In addition to the 2016 Ashland University football recruiting class, the program unveiled its 2016 schedule on Wednesday (Feb. 3), which includes three consecutive home night games at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field to start the season and a meeting between 2015 NCAA Division II postseason qualifiers.
Ashland's 10-game schedule will include nine Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchups and one non-conference contest. It begins at home on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. against former GLIAC opponent Mercyhurst (5-6 in 2015). The opening three-game homestand continues on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. against Wayne State (6-5) and Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. vs. Findlay (6-5).
The Eagles' first 2016 road game will be a matchup of 2015 playoff teams, as they travel to Ferris State (11-1) on Saturday, Sept. 24 at a time to be announced. AU will play a second straight road contest on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Tiffin (5-6).
Ashland will return to Broad Street for its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. against Northwood (5-6). AU then will go to Lake Erie (2-9) on Saturday, Oct. 15 at a time to be determined before having a bye on Saturday Oct. 22. The Eagles will return to the field for a game in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan against Michigan Tech (7-3) on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
AU rounds out its regular-season home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. on Senior Day against Walsh (2-8) before ending the regular season as a whole on Saturday, Nov. 12 at a time to be determined at Ohio Dominican (8-3).
The annual Purple and Gold Spring Game will be Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field, followed by the Football Alumni and Friends Golf Outing on Friday, April 22 at 9 a.m.
In 2015, Ashland went 10-1, had its second undefeated regular season in four years and finished No. 10 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll after ranking as high as No. 3 during the campaign. In the offseason, head coach Lee Owens earned GLIAC Co-Coach of the Year and AFCA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year honors.
The following is a list of top returning players, along with their 2015 accolades:
NAME, POS., 2016 CLASS 2015 AWARDS
Austin Bruns, P-QB, senior All-GLIAC first team
John Conner, RT, sophomore All-GLIAC honorable mention
Zachary Douglass, RG, senior All-GLIAC first team, 2 All-Super Region Four awards
Brandon Ehlinger, NT, senior All-GLIAC second team
Brandon Gency, ILB, senior All-GLIAC first team, 2 All-Super Region Four awards
Terrell Hudson, S, senior All-GLIAC second team
Dale Irby, CB/RS, junior All-GLIAC honorable mention
Zach Olszewski, ILB, senior All-GLIAC honorable mention
Vance Settlemire, TB, senior All-GLIAC first team, 2 All-Super Region Four awards
Adam Shaheen, TE, junior AFCA All-American, All-GLIAC first team, 2 All-Super Region Four awards
Travis Tarnowski, QB, junior All-GLIAC honorable mention, Harlon Hill Award candidate
Adam Wallace, STUD, senior All-GLIAC honorable mention
2016 Ashland University football schedule
PURPLE AND GOLD SPRING GAME
Thursday, April 21, 7 p.m. – Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field
REGULAR SEASON
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
|
Sept. 1 |
MERCYHURST |
6 p.m. |
|
Sept. 10 |
WAYNE STATE* |
7 p.m. |
|
Sept. 17 |
FINDLAY* |
7 p.m. |
|
Sept. 24 |
at Ferris State* |
TBA |
|
Oct. 1 |
at Tiffin* |
1:30 p.m. |
|
Oct. 8 |
NORTHWOOD* (Homecoming) |
1 p.m. |
|
Oct. 15 |
at Lake Erie* |
TBA |
|
Oct. 22 |
BYE WEEK |
|
|
Oct. 29 |
at Michigan Tech* |
1 p.m. |
|
Nov. 5 |
WALSH* (Senior Day) |
1 p.m. |
|
Nov. 12 |
at Ohio Dominican* |
TBA |
* - GLIAC game
AU
FB/DS