FLORENCE — The University of North Alabama will renew its oldest football rivalry in 2013 when the Lions travel to Jacksonville State on Sept. 14 for a non-conference battle with the Gamecocks. The Jacksonville State game is part of a 10-game schedule the Lions will face in 2013, with five games at home at Braly Stadium and five on the road. “We’re excited to have a 10-game schedule and we’re looking forward to renewing the rivalry with Jacksonville State,” UNA Athletic Director Mark Linder said in a statement. “It’s important that we have nine Division II games on our schedule and its a great home schedule for our fans with games against Miles, Delta State, West Georgia, Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Alabama.” Linder said that while the Lions will play four of their first six games at home, UNA will have to travel on three of the final four weeks of the season. The UNA-Jacksonville State rivalry dates back to the first game played by the Lions in 1949 when the school revived its football program after a more than 20 year absence. The Lions and Gamecocks continued their rivalry as members of the Alabama Collegiate Conference and later the Gulf South Conference, before Jacksonville State’s move to the Football Championship Subdivision in 1993. This will be just the second meeting between the two schools since JSU’s departure from the GSC, with UNA winning the other 28-16 in Jacksonville in 2003. UNA dominated the early years of the rivalry, winning eight of the first ten meetings. JSU holds a 23-18-3 overall lead in the all-time series. UNA will open its 2013 season at home against Miles College and will also play a home non-conference game against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 19. The Lions’ other non-conference game will be Nov. 16 at Tarleton State. The Lions’ 2013 GSC schedule opens at home on Sept. 21 against Delta State. UNA will also host West Georgia and West Alabama and will play at Shorter, Valdosta State and Florida Tech. Florida Tech will be in its first season of collegiate football and will be playing as a football-only member of the GSC.
2013 UNA football schedule Sept. 7 Miles Sept. 14 at Jacksonville State Sept. 21 Delta State Sept. 28 open Oct. 5 at Shorter Oct. 12 West Georgia Oct. 19 Texas A&M-Kingsville Oct. 26 at Valdosta State Nov. 2 West Alabama Nov. 9 at Florida Tech Nov. 16 at Tarleton State