April 18, 2007-Emporia State will open the 2007 season with four of five games on the road. ESU will begin with a pair of non-conference road games before the Hornets make their 2007 home debut under first year coach Garin Higgins. All 11 games will be Southwest Region games.

ESU will travel to the highest collegiate football stadium in the world for their season opener at Western State of Colorado. WSC was 3-8 last season. The Hornets are 6-0 all time against the Mountaineers. ESU went 3-0 against WSC at the 7,750 foot elevation of Mountaineer Bowl from 1985-89.

For game two the Hornets will travel to Edmond, Okla. to take on the University of Central Oklahoma. It will be the first meeting between the two since the then #2 Bronchos took a 28-25 win over the Hornets in 1999 at Welch Stadium. UCO was 5-6 last season including double overtime losses to MIAA member Missouri Western and Northeastern State, where coach Higgins was the offensive coordinator.

The home and MIAA opener will come on September 15 against Southwest Baptist and will also serve as Family Day. The Hornets have won five straight against the Bearcats and have not lost to SBU in Welch Stadium since 1995.

ESU will play Ft. Hays State on September 22 in their first conference game in Hays, Kan. since winning their final CSIC game in 1989. The Hornets will wrap-up the first half of the season with a trip to Joplin, Mo. to take on Missouri Southern on September 29.

The Hornets on the turf of Jones Field at Welch Stadium for the first three weeks of October. ESU will take on Central Missouri on October 6. The most played active rivalry in NCAA Division II will be renewed on October 13, when Washburn travels to Welch Stadium for the 104th edition of the “Turnpike Tussle”. The Hornets will end their three game home stand with a Homecoming contest against Missouri Western on October 20.

Emporia State travels to Kirksville, Mo. to take on Truman on October 27 before ending the season with back to back games against Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State. ESU’s Senior Day will take place against the NCAA Division II national runner-up the last two seasons, Northwest Missouri, on November 3. Emporia State will end the regular season on November 10 at Pittsburg State. The Hornets and Gorillas played a classic four overtime thriller last season in Emporia.

Season tickets are on sale beginning April 23 at the Hornet Athletic Ticket Office in the ESU Memorial Union. Season ticket holders receive a $1 per game discount over buying individual game tickets. Contact the ticket office toll free at 877-341-NEST (6378) or go online to www.emporia.edu/memunion/tickets for more information.

Emporia State will be in it’s first year under 1992 graduate Garin Higgins. The former Hornet quarterback was the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State last season and Minnesota State in 2005. He compiled a 51-9 record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State from 2000-04 with two appearances in the NAIA Division I championship game.

ESU Football 2007 Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
Sept. 1 at Western State Gunnison, Colo. 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Central Oklahoma Edmond, Okla. 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 15 SOUTHWEST BAPTIST EMPORIA 1:00 p.m. Family Day
Sept. 22 at Fort Hays State Hays, Kan. 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Missouri Southern Joplin, Mo. 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 6 CENTRAL MISSOURI EMPORIA 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 13 WASHBURN EMPORIA 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 20 MISSOURI WESTERN EMPORIA 1:00 p.m. Homecoming
Oct. 27 at Truman State Kirksville, Mo. 2:00 p.m.
Nov. 3 NORTHWEST MISSOURI EMPORIA 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Pittsburg State Pittsburg, Kan. 2:00 p.m.

Season Ticket Prices
$56 Reserved west side chairback
$36 Adult GA
$20 Child/Senior GA
$90 GA Family Pack (2 adult/2 child)

Single Game Ticket Prices
(Add $1 per ticket for Washburn game)
Reserved chairback $12
Adult GA $8
Child/Senior GA $5
GA Family Pack $20 (2 adult/2 child)

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• ESU vs. Western State
Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. Jones Field at Welch Stadium

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