LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Six home contests and a game against Division I-FCS member Samford highlight the 2012 West Alabama football schedule, which was announced by UWA Director of Athletics Stan Williamson on Thursday. Last season, West Alabama finished with an 8-4 record, including hosting a NCAA Division II playoff first round game - the first in the program's history.

“We are very excited about the 2012 season,” said second-year, UWA head coach Will Hall. “We have three great non-Division II games, led by FCS opponent Samford. We also have eight very quality Division II opponents. Our conference schedule is always extremely competitive and this year we add GSC newcomer Shorter. We open up the season with a team that will compete for the SIAC East Division Championship in Clark Atlanta. We also have two teams that are annually ranked in the top ten in the country with Abilene Christian and Midwestern State. Both of those teams have been ranked No. 1 in the country at some point over the last few years.”

The Sept. 8 contest at Samford is the first since 2007 and is one of three road affairs for the Red and White to open the season. UWA opens the campaign on Sept. 1 at Clark Atlanta, marking the first meeting between the two institutions. UWA opens Gulf South Conference play on Sept. 22 at Valdosta State.

The Tigers home opener renews one of the longest standing series in program history as the Red and White welcome Mississippi College to Tiger Stadium on Sept. 15. The meeting between former conference foes is the first since 1997 – a 38-21 win at Tiger Stadium.

Following the conference lid lifter at VSU, the Tigers return to Tiger Stadium for a season-long, four game homestand. UWA hosts West Georgia on Sept. 29 followed by a Thursday evening, televised tilt against Midwestern State on Oct. 4. College of Faith comes to Livingston on Oct. 13 prior to the Red and White's Homecoming outing against Shorter on Oct. 20.

UWA returns to Delta State for the third straight season on Oct. 27 as the Tigers tangle with the defending GSC Champion Statesmen. Last season, the Green and White clinched the conference crown in one of the most exciting contests of the season – nipping the Red and White 36-34. The Tigers final road trip of the regular season takes the
Red and White to Abilene Christian on Nov. 3.

UWA closes the regular season for the second consecutive time on Thursday, Nov. 8 against North Alabama in its second GSC-TV Live Game of the Week of the season.

“With this schedule, we have once again proven that we shy away from no one as we continue to build this program into the elite Division II program in the country,” Hall stated.

West Alabama will hold its annual Red and White spring game on Saturday, April 14 at 10 a.m.

2012 UWA Football Schedule

Sat.         Sept. 1        at Clark Atlanta
Sat.         Sept. 8        at Samford
Sat.         Sept. 15      MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
Sat.         Sept. 22      at Valdosta State *
Sat.         Sept. 29      WEST GEORGIA *
Thurs.    Oct. 4           MIDWESTERN STATE
Sat.         Oct. 13        SHEPHERD BIBLE COLLEGE
Sat.         Oct. 20        SHORTER * (Homecoming)
Sat.         Oct. 27        at Delta State *
Sat.         Nov. 3         at Abilene Christian
Thurs.    Nov. 8          NORTH ALABAMA *