2016 UW-La Crosse Football Schedule

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2016 football schedule.  The Eagles will play 10 games, including five home contests at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.  UWL, which finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2015, opens its season Saturday, September 3 at Luther College (Iowa).

Luther (Iowa) finished 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) last season.  The Eagles lead the all-time series, 8-4, with the Norse. In the first meeting the teams since 1960, UWL earned a 26-19 home victory last year.  Kickoff time for the 2016 season opener at Luther (Iowa) is scheduled for 1 p.m.

UWL's home opener is set for Saturday, September 10 as it hosts Ripon College (Wis.) at 1 p.m. on Band Day.  The Eagles and Red Hawks have not met since 1935 with Ripon (Wis.) earning a 13-0 victory. Ripon (Wis.) finished 7-3 overall and 3-2 in the Midwest Conference (MWC) in 2015.

"Our administration was phenomenal in orchestrating this schedule for our football program," said first-year UWL head coach Mike Schmidt.  "We found two new non-conference opponents from the Midwest who we are excited and honored to square off against.  Opening up at Luther is a challenging contest but our men are looking forward to the opportunity. That is a great, natural rivalry created by our close proximity to each other. We open up against two triple option rushing attacks. That creates an exciting challenge for our defense.

Schmidt was named UWL's head coach February 4. He had served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UW-Platteville since April 2015. Prior to arriving at UW-Platteville, Schmidt was the defensive coordinator and coached the linebackers and defensive backs at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) from 2011-14.  He also served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009-14. 

Named the 2013 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year, Schmidt coached running backs (2009-10), defensive backs (2009) and offensive line (2010) at Dubuque (Iowa).  He served as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota State University Mankato in 2008, coaching the defensive line.  A 2008 graduate of UWL, Schmidt was a four-year football and baseball letter winner for the Eagles.  He served as a two-sport team captain in 2007-08. 
 
After a bye week, UWL travels to Carroll University (Wis.) for a 3 p.m. start.  The Eagles and Pioneers have not met UWL's 38-13 win in 1980.  It is the only meeting between the teams. Carroll (Wis.) went 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the Midwest Conference (MWC) last year, falling 30-27 in overtime to Illinois College in the third-place game of the Midwest Conference (MWC) Championship Weekend.

Former UWL Director of Athletics Joe Baker is in his sixth year in the same position at Carroll (Wis.). He served as UWL's Director of Athletics for 12 years (1998-2010).  Dr. Doug Hastad is in his 10th year as President of Carroll (Wis.) after working at UWL for 17 years.  He served as UWL Interim Chancellor in 2000-01 and hancellor from 2001-06.

"There are a lot of relationships that exist between our athletic staff and the athletic staff at Carroll University," said Schmidt. "I'm sure there will be some emotions running high that afternoon."  

The 2016 schedule features three WIAC teams ranked in the final 2015 AFCA and D3football.com Top-25 Polls.  "The WIAC is without question the best league in NCAA Division III," said Schmidt.  "The rivalries are great.  We need to get ourselves positioned in the non-conference portion of our schedule so we can have success when we enter league play."

The Eagles open WIAC play Saturday, October 1 hosting UW-River Falls at 4 p.m.  The Falcons finished 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC last season, including a 21-20 overtime victory over the Eagles in River Falls.  UWL leads the all-time series, 60-32-7.

UWL travels to UW-Stout Saturday, October 8 at 2:05 p.m.  The Blue Devils were 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference a year ago.  UWL leads the all-time series, 69-15-6, against UW-Stout and won last season's meeting, 28-21 in La Crosse.  

UWL returns to Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex to host UW-Whitewater Saturday, October 15 at 1 p.m. on Family Weekend. The Warhawks, winners of five of the last seven national titles and nine of the past 11 conference championships, went 12-2 overall last season.  UW-Whitewater finished 6-1 in the WIAC in 2015 and advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals, falling 36-6 at eventual national champion University of Mount Union (Ohio).  The Warhawks finished fourth in the final 2015 AFCA and D3football.com Top-25 Poll.  UW-Whitewater leads the all-time series, 33-31, with UWL, earning a 30-12 win last season in Whitewater.

The Eagles travel to UW-Eau Claire Saturday, October 22 for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff at Carson Park.  The Blugolds went 0-10 overall and 0-7 in the WIAC last season. UWL earned a 27-25 victory a year ago over UW-Eau Claire to take a 53-27-2 series lead.

Varsity Homecoming and Wall of Fame Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 29 as UW-Stevens Point comes to UWL.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.  The Eagles lead the all-time series against the Pointers, 44-14-4, who finished 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC last year.  UW-Stevens Point earned a 31-3 home victory last year over UWL.

UWL travels to defending WIAC champion UW-Oshkosh Saturday, November 5 in a 2 p.m. start.  The Titans went 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the league last season while advancing to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.  UW-Oshkosh, ranked fifth in the final 2015 AFCA and D3football.com Polls, earned a 31-13 victory at UWL a year ago.  UWL leads the all-time series, 49-14-6.
 
The regular season wraps-up for UWL Saturday, November 12 hosting UW-Platteville with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Veterans' Day/Senior Day.  The Pioneers were 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the league last season, earning a 52-7 victory over the Eagles in Platteville.  UW-Platteville finished 15th in the final AFCA and 14th in the final D3football.com Top-25 Polls. UW-L is 54-25 in overall meetings between the two schools.