'Jacks Set to Open 2011 Against McMurry
8/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team begins it's quest for a third consecutive Southland Conference title Thursday, Sept. 1, when they kick off the 2011 season against McMurry. The 'Jacks are fresh off a 9-3 (.750) campaign that saw them win a second-straight SLC title, advance back to the playoffs and record another top-10 finish. McMurry is an NCAA Division III program from the American Southwest Conference who posted a 6-4 (.600) overall record last season and finished fourth in the conference. Thursday's game is the season opener for both schools, and will begin at 6 p.m. from Homer Bryce Stadium.
SFA vs. THE WAR HAWKS: Thursday's contest versus McMurry will be the first meeting between the two school since the 1971 season. SFA trails the all-time series 3-6-2 (.364), and has dropped the last two meetings and three of the past four. The 'Jacks are 3-1 (.750) in games played in Nacogdoches since the 1965 season. Four of the 11 meetings have been shutouts, and two of those have ended in a 0-0 tie.
CONFERENCE TITLES: The Lumberjacks made history last season by becoming the first squad in program history to win back-to-back conference titles.
BACK-TO-BACK-BACK NINES: The 2010 campaign was a historical run for the Lumberjacks, and SFA can record another piece of history in 2011. SFA enters the season looking become the first team in program history to record three-straight nine-win seasons.
SFA in SEASON OPENERS: The Lumberjacks are 45-34-5 (.565) all-time in season openers, but have lost four of the last five, including a 48-7 setback at Texas A&M last season. The Lumberjacks last season-opening win came during the 2008 season against Langston, 56-19. SFA is 1-3 (.250) in season openers under head coach J.C. Harper.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: SFA is facing a duanting schedule in 2011. The 17th-ranked Lumberjacks will face three teams ranked among the FCS Preseason Top 25, including No. 7 Northern Iowa in the second week of the season. SFA will also travel to 2010 bowl participant Baylor in non-conference play as well as host Texas State, who is in the first year of their transition the NCAA FBS level.
PRESEASON POLLS/ALL-SLC: There was mixed opinion has to who would win the SLC title at the conference's annual media kick off event. SFA was picked first in a preseason poll of the league sports information directors, while McNeese State garnered first place in the coaches poll. The Lumberjacks were well represented on the preseason all-conference teams with 12 players named to the squad, including eight first-team selections.
THE COACHES: J.C. Harper became the 18th head coach of the SFA Lumberjack football team in December 2006. A two-time SLC Coach of the Year, Harper has guided SFA to consecutive conference titles and playoff appearances. Harper is 23-25 (.479) in three seasons as a head coach. Hal Mumme is 10-10 (.500) in his third season with McMurry. He has made head coaching stops at Kentucky and New Mexico State before moving to Abilene. He is 118-113 (.511) in his career.
