This year, the A-10 has split into two separate groups and formed the Atlantic-10 Football Conference. Although we feel the number of required A-10 games is still at least 1 too high ... this is a great start for the conference to prove themselves. It will probably take a few years for existing contracts to work their way out, but this will be an interesting year as many other conferences watch with "eyes of consideration".

Games of Interest: 9/25 UD @ UMass; 9/11 Hofstra @ Montana; 9/25 JMU @ West Virginia; 9/4 Maine @ Montana; 10/2 Umass @ Boston College; 9/25 NHU @ Dartmouth; 10/16 Northeastern @ Harvard; 9/4 URI @ Fordham; 9/4 Richmond @ N. Carolina St.; 10/2 Cornell @ Towson St.; 9/11 Villanova @ Lehigh; 9/4 W&M @ N. Carolina.

1. Richmond: Again the Spiders of Richmond find themselves with the most difficult schedule in the new Atlantic-10 Football Conference. UR opens their season on-the-road at North Carolina ... September 4. The schedule contains 6 home tilts and 5 road contests. In addition to UNC; the Spiders will face VMI, Villanova, Hofstra, and William & Mary. Fortunately, games with UMass, Maine and Delaware are at home. Lafayette and James Madison are also challenging opponents coming to Richmond.
   
   4-Sep at N. Carolina St.
   11-Sep at VMI
   18-Sep at Massachusetts*
   25-Sep Lafayette
   2-Oct OPEN
   9-Oct Maine*
   16-Oct at Villanova*
   23-Oct James Madison*
   30-Oct at Hofstra*
   6-Nov Towson*
   13-Nov Delaware*
   20-Nov at William & Mary*
   
   
   
   
2. New Hampshire: A tremendous upgrade from 2003, NHU finds themselves with the #2 most difficult is the A-10. Most of this strength is due to location. Playing 9 games games of 11 with in the conference, the Wildcats face most all of the conference's power clubs ... including UD, UMass, Nova, Maine and Northeastern. Umass being the only one of these at home. In addition, both of their OOC contests (Rutgers and Dartmouth) are also road contests.
   
   4-Sep at Delaware*
   11-Sep at Rutgers
   18-Sep William & Mary*
   25-Sep at Dartmouth
   2-Oct at Villanova*
   9-Oct OPEN
   16-Oct Massachusetts*
   23-Oct Hofstra*
   30-Oct at Northeastern*
   6-Nov at Rhode Island*
   13-Nov Towson*
   20-Nov at Maine*
   
   
   
   
3. Maine: The Black Bears are another team that have become 2004 "road warriors" ... with Montana, Mississippi St., Delaware, and UMass away from friendly territory. In addition, Maine welcomes Northern Colorado and Northeastern among a 5-game home slate.
   
   4-Sep at Montana
   11-Sep Northern Colorado
   18-Sep at Mississippi St.
   25-Sep OPEN
   2-Oct at Delaware*
   9-Oct at Richmond*
   16-Oct James Madison*
   23-Oct Northeastern*
   30-Oct at Massachusetts*
   6-Nov Hofstra*
   13-Nov at Rhode Island*
   20-Nov New Hampshire*
   
   
   
   
4. Villanova: Tough OOC road-games at Penn and Lehigh highlight a very difficult schedule for the Wildcats. However, with 3 non-conference games in 2004, I would like to have seen coach Talley's boys take on a program from outside the Ivy or PL. The in-conference slate for the Wildcats is quite favorable & with 3 OOC matches, this is certainly a schedule that can put VU into the post-season. With what is certainly the most wisely-crafted schedule in the A-10, Villanova ends their regular season with what may well be the conference championship at Delaware. Will not playing UMass become an issue?
   
   4-Sep Bucknell
   11-Sep at Lehigh
   18-Sep James Madison*
   25-Sep at Penn
   2-Oct New Hampshire*
   9-Oct at Northeastern*
   16-Oct Richmond*
   23-Oct Towson*
   30-Oct at Rhode Island*
   6-Nov at William & Mary*
   13-Nov OPEN
   20-Nov at Delaware*
   
   
   
5. Massachusetts: Another very well-crafted schedule is the 2004 UMass slate. The schedule is highlighted with tough home tilts against Colgate, UD and Maine. It also features away games against Northeastern and a money-maker at Boston College. Although not the fighting Irish, these are two of the best parochial powers in the nation and should attract tremendous local and national attention. BC is expected to struggle in '04, so this should be one to watch. A well-chosen opening game at Delaware St. should launch a very successful 2004 campaign for the Minutemen.
   
   4-Sep at Delaware St.
   11-Sep Colgate
   18-Sep Richmond*
   25-Sep Delaware*
   2-Oct at Boston College
   9-Oct at James Madison*
   16-Oct at New Hampshire*
   23-Oct at Rhode Island*
   30-Oct Maine*
   6-Nov at Northeastern*
   13-Nov OPEN
   20-Nov Hofstra*
   
   
   
6. Hofstra: There are a hand-full of teams in the country that have not lived up to traditional expectations in recent years, EKU, YSU and SFA to name a few. All of these teams are making serious changes that could move them back into their former winning ways, and Hofstra is no exception in 2004. The 'Dutch' will open this season again Albany, then hope this good opener will prepare them for the tough task at Montana in week-2. A difficult home game against UD, and then a "monster" 3 final weeks in which HU will see Maine, Northeastern and UMass in three consecutive weeks.
   
