The OVC has a great deal to prove in 2004, and there are some fantastic schedules here. Again, the OVC vs GFC Challenge will continue in 2004. Last year, teams from the two conferences met 8 times, with the GFC taking all 8 contests. Let's see what happens in this season's challenge. Also, in 2003, some of the traditional conference powers took a "back seat" to the new teams ... something tells me this will change in '04. What is hurting the conference is the OVC games; as the slate of OOC matches is fantastic. Needless to say the 2004 OVC race will be very exciting and here are the schedules:

Games of Interest: 2-Sep SeMS at Southern Illinois; 18-Sep EKU vs Western Kentucky; 18-Sep EIU at Illinois State; 4-Sep Gardner-Webb at Tenn Tech; 18-Sep Jackson State at TSU; 2-Oct Tenn-Martin at Tennessee Tech; 6-Nov Samford at Jacksonville State; 30-Oct MSU at Eastern Kentucky; 20-Nov JSU vs Southeast Missouri State

1. S.E. Missouri State : When the weakest OOC game on your schedule is a IA program, it is easy to see why the Indians capture the title of the OVC's most difficult schedule in 2004. In fact, if things turn around (as expected) in the conference, the Indians could end up with the most difficult schedule in the country. The slate features seven road games opening up with the Salukis (predicted by many to be the top team in I-AA), IA Bowling Green (I watched this club give Ohio State all they could handle last year), and then a re-tooled IA Central Michigan. WOW. Coach Billings club also faces conference powers EIU, MSU, TSU and JSU on-the-road in 2004. All that being said, I still feel that SeMS is the OVC's (and probably the nations) "Sleeper". The Indians defense is very young, it will be interesting to see how they will "stack up" against that trio of Saluki backs in week-1 rivalry match ... great game.
   
   2-Sep at Southern Illinois
   11-Sep at Bowling Green
   18-Sep at Central Mich
   25-Sep Samford*
   2-Oct at Eastern Ill*
   9-Oct OPEN
   16-Oct Eastern Ky*
   23-Oct at Murray St*
   30-Oct Tenn Martin*
   6-Nov at Tennessee St*
   13-Nov Tennessee Tech*
   20-Nov at Jacksonville St*
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Eastern Kentucky : In a very tight race with SeMS, the Colonels are in the #2 spot by less than 1/2 of a point. OOC matches against I-AA powers Western Kentucky (big rivalry) and Appalachian State, and IA Vanderbilt may find coach Hope's club in need of the conference crown for a shot at the post season. This year's Colonels are going to look more like a PAC-10, or MEAC, squad on offense, as a brilliant OC (in Beathard) will open up the EKU offense again in 2004. The home vs road games are fairly evenly split. However ... WKU, JSU, EIU, MSU, and TSU are all coming to Richmond in 2004.
   
   4-Sep OPEN
   11-Sep at Appalachian State
   18-Sep vs Western Kentucky
   25-Sep vs Jacksonville State*
   2-Oct at Samford*
   9-Oct vs Eastern Illinois*
   16-Oct at Southeast Missouri*
   23-Oct at Vanderbilt
   30-Oct vs Murray State*
   6-Nov at Tennessee-Martin*
   13-Nov vs Tennessee State*
   20-Nov at Tennessee Tech*
   
   
   
   
   
3. Eastern Illinois: The Panthers look to return to the national spotlight in 2004, and this schedule could certainly do it. With a fairly well-balanced schedule; legendary coach Spoo knows what needs to be done to bring his Panthers back into contention for a post-season spot. Three OOC matches include GFC tilts with ISU, ILS and a IA bout with E. Michigan. Spoo needs to win at least 2 of these going into conference play. This is not as easy as it sounds. EMU is no MAC power, but a IA club none-the-less. ISU has perhaps the greatest number of IA transfers in the nation and ILS is our pick for the Gateway's 2004 "sleeper". The home slate of conference matches is very favorable: with SeMS, MSU, TSU, and JSU at home. Keep an eye on the away games with Illinois State and Eastern Kentucky; they will be tough and pivotal.
   
   4-Sep OPEN
   11-Sep INDIANA STATE
   18-Sep at Illinois State
   25-Sep at Eastern Michigan
   2-Oct SOUTHEAST MISSOURI*
   9-Oct at Eastern Kentucky*
   16-Oct MURRAY STATE*
   23-Oct at Tennessee-Martin*
   30-Oct TENNESSEE STATE*
   6-Nov at Tennessee Tech*
   13-Nov JACKSONVILLE STATE*
   20-Nov at Samford*
   
   
   
   
4. Tennessee Tech: This is truly a well-crafted schedule that features 6 home games and balance. The opener against G-W gives the Golden eagles a chance to meet an OOC conference contender, along with a week-2 trip to Florida to face USF. The power conference matches are well-mixed home vs. away.
   
