Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University vice president and director of athletics Steve Poston and head football coach Joe Reich have released the 2010 Wingate University football schedule. This year, the Bulldogs are scheduled to play 10 games. Five games will be held at Wingate’s Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. In 2009, the Bulldogs were 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the rugged South Atlantic Conference.
 
The Bulldogs start their season by playing at the University of West Georgia on Saturday, August 28 (7 p.m.). Bulldog rising junior running back Vince Jordan (Mt. Gilead, N.C.) posted career-highs of 215 yards, 19 carries and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs earned a 38-17 victory over the UWG Wolves last season. The Wolves (1-9 overall in 2009) are led by head coach Daryl Dickey. In his fourth season as the Wolves’ head coach, Dickey previously coached at former SAC rival Presbyterian College. 

The next week, Wingate will visit Valdosta State (Ga.) University for the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and the Blazers (Sept. 4, 7 p.m.). VSU fourth-year head coach David Dean is the second coach to lead a team to an NCAA Division II national championship in his first season. Both West Georgia and Valdosta State (6-4 overall in 2009) belong to the Gulf South Conference. 

“Opening the 2010 season with two Gulf South Conference schools on the road will be a big challenge for our team,” Reich says. “We know West Georgia is much improved. Every year, Valdosta State is a national championship contender. We have much work to do.” 

Following the Valdosta State contest, the Bulldogs host their first home game of the season. The UNC Pembroke Braves come to town for a 1:30 p.m. contest on Sept. 18. Wingate will celebrate Family Weekend against the UNCP Braves. In 2009, head coach Pete Shinnick led the Braves to a 9-2 overall record and a first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II play-offs. 

The Bulldogs open South Atlantic Conference play Saturday, Oct. 2, hosting Catawba College for a 1:30 p.m. encounter at Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field. Wingate posted 518 yards total offense in a 42-17 SAC victory at Catawba Oct. 24, 2009. 

Wingate hits the road to face Carson-Newman College Saturday, Oct. 9. Kick-off is slated for 3 p.m. in Jefferson City, Tenn. The Eagles recorded an 11-3 overall ledger in 2009. Carson-Newman advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II semi-finals before falling to eventual runner-up Grand Valley State (Mich.) University. Head coach Ken Sparks has spent 30 seasons at the C-N helm. 

Tusculum College is next on the Wingate agenda, as the Pioneers come to town Saturday, Oct. 16 for a 1:30 p.m. contest. Last year, the Bulldogs never trailed in a 42-31 victory over the host TC Pioneers (Sept. 24, 2009). The contest was broadcast nationally by CBS College Sports. The Bulldogs amassed 450 yards total offense, while the Pioneers collected 352 yards. 

Wingate fans can expect a nail-biter, as four of the last six games in the WU/TC football series have been decided by five points or less. The Bulldogs lead the overall series 9-5. 

The Bulldogs visit Brevard College Saturday, Oct. 23 for their third and final night contest of the 2010 season. Game time is 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. In 2009, the Brevard Tornados posted a 7-4 overall record. Wingate quarterback Cody Haffly threw three touchdown passes as the Bulldogs calmed the Tornados 28-12 on Oct. 3, 2009. 

Wingate’s homecoming foe is Lenoir-Rhyne University, as the Bears and the Bulldogs will tangle Saturday, Oct. 30 in a 1:30 p.m. match-up. Last year, Wingate put together a 17-point fourth quarter comeback as the Bulldogs earned a 50-49 victory over the LRU Bears Oct. 10, 2009 at Moretz Stadium in Hickory. 

All-American return specialist Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) piled up 287 all-purpose yards and two receiving touchdowns to compliment an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Bulldogs have won five straight meetings and seven of the last eight contests in the series. Lenoir-Rhyne is one of two teams (Mars Hill is the other) Wingate has played every year since the institution revitalized football in 1986. 

Mars Hill College visits to conclude Wingate’s 2010 home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 6 (1:30 p.m. kick-off). The Lions feature one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II, as junior Jonas Randolph returns for head coach Tim Clifton in 2010. 

Wingate defeated Mars Hill 56-35 on Nov. 7, 2009. The teams combined for 972 yards of total offense. Wingate accumulated 520 yards, while MHC tallied 452 total yards. Haffly tossed a career-high five touchdown passes in the victory. 

The Bulldogs visit Newberry College to complete the 2010 regular season. The two teams will play Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Wingate will look for revenge, as Newberry has won five consecutive contests in the series. The 2010 victor will gain an advantage, as the series between the two schools is tied at 10 victories each.
In 2009, Newberry posted 448 yards total offense en route to a 35-27 SAC victory over Wingate on Oct. 17, 2009. The loss was Wingate’s first conference setback of the season. 

“We are excited about the 2010 SAC schedule,” Reich says. “We are playing the games in a different order this year. It will be tough (for us), but it will be exciting for our fans.” 

Reich is the all-time winningest football coach in the school’s senior college history. In nine Bulldog seasons, Reich has posted a 57-40 overall record. On August 25, 2007, Wingate topped the Fayetteville State Broncos 34-26, giving Reich more victories than his senior college predecessors. 

Reich is only the fourth head coach in school history. Wingate’s 2010 senior class established a school record, as the group posted 30 career wins. Wingate is 30-5 overall in non-conference games during Reich’s nine years as the Bulldog head coach. 

WINGATE UNIVERSITY 

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service. 

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years. 

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools. 

(Wingate University senior Brad Batson contributed information to this article. A Monroe native, Batson graduated with a Management degree at Wingate’s recent Commencement Exercises.)