Mavericks add non-conference opponent to round out eleven game schedule

The UNO football team was looking at yet another season with only 10 regular-season games, leaving a hole the program has been unable to fill since the 2004 season. That was until coach Pat Behrns was able to secure a non-conference game with East Central University of Ada, Okla.

"It's been very elusive," Behrns said. "It's been something that we've been unable to do now for about five years. So fortunately we did get connected with East Central and got a home game."

UNO will pay East Central $20,000 for the contractual game according to the athletic department. But, the Mavs won't be required to make a return trip the following season.

"The good thing about it is it's a regional game with a Lone Star Conference team," Behrns said. "They're in our region and it's a very highly respected conference so one way or the other it will help us."

After UNO faces East Central on Aug. 27, they will hit the road for another non conference game against the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Sept. 5.

The game will be the first between East Central and UNO; the Tigers finished 3-8 last season. The Mavs handed UNK a 49-21 loss last season; the Lopers finished 7-4 overall.

UNO traditionally opens the season with UNK, but that game has come after UNO has sat idle the opening week of the season for the last few years.

"We probably had too much time from the time we started practice till the time we played an actual game," Behrns said. "Football practice is kind of fun, but it's not a lot of fun. You'd rather play games, so I think the quicker you can get ready and get practicing to play a game and know who your opponent is, the better off you are."

The Mavs open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play with two of the three teams that beat them last year. Truman State visits Sept. 12 and then UNO travels to face NCAA Division II runner-up Northwest Missouri State on Sept. 19. The game at Northwest is the first of three straight on the road for the Mavs.

A few MIAA opponents will also make their first appearance at Caniglia Field since UNO joined the MIAA. UNO hosts Washburn University on Oct. 10 for homecoming, while Central Missouri and Pittsburg State will make their first trips to Omaha.

The Mavs will finish with three of their final five games at home.

The Mavs finished 7-4 overall last year after losing in the first round of the Division II playoffs.

UNO begins spring practice March 11 and the annual spring game is set for the third weekend in April.

Behrns also announced the signing of two additional junior college transfers to the football recruiting class. Cornerbacks Aaron Harris of Cal. State Fullerton Junior College and Bruce Harris of Mount San Antonio College, no relation, are expected to help fill in.

"We set out this year to improve our skill level and to improve our depth at the skill positions," Behrns said. "It's real difficult to get those guys out of high school so we have to go find them at the junior colleges. We got pretty fortunate with those two guys.