ALBANY, Ga. (March 25, 2019) – Albany State University has announced its 2019 football schedule. For ASU fans, the slate has a familiar look, as the Golden Rams will face some of the same opponents as last year, with the Golden Rams hosting five home games in 2019. 
 
"We put together a challenging schedule for 2019. We tell our recruits, they will have the opportunity to play in a tough conference and they will have the chance to play quality opponents outside of the SIAC. This schedule makes good on that promise," Golden Rams head football coach Gabe Giardina said.
 
The Golden Rams will start off the 2019 campaign at home hosting the 2018 NCAA Division II National Champions Valdosta State University on September 7^th. Valdosta State, a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC), completed the 2018 season with a perfect 14-0 record. The Golden Rams and the Blazers last faced off last season when Valdosta State defeated ASU 45-14.
 
ASU will travel next to Clinton, Mississippi for a non-conference matchup against Mississippi College on September 14^th. The Choctaws finished the2018 season with a 3-7 overall record. 
 
The Golden Rams will then embark on a two-game road trip with the first stop in Carrolton, Georgia to face off against GSC-member the University of West Georgia in a non-conference matchup. West Georgia finished 2018 with a 10-2 record and the last time the two teams faced in 2018, the Wolves came away with the 45-21 win. ASU will then travel to Atlanta for its first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest against the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University. CAU and ASU last faced off in 2018 as the Golden Rams secured a 36-3 homecoming victory. 
 
After the contest at CAU, the Golden Rams will return home to host SIAC foe Tuskegee University. The Golden Rams and Golden Tigers will face off for the first time since 2013 inside the ASU Coliseum where the Golden Tigers collected a 19-13 victory. Tuskegee finished 2018 with a 5-5 record.
 
On October 12^th, the Golden Rams will then host the Dragons of Lane College for Homecoming 2019. These two teams faced off during the 2014 season in the ASU Coliseum with the Golden Rams coming out with the 33-0 win. The Dragons completed the 2018 campaign with a 3-6 record overall and a 2-4 record in SIAC play.
 
Next, the Golden Rams will wrap up a three-game home stand as they welcome Benedict College at the ASU Coliseum on October 19^th. The Golden Rams traveled to Columbia, South Carolina in 2018 and secured a 40-14 contest victory over the Tigers. Benedict College finished the 2018 campaign with a 6-3 record overall and a 4-2 mark in the SIAC. After the tilt with Benedict, ASU will travel to Savannah, Georgia for a conference matchup against Savannah State on October 26^th. The Tigers a MEAC member during the 2018 season finished with a 2-8 overall record. The last time to two schools met was during the 2011 season where the Golden Rams collected a 37-34 victory during the 9^thAnnual Music City Classic that was played at Henderson Stadium in Macon, Georgia.  
 
Albany State will welcome in the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College on November 2^ndwhere the Golden Rams will celebrate Senior Day 2019. The contest highlights the 8^th straight year that these two have faced off against each other since 2011 with the Golden Rams boasting an 8-0 record.
 
To wrap up the regular season, the Golden Rams will face their rival Fort Valley State University at the 30^thAnnual Fountain City Classic on Saturday, November 9^thin Columbus, Georgia. Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m. The Golden Rams secured their season finale victory 40-6 over the Wildcats last season. The Wildcats finished the season with a 2-8 record overall, and a 2-4 record in the SIAC.

The 2019 SIAC Championship game will take place Saturday, November 16^thon the campus of the eastern division champion. 


Ticket information and more game times will be announced in the coming months.

For more information on the ASU football team, visit asugoldenrams.com and follow Golden Ram Athletics on Twitter @ASUGoldenRams, or call 229-500-2863.