   4-Sep Gardner-Webb
   11-Sep at South Florida
   18-Sep at Virginia Military Institute
   25-Sep at Murray State*
   2-Oct UT Martin*
   9-Oct UT Chattanooga 
   16-Oct Open
   23-Oct Jacksonville State*
   30-Oct at Samford*
   6-Nov Eastern Illinois*
   13-Nov at Southeast Missouri*
   20-Nov Eastern Kentucky*
   
   
5. Tennessee State: If one had to guess TSU's conference affiliation, they may think MEAC or SWAC with all of the "Classics" on the schedule. However, TSU has long been an OVC power and I fear that too much attention may be placed on corporate sponsorships of these games ... and not enough on the task at hand: win the OVC and get to the post-season. The conference slate for 2004 is very well-balanced. However, with only 1 OOC match against a play-off eligible team (S. Carolina St.) ... anything short of an OVC title may keep coach Reese and his Tigers at home this Thanksgiving. None-the-less, Alabama A&M is a solid club, Jackson St. is a power, FLAMU will bring the IA talent, and SCS was the surprise of the MEAC last year. The "classic" games are certainly a chance to bring in resources to the program. Still, it is time for the TSU administration to make a decision where they want to be ... "in" or "out" of mainstream I-AA.
   
   4-Sep Alabama A&M
   11-Sep at Tennessee-Martin*
   18-Sep Jackson State
   25-Sep Florida A&M
   2-Oct South Carolina State
   9-Oct OPEN
   16-Oct at Jacksonville State*
   23-Oct Samford*
   30-Oct at Eastern Illinois*
   6-Nov Southeast Missouri State*
   13-Nov at Eastern Kentucky*
   20-Nov Murray State*
   
   
   
6. Tennessee-Martin: Second-year head coach Matt Griffin has had quite an impact at UTM and things are changing dramatically for the SkyHawks. There is talk about recruits and being competitive for the first time in years. This year's schedule has some difficulty, but should prove to be a great benefit for the club. An opener at Western Michigan is a very tough game for anyone, but it will give the team a chance to play against a solid IA program. Nice OOC contests with Austin Peay and Indiana State. I particularly look forward to that match with ISU ... both clubs are in similar situations right now (rebuilding) & it will be certainly be interesting to see how far the programs have come in '04. Then the home slate of OVC matches finds the Hawks welcoming powers TSU, JSU, EIU and EKU to Martin.
   
   4-Sep at Western Michigan
   11-Sep Tennessee State*
   18-Sep at Austin Peay
   25-Sep at Indiana State
   2-Oct at Tennessee Tech*
   9-Oct Jacksonville State*
   16-Oct at Samford*
   23-Oct Eastern Illinois*
   30-Oct at Southeast Missouri*
   6-Nov Eastern Kentucky*
   13-Nov at Murray State*
   20-Nov OPEN
   
   
   
7. Samford: The Bulldogs found themselves more-than-competative in their first OVC season a year ago, and look to improve in 2004. Coach Gray's club had 3 I-AA losses last season, and by a total of only 23-points. Two of those losses being by 5 points or less. This year, the Bulldogs feel they have a legitimate shot at the OVC crown, with a well-balanced conference slate and tough OOC games including SoCon favorite Furman and ACC power Georgia Tech on tap.
   
   28-Aug WEST ALABAMA
   4-Sep at Georgia Tech
   11-Sep FURMAN
   18-Sep OPEN
   25-Sep at Southeast Missouri State*
   2-Oct EASTERN KENTUCKY*
   9-Oct at Murray State*
   16-Oct TENNESSEE-MARTIN*
   23-Oct at Tennessee State*
   30-Oct TENNESSEE TECH*
   6-Nov at Jacksonville State*
   13-Nov OPEN
   20-Nov EASTERN ILLINOIS*
   
   
   
8. Murray State: Last season was very disappointing for the Racers as there expectations of the OVC crown fell early. A series of injuries and miscues that coach Pannunzio hopes are eliminated in '04. They certainly have a schedule that helps in their quest. OOC matches include a DII, Indiana St. and IA UConn. The power portion of their OVC schedule is tough ... with JSU, EIU, EKU, and TSU away. MSU looks to take the conference crown in '04, and Pete's already has an eye on Auburn RB transfer ... Jimmy St. Louis as a 2004 POY candidate.
   
   28-Aug GLENVILLE STATE
   4-Sep at Connecticut
   11-Sep OPEN
   18-Sep at Indiana State
   25-Sep TENNESSEE TECH *
   2-Oct at Jacksonville State *
   9-Oct SAMFORD *
   16-Oct at Eastern Illinois *
   23-Oct SOUTHEAST MISSOURI *
   30-Oct at Eastern Kentucky *
   6-Nov OPEN
   13-Nov TENNESSEE-MARTIN *
   20-Nov at Tennessee State *
   
9. Jacksonville State: We would be interested in hearing from any of the Gamecock fans about any late editions to the schedule. As of now, coach Crowe's squad only has 10 games scheduled ... and could virtually walk into the post-season. On the other hand, OOC games against a DII and a traditionally weak Chattanooga leave no margin for error. Simply put, the Gamecocks must win the OVC in 2004.
   
   4-Sep vs Emporia State
   11-Sep OPEN
   18-Sep at UT-Chattanooga
   25-Sep at Eastern Kentucky*
   2-Oct vs Murray State*
   9-Oct at UT-Martin*
   16-Oct vs Tennessee State*
   23-Oct at Tennessee Tech*
   30-Oct OPEN
   6-Nov vs Samford*
   13-Nov at Eastern Illinois*
   20-Nov vs Southeast Missouri State*