway, S.C.
Sept. 22 – Jacksonville State* – Roy Kidd Stadium (Family Weekend)
Sept. 29 – at UT Martin* – Martin, Tenn.
Oct. 6 – at Tennessee State* – Nashville, Tenn.
Oct. 13 – Austin Peay* – Roy Kidd Stadium (Homecoming)
Oct. 20 – at Tennessee Tech* – Cookeville, Tenn.
Oct. 27 – Eastern Illinois* – Roy Kidd Stadium
Nov. 3 – at Southeast Missouri* – Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Nov. 10 – Murray State* – Roy Kidd Stadium
Nov. 17 – OPEN
Boldface denotes home game ~ Asterisk (*) denotes OVC game