   2-Sep Albany
   11-Sep at Montana
   18-Sep OFF
   25-Sep at Rhode Island*
   2-Oct at James Madison*
   9-Oct at Stoneybrook
   16-Oct Delaware*
   23-Oct at New Hampshire*
   30-Oct Richmond*
   6-Nov at Maine*
   13-Nov Northeastern*
   20-Nov at Massachusetts*
   
   
   
7. William & Mary : The Tribe have an excellent slate which features OOC games against N. Carolina (no not NC St.), with VMI & Liberty to help balance out the potential loss. There are 6 home games including Northeastern and Villanova.
   
   4-Sep at North Carolina
   11-Sep OPEN
   18-Sep at New Hampshire*
   25-Sep VMI
   2-Oct Northeastern*
   9-Oct at Liberty
   16-Oct Rhode Island*
   23-Oct at Delaware*
   30-Oct at Towson*
   6-Nov Villanova*
   13-Nov at James Madison*
   20-Nov Richmond*
   
   
   
8. Rhode Island:  The Rams have a very favorable schedule, which features 6 home games. The Rams will not face the Blues Hens in 2004; but welcome Brown, UMass Villanova and Maine to Meade Stadium. Trips to Fordham, Towson and Northeastern could pose problems for coach Stowers and company.
   
   4-Sep at Fordham
   11-Sep C. Connecticut St.
   18-Sep OPEN
   25-Sep at Hofstra*
   2-Oct Brown
   9-Oct at Towson*
   16-Oct at William & Mary
   23-Oct Massachusetts*
   30-Oct Villanova*
   6-Nov New Hampshire*
   13-Nov Maine*
   20-Nov at Northeastern*
   
   
   
9. James Madison: The Dukes should be the "sleeper" of the A-10 in 2004. Well, not really, if you had your eyes open in 2003 ... and this year's schedule is very much on their side. They play a 6-game home slate that offers a split between the four conference powers. Villanova and Maine will be away, while UMass and UD will be visiting Harrisonburg. What could be a rough trip to WVU, is countered by a great opener with Lock Haven.
   
   4-Sep Lock Haven
   11-Sep OPEN
   18-Sep at Villanova*
   25-Sep at West Virginia
   2-Oct Hofstra*
   9-Oct Massachusetts*
   16-Oct at Maine*
   23-Oct at Richmond*
   30-Oct VMI
   6-Nov Delaware*
   13-Nov William & Mary*
   20-Nov at Towson*
   
   
   
10. Northeastern: The Huskies have every reason to be positive about the 2004 season. However, the schedule is much more difficult than it seems. They have 6 road games, including Navy, Harvard and Maine ... despite the absence of UD. However, Villanova and UMass are at home. I also think the absence of JMU will be tremendous asset to a club that will be looking to define themselves.
    
    4-Sep Cheyney
    11-Sep at Navy
    18-Sep OPEN
    25-Sep at Towson*
    2-Oct at William & Mary*
    9-Oct Villanova*
    16-Oct at Harvard
    23-Oct at Maine*
    30-Oct New Hampshire*
    6-Nov Massachusetts*
    13-Nov at Hofstra*
    20-Nov Rhode Island*
    
    
    
11. Delaware: Then Blue Hens certainly have a schedule that will give them a chance to make another title run. Again, the OOC portion of the slate includes hosting Westchester and a trip to Annapolis to face the Midshipmen. It will be interesting to see how two A-10 teams (UD and Northeastern) do against a common IA opponent in Navy. It could become pivotal, as they do not face each other. The champs will be at home 6 times in 2004, including key conference tilts with Maine and the closer with Nova. As we mentioned, the latter may well be for the conference crown.
    
    2-Sep New Hampshire*
    11-Sep Towson*
    18-Sep Westchester
    25-Sep at Massachusetts*
    2-Oct Maine*
    9-Oct OFF
    16-Oct at Hofstra
    23-Oct William & Mary*
    30-Oct at Navy
    6-Nov at James Madison*
    13-Nov at Richmond*
    20-Nov Villanova*
    
    
    
    
12. Towson St.: The Tigers have given the fans a new stadium (named after my all-time favorite QB I might add), a new conference, and a very favorable schedule with 6 home games in Johnny U Stadium. However, it is the away portion of their schedule that should have them worried. The road slate includes UD, Villanova and James Madison. However, the Tigers will not be facing UMass and have Cornell and Northeastern at home. I would not surprised if the Tigers 'turn a few heads' in 2004.
    
    4-Sep at Elon
    11-Sep at Delaware*
    18-Sep OPEN
    25-Sep Northeastern*
    2-Oct Cornell
    9-Oct Rhode Island*
    16-Oct Bowie St.
    23-Oct at Villanova*
    30-Oct William & Mary*
    6-Nov at Richmond*
    13-Nov at New Hampshire*
    20-Nov James Madison*