Feb. 14, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Four games against NCAA Division II playoff teams highlight the tough schedule the Western Washington University football team faces in the 2003 season.

Western, which was 6-4 last year, plays six of its 10 games on the road, and has just one game against a team that had a losing record in 2002.

The Vikings also play the first regular-season home-and-home matchups since 1970, playing both Central Washington (11-1) and Western Oregon (5-5) twice. Western visits Central on Oct. 4, then hosts the Wildcats for its Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference counter on Oct. 25. The Vikings visit the Wolves on Sept. 13, then conclude the regular season by hosting Western Oregon in a GNAC game Nov. 15.

Central made its first NCAA II playoff appearance in 2002, losing in the first round after being a perfect 11-0 in the regular season.

The other playoff teams on the schedule are in the two games between the Central contests, as the Vikings visit national semifinalist Northern Colorado (12-2), directed by former NFL head coach Kay Dalton, on Oct. 11, and quarterfinalist UC Davis (9-3) on Oct. 18. Both those schools are entering their first year as NCAA I-AA programs.

Western opens the season by hosting St. Cloud State, Minn., on Thurs., Sept. 4, the third consecutive season the Vikings have opened the year with a Thursday contest. St. Cloud State (9-2) is led by senior quarterback Keith Heckendorf, who threw for 2,817 yards and 38 touchdowns and was one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

The Vikings also host NCAA I-AA St. Mary's (6-6) on Sept. 27.

Rounding out the schedule are two road games. Western visits Nebraska-Omaha (6-5), which reached the national playoffs in 2001, on Sept. 20, and visits Humboldt State (1-10) for a GNAC counter on Nov.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 (Thu.) ST. CLOUD STATE, 7 p.m.Sept. 13 (Sat.) at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.Sept. 20 (Sat.) at Nebraska-Omaha, TBASept. 27 (Sat.) ST. MARY'S, 1 p.m.Oct. 4 (Sat.) at Central Washington, 1 p.m.Oct. 11 (Sat.) at Northern Colorado, 12 noon MTOct. 18 (Sat.) at UC Davis, 6 p.m.Oct. 25 (Sat.) CENTRAL WASHINGTON*, 1 p.m. (Homecoming/Hall of Fame)Nov. 1 (Sat.) at Humboldt State*, 1 p.m.Nov. 8 (Sat.) ByeNov. 15 (Sat.) WESTERN OREGON*, 1 p.m.*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contestHome games (ALL CAPS) at Bellingham's Civic StadiumAll games broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